Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior

Question 1

Ma Huang combined with Gui Zhi

Answer 1

Used when pahtogenic cold has attacked and lodged in the exterior. Releases protective Qi level (ma huang) and nutritive Qi level (gui zhi).
Gui Zhi enhances Ma Huang diaphoretic ability.
Caution of excessive sweating damaging qi and fluids

Question 2

Ma Huang Vs. Gui Zhi

Answer 2

Ma Huang - Gui Zhi
effects Wei Qi - effects Ying Qi
stronger sweat inducer - more mild

Question 3

Ma Huang Toxicity and Cautions?

Answer 3

CNS stimulant may cause increased blood pressure, restlessness, insomnia.
Not in combination with cardiac glycosides, risks arrhythmias.
Cutaneous eruptions with slight fever or measles-like erythema indicate allergic response.
Long term use impacts the sphincter of Bladder and may cause oliguria and anuresis.
Toxic dose is 30-45g. Sx: palpitations, insomnia, restlessness, DIAPHORESIS, chest pain, fever, tremor. In extreme cases may cause convulsions, coma, bradycardia.

Question 4

Gui Zhi*** - Cinnamon twig

“Small Twig”

Answer 4

Acrid, sweet, warm
Enters Heart, Lung, Bladder
Release the exterior and assists the yang
Warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals (treats pain)
Warms the yang and transforms thing mucus
Assists the HT yang and unblocks chest yang
Menses - Warms channels, vessels, and collaterals AND warms the middle and directs turbid yin downward
Caution: drying, can damage yin and disturb blood

Question 5

Gui Zhi with Bai Shao

Answer 5

Gui Zhi rises and disperses (yang), Bai Shao has a restraining/inhibiting nature (yin) to preserve fluids and nourish Ying and Blood levels. Therefore they moderate the excesses of each other. Together used to treat interior and exterior, and excess or deficiency disorders

Question 6

Zi Su Yi***

“purple leaf plant”

Answer 6

Acrid, AROMATIC, warm
Enters Lung and Spleen
Releases the exterior and disperses cold (milder than Ma Huang)
Promotes movement of Qi and expands the chest
Use during pregnancy to calms restless fetus
Resolves Seafood poisoning
Must cook for short time only

Question 7

Jing Jie***

-Mild but capable like a lady

Answer 7

Acrid, SLIGHTLY warm
Enters Lung and Liver
Releases the exterior and expels wind (both heat and cold)
Vents rashes and alleviates itching
Stops bleeding (best charred)
Caution: Don't cook long

Question 8

Fang Feng***

“Prevent Wind” - moistening herb in the wind

Answer 8

Acrid, sweet, sl. warm
Enters Bladder, Liver, and Spleen
Less drying than many wind expelling herbs!
Release the exterior and expel wind
Expels wind-dampness, and alleviate pain
Expels wind and relieves spasms

Question 9

Fang Feng with Jing Jie?

Answer 9

Expels wind-cold and wind-heat at all levels (skin, muscle, blood, flesh, bone)
Combo is more mild than Ma Huang and Gui Zhi, thus used for EPFs in any season

Question 10

Ma Huang***

“Yellow Cloth”

Answer 10

Acrid, sl bitter, warm
Enters Lung, Bladder
Induces sweating and releases the exterior
Disseminates and facilitates the lung Qi, calms wheezing, stop coughing
Promotes urination and reduces edema
Warms and disperses cold pathogens

Question 11

Fang Feng Cautions

Answer 11

Not for use with Wind Stroke
postpartum dizziness
convulsions
blood deficiency HA
Qi rebellion (nausea or cough)
Yin Xu or Yang Xu sweating
Allergic reaction effects skin and digestion

Question 12

Fang Feng Vs. Jing Jie

Answer 12

Both to eliminate wind, release exterior wind-cold and wind-heat but Jing Jie more mild and superficial. Jing Jie is light and spreading so it’s ability to expel wind is limited to skin, muscles, and blood.
Fang Feng is deeper (bones and flesh too) and can resolve dampness

Question 13

Qiang Huo***

root

Answer 13

Acrid, bitter, AROMATIC, warm
Enters Bladder, Kidney
Releases the exterior and disperses cold
Unblocks painful obstruction and alleviates pain (especially in upper body and vertex), best with dampness
Guides Qi to Tai (Greater) Yang channels and GV

Question 14

Qiang Huo Vs Du Huo

Answer 14

Both expel wind-dampness, eliminate painful obstruction and alleviate pain.
Qiang Huo rises, best treating upper/yang body. Treats Qi level. And warmer, more drying.
Du Huo sinks, best treating lower/yin/deeper body. Treats blood level. More moderate.

Question 15

Bai Zhi***

“White Twig”

Answer 15

Acrid, Warm
Enters Lung, Stomach, Spleen
Expels wind, eliminates dampness, unblocks the nasal passages and alleviated pain (Yang Ming)
Reduces Swelling and expels pus
Expels dampness and alleviates discharge (GYN - vaginal)
Also to be used with Ulcers

Question 16

Xi Xin***

“Thin Acrid”

Answer 16

Usually used as adjunctive, not Chief. Dose 1-3g
Acrid, warm (toxic)
Enters Lung, Heart, Kidney
Disperses cold and releases the exterior (TaiYang, ShaoYin)
Dispels wind, disperses cold, relieves pain (for W/C EPF with body aches)
Warms the lungs, transforms thin mucus
Unblocks and facilitates the orifices (head)

Question 17

Xi Xin Cautions and Toxicity

Answer 17

Not for use in cases of Yin, Qi or Blood Xu, due to drying and dispersing nature.
Toxicity if not decocted long enough or too large a dosage. In extreme cases causing respiratory paralysis, cardiac problems, and convulsions.

Question 18

Sheng Jiang***

“Fresh/raw Ginger”

Answer 18

Acrid, sl. warm
Enters Lung, Spleen, Stomach (strongly effects middle and phlegm)
Releases the exterior and disperse cold, best at first sign and with mild cold or phlegm
Warms the middle jiao and alleviates vomiting (morning sickness and cold in the ST)
Warms the lungs and stops cough
Resolves toxicity, seafood poisoning

Question 19

Sheng Jiang with Da Zao

Answer 19

Best for harmonizing SP and ST and Ying and Wei Qi.
Sheng Jiang enters YangMing, Da Zao enters TaiYin
Da Zao’s conserving quality moderated here.
Sheng Jiang’s unblocking quality moderated here.
Used with tonifying herbs to prevent damp/phelgm accumulation, or in blood moving formulas to nourish without stagnation of Qi

Question 20

Sheng Jiang Preparation and nomenclature

Answer 20

Baked - Wei Jiang (not dispersing, warmer and stronger to direct rebellious Qi downward
Ginger Peel - Sheng Jiang Pi (acrid and cooling, harmonize middle, promote urination, reduce edema under the skin)
Juice - Jiang Zhi (acrid and warm, stronger at dispersing and settling ST. Best for nausea and phlegmy cough)

Question 21

Xiang Ru**

“Ma Huang of summertime”

Answer 21

Acrid, AROMATIC, sl. warm
Enters Lung, Stomach
Induces sweating and releases the exterior
Promotes urination and reduces swelling (especially when associated with EPF); For summerheat
Caution in cases with diaphoresis from exterior deficiency

Question 22

Gao Ben**

lovage root

Answer 22

Acrid, warm
Enters Bladder, Du Mai
Discharges exterior conditions and disperses cold
Dispels wind, overcomes dampness, alleviates pain (vertex, HA involving teeth, abdominal pain and diarrhea from cold damp)
NOT for HA from blood xu or in heat disorders

Question 23

Herbs for Headaches, by type of HA

Answer 23

Involving teeth - Gao Ben
Yang Ming - Bai Zhi
Tai Yang - Qiang Huo, Xi Xin?
Damp/sinus HA - Bai Zhi, Xin Yi, Qiang Huo (cold)

Question 24

Cong Bai** - scallion

mild but effective

Answer 24

Acrid, warm (lightweight)
Enters Lung, Stomach
Releases the exterior and induces sweating
Disperses cold and unblocks the Yang (for abdominal pain and nasal congestion)
Resolves toxicity and disperse clumps

Question 25

Cang Er Zi**

fruit

Answer 25

Sweet, bitter, warm, toxic (somewhat)
Enters Lung
Disperses wind and dampness, opens the nasal passages (unblocks orifices and painful obstruction)
Disperses wind and dispels dampness
Dispels exterior wind
Caution of toxic overdose with symptoms effecting the eyes, digestion, and head. And renal, hepatic, cardiac, and respiratory problems.

Question 26

Cang Er Zi Addendum:

Cang Er Cao

Answer 26

Bitter, acrid, sl. cold, toxic. Dose 6-15g

Dispels wind, disperses heat, resolves toxicity, kills parasites

Question 27

Xin Yi - magnolia flower

Answer 27

Acrid, warm (very smelly)
Enters Lung, Stomach
Expels wind-cold and unblocks the nasal passages, relieves sinus HA
Disseminates and disperses upper jiao wind-heat
Decoct in Gauze