Author: Yan Yong-He, 嚴用和
Year: 1253
Source: Formulas to Aid the Living (Ji Sheng Fang, 濟生方)
Category: Formulas that Expel Wind
Pattern: Retained Wind pathogen obstructing the Wei Qi
Key Symptoms: Unrelenting nasal discharge, nasal obstruction
Secondary Symptoms: Purulent discharge, frontal headache, migraine headaches, dizziness
Tongue: Thin or greasy white coating
Ingredients
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Cang Er Zi
| 6-9g | |
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Pinyin: Cang Er Zi
Chinese: 苍耳子
Pharmaceutical: Fructus Xanthii
English: Cocklebur Fruit / Xanthium Fruit / Burweed |
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Tastes: Pungent, bitter and warm, toxic
Meridians Entered: Lung |
Actions & Indications:
- Disperses Wind and Dampness and opens the nasal passages
Any nasal or sinus problem with thick discharge and related sinus headache
- Disperses Wind and dispels Dampness
Wind-Damp Bi or skin disorders with itching
- Dispels Exterior Wind
Splitting occipital headache due to Wind-Cold (auxiliary)
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Not suitable for headache due to blood deficiency. Overdose will lead to toxication. |
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Xin Yi Hua
| 3-6g | |
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Pinyin: Xin Yi Hua
Chinese: 辛夷花
Pharmaceutical: Flos Magnoliae
Taxonomy: Magnolia officinalis
English: Magnolia Flower Bud |
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Tastes: Pungent and warm
Meridians Entered: Lung |
Actions & Indications:
- Expels Wind-Cold and unblocks the nasal passages
Nasal obstruction or congestion, pain, discharge, lack of smell sinus problems and related headache due to Wind-Cold With appropriate herbs for any nasal or sinus condition
- Aids fasting
Mentioned in the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing as part of the superior class of herbs which can, with protracted taking, precipitate the Qi, make the body light and the eyes bright, increase longevity, and slow ageing. This may suggest it was part of supplementing the diet when engaging in an "avoiding grain" (Bigu 辟穀) fasting regime to cultivate life (Yangsheng 養生).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Bai Zhi
| 6-9g | |
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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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Bo He
| 3-6g | | (add near end)
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Pinyin: Bo He
Chinese: 薄荷
Pharmaceutical: Herba Menthae haplocalycis
Taxonomy: Mentha haplocalyx
English: Field Mint / Wild Mint |
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Tastes: Pungent, cool
Meridians Entered: Lung and Liver |
Actions & Indications:
- Disperses Wind-Heat, cools and clears the head and eyes and benefits the throat
Wind-Heat with fever, cough, headache, red eyes and a sore throat
- Vents rashes
Early-stage rashes e.g. measles
- Relieves Stagnation of Liver Qi
Liver Qi Stagnation with pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability and gynecological problems
- Expels turbid filth
Exposure to unclean Qi in the Summertime leading to gastric distress with abdominal pain, vomiting. diarrhoea and a thick, yellow, greasy tongue coat
- Releases the Exterior and Drives Out Snakes
Chronic inflammatory disease (Fruehauf, 2015)
One of the chief herbs for treating Gu Syndrome, along with Bai Zhi and Zi Su Ye, classed as "open the exterior with snake killing herbs" (Fruehauf, 1998).
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Cong Bai
| 3-6g | | |
Pinyin: Cong Bai
Chinese: 葱白
Pharmaceutical: Bulbus Allii
English: Spring Onion / Green Onion / Scallion / Fistular Onion Stalk |
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Tastes: Pungent, warm
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach |
Actions & Indications:
- Releases the exterior and induces sweating
Wind-Cold especially very early stages
- Disperses Cold and unblocks Yang
Abdominal pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
Nasal congestion and pain due to blockage of Yang Qi by Cold
- Relieves toxicity and disperses clumps
Toxic sores and abscesses (topical)
- Kills parasites
Abdominal pain due to Intestinal parasites
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Standard Dosage: 3-10g in decoction.
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Preparation: Decoction. Do not cook for more than 10 minutes.
Actions: Disperses Wind, alleviates pain, unblocks the nose
Contraindications: Due to its singular focus of expelling Wind of no particular type it should not be used unmodified for Wind-Heat, Wind-Cold or in patients with underlying Qi or Yin deficiencies for which there are better formulas. It is often appended to other formulas to focus the clearing action on the sinuses.
Notes:
Ploberger (2017), in Westliche und traditionell chinesische Heilkräuter, offers the following alternative using western herbs:
| Herba Thymi | (Thyme) | 4g | (Emperor) |
| Pericarpium Citri ret. | (Mandarin Peel) | 3g | (Minister) |
| Radix Glycyrrhizae | (Toasted Licorice) | 3g | (Minister) |
| Rhizoma Zingiberis recens | (Fresh Ginger) | 3g | (Minister) |
| Herba Menthae | (Peppermint) | 3g | (Assistant) |
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.
