Author: Zong Xiao-Fan and Gary Liscum
Year: 1996
Source: Chinese Medicinal Teas
Category: Formulas that Release the Exterior
Pattern: Initial stages of Exterior Wind-Cold Invasion
Key Symptoms: Aversion to cold, fever, nasal congestion or a clear runny nose, headache, toothache
Ingredients
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Bai Zhi
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Bai Zhi
Chinese: 白芷
Pharmaceutical: Radix Angelicae dahuricae
Taxonomy: Angelica dahurica
English: Dahurian Angelica Root |
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Tastes: Pungent and warm
Meridians Entered: Lung, Stomach and Large Intestine |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels Wind, eliminates Dampness, unblocks the nasal passages, dispels Cold and alleviates pain
External Wind-Cold patterns, especially with headache
Supra orbital pain, nasal congestion and toothache, arthritis
Any External Wind invasion of the Yangming channels of the head with a frontal headache
- Reduces swelling, eliminates toxins and expels pus
Early-stage superficial sores, boils and carbuncles, pruritis
- Expels Dampness, alleviates discharge and treats leukorrhea and diarrhoea
Vaginal discharge due to Cold-Dampness in the Lower Jiao
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bo He and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
Also used topically for fungal infections which may explain some of its anti-Gu actions.
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: It should be used with cautions for Blood Heat induced by Yin deficiency because of its pungent, fragrant, warm, dry property. |
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Jing Jie
| 3g | |
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Pinyin: Jing Jie
Chinese: 荆芥
Pharmaceutical: Herba Schizonepetae
English: Japanese Catnip |
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Tastes: Pungent, slightly warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the Exterior and expels Wind
Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat Carbuncles or boils (Chuang Yung) when they first erupt - especially with chills and fever
- Vents rashes and relieves itching
Initial-stage measles and pruritic skin eruptions
- Stops bleeding
Hemorrhage (auxiliary)
- Dispels Wind and relieves muscle spasms
Postpartum spasms, trismus, muscle cramps and spasms due to Wind
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
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Cha Ye
| 3g | | |
Pinyin: Cha Ye
Chinese: 茶叶
Pharmaceutical: Camelliae sinensis folium
Taxonomy: Camilla sinensis
English: Tea Leaves |
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, cold
Meridians Entered: Stomach, Heart and Lung |
Actions & Indications:
- Dispels Wind-Heat and clears the head and refreshes the mind
Dizziness and vertigo
Headache
- Alleviates Thirst and promotes urination
Agitation and thirst
Prevents the drying, dispersing and ascending nature of diaphoretic herbs from harming the body
- Resolves Food Stagnation and alleviates diarrhoea
Nausea, vomiting, indigestion and diarrhoea
Damp-Heat dysentery
Greasy Food Stagnation
Obesity
- Resolves Toxicity
Sores and boils
Topically on inflammation or hot swelling injuries (tannins are also astringent and so can stop bleeding)
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Standard Dosage: 3-12g in decoction, but usually infused or added near the end.
Cautions: Avoid in insomnia. Leave 1 hour between taking iron supplements. |
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Preparation: Grind Bai Zhi and Jing Jie into a fine powder. Prepare the tea leaves in an infusion with boiling water. Ingest 6g of the powdered herbs and then drink the tea. May be taken 2x per day.
Actions: Dispels Wind and scatters Cold, resolves the exterior and relieves pain
Notes:
While Zong and Liscum (1996) are the published source, the formulas they present are simple folk remedies and likely much older.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.
