Stuff from sombody else Flashcards
All sorts of facts related to first quiz material. (Mostly written by someone else)
What are the three categories of herbs in Materia Medica?
upper- which nourishes life
middle- which nourishes constitution
lower- which expels disease
What are the 4 actions of herbs?
rising, falling, floating, sinking
What are the 5 tastes?
sweet, bitter, sour, salty, acrid
effect of sweet?
- tonify, harmonize and sometimes moisten
- travels in the flesh
- enters the SP
effect of acrid?
- disperse and move
- travels in qi
- enters lungs
effect of bitter?
- drain and dry
- travels in bones
- enters heart
effect of sour?
- astringent and prevent or reverse abnormal leakage
- travels in sinews
- enters Liver
effect of salty?
- purge and soften
- travels in blood
- enters KD
effect of bland?
leach out dampness and promote urination
What are the 8 therapeutic methods?
- promote sweating, induce vomiting, purge, harmonize
- warm, clearing, tonify, reduce
mutual accentuation
combine 2 substances with similar functions to accentuate their therapeutic actions
mutual enhancement
combine 2 substances with different actions, one substance enhances other in specific clinical situation
mutual counteraction
combination in which toxicity or side effects of one substance are reduced or eliminated by another substance
mutual suppression
same as mutual counteraction but emphasis on substance that performs the action
mutual antagonism
ability of 2 substances to minimize or neutralize each others positive effects
mutual incompatibility
combination of 2 substances gives rise to side effects or toxicity that would not be caused by either substance when used alone
single effect
use of one medicinal substance to treat a patient
preparation methods which utilize heat
- dry-frying, frying with liquids, calcining
- quick-frying, dry curing or baking, roasting in ashes
define process of dry-frying
browning is used to dry the herbs for storage
define process of calcining
placing a substance directly or indirectly in the flames until it is thoroughly heated and turns red
define process of quick-frying
the herb is fried at an extremely high temperature until it becomes dark brown or cracked
define process of dry curing or baking
form of drying that uses a slow, mild heat to avoid charring the herb.
define process of roasting in ashes
wrapping the herb in a moistened paper, paste or mud, and heating it in hot cinders until the coating is charred or cracked and its insides have reached a high temperature
4 methods utilizing both heat and water
steaming, boiling, quenching, simmering
define process of aqeous trituration
minerals are ground with water until reduced to an extremely find powder
define process of steaming
steaming and then drying the herbs in the sun
define process of quenching
certain medicinal substances are heated and then immediately immersed in cold water or vinegar
define process of simmering
the herb is reduced to a thickened liquid or syrup by boiling in several changes of water, collecting the supernatants, and then condensing and solidifying it into a gel
methods of delivery
- boiled powders or drafts, pills, powders
- special vermillion pills, syrups, plasters, medicinal wines
3 types of substances to decoct first before adding other ingredients
- toxic herbs
- minerals and shells
- lightweight substances when used in a large dosage
herbs to be added to the decoction near end
aromatic
herbs to be decocted in a gauze
herbs with cilia (fine, hair-like structures),
small seeds, some minerals,
some formulas that are ground before they are decocted
herbs to be decocted separately or simmered
rare or expensive substances so you may obtain the maximum effect
herbs to be dissolved in the strained decoction
highly viscous or sticky substances can not be decocted with other ingredients. (may stick to pot or other substances)
herbs taken with the strained decoction
some expensive or aromatic herbs are ground into a powder and then taken first, followed by the strained decoction
Ma Huang channels entered
lung and bladder
dosage of ma huang
2-9g (low dosage)
plant part of ma huang
stem or herba
cautions or contraindications of ma huang
- deficiency with sweating
- wheezing due to KD deficiency
- high blood pressure
- CI: do not use with cardiac glycosides
properties of ma huang
-acrid, slightly bitter, warm
toxicity of ma huang
- potentially lethal
- toxic dosage is 30-45g
actions of ma huang
- induces sweating and releases exterior
- facilities LU qi, calms wheezing, stops cough
- promotes urination and reduces edema
- warms and disperses cold pathogens
indications of ma huang
- invasion of wind-cold: chills, fever, H/A, absence of sweating, tight, floating pulse
- coughing and wheezing due to wind cold obstructing the LU qi
- esp edema that accompanies an exterior condition
- bi (wind-damp painful obstruction) and deep rooted toxic sores w/o a head
properties of shi gao
sweet, acrid, very cold
channels entered by shi gao
LU and ST
dosage of shi gao
15-60g (high dosage)
cautions and indication of shi gao
CI: def of SP/ST
CI: yin def w/ fever
toxicity of shi gao
none
actions of shi gao
- clears heat and drains fire
- clears heat from excess from LU
- clears blazing ST fire
- eczema, burns and ulcerated sores
indications of shi gao
- 4 bigs:pulse, fever, thirst sweating
- cough and wheezing
- H/A, toothache, swollen and painful gums due to HT fire
- applied in powdered form after being calcinated and mixed w/other herbs
properties of xing ren
bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
channels entered by xing ren
LU and LI
dosage of xing ren
3-9g (low dosage)
cautions and CI of xing ren
caution-cough due to yin def
-diarrhea
CI: infants, everyone should avoid overdose (toxicity)
toxicity of xing ren
- potentially lethal
- toxic dosage=children 10-20 seeds, adults 40-60 seeds, fatal dosage= 50-120 seeds
actions of xing ren
- stops cough and calms wheezing
- moistens the intestines and unblocks the bowels
indications of xing ren
- used for a wide variety of cough disorders
- 2nd use derived from it high oil content
properties of gan cao
unprepared - sweet, neutral
dry-fried- sweet, warm
channels entered by gan cao
all 12 channels, principally LU, HT, SP, ST
dosage of gan cao
1.5 -9g, 15-30g is acceptable (high dosage)
cautions and CI of gan cao
CI- chest/abdomen distention/ fullness, vomiting due to dampness
caution- avoid long-term use for patients w/edema, hypertension, hypokalemia, or congestive heart failure
-traditional- do not use w/jing da ji, gan sui, yuan hua, hai zao
toxicity of gan cao
sx: long term use- salt retention, hypertension, spasms/numbness, dizzy, H/A
- allergic reactions: skin rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anaphylactic shock
actions of gan cao
- clears heat and resolves fire toxicity
- an antidote for toxic substances (both internally &externally)
- moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs
- tonifies SP & augments qi
- moistens LU and stops cough
- moderates spasms & alleviates pain
indications of gan cao
- (unprepared) -carbuncles, sores or sore throat
- poisining
- guiding herb to 12 channels
- SP Qi def, and Qi & blood def (irregular pulse/palps)
- cough & wheezing, heat or cold conditions
- spasms of legs & abdomen
