Warm Acrid Release Exterior: Xin Yi Hua and Cang Er Zi

Herbs for the stuffy nose!
Xin Yi Hua (magnolia flower bulb)
Cang Er Zi (Cockleburr fruit)

Xin Yi Hua and Cang Er Zi

Both for W-C with nasal congestion and easy to remember because both would fit nicely up the nostrils. This is also nasal congestion for any reason at all. If headache is included, add Bai Zhi, if you need more warmth, add Xi Xin. This combo can be used for Wind-Heat, too, so long as other herbs are added.

Cang Er Zi is somewhat special because it also stops bi pain by expelling Wind-Cold-Damp.

Cang Er Zi goes to the Lung and Liver, and is bitter as well as acrid.

Xin Yi Hua goes to the Lung and Stomach.

Both are slightly toxic, with possible side effects of n/v, dizziness at high doses (Cang Er Zi), and itching, nausea, and anxiety with a pregnancy caution and yin deficient fire caution (Xin Yi Hua).

Warm, Acrid Release Exterior: Xi Xin (Wild Ginger!)

Xi Xin ("Thin Spicy")

Xi Xin is Chinese Wild Ginger. Blue Poppy has an article on their website about Xi Xin being banned due to the Aristolochic Acid content in the upper part (that is not the roots) of the plant, yet Mayway appears to sell it in powdered form. Aristolochic Acid, also found in Guang Fang Ji (not Han Fang Ji), and Guan Mu Tong (not Chuan Mu Tong), is known to cause kidney failure. The plant must be tested and proven to be AA free in order to be sold in the U.S. Shipments of these herbs can be detained or delayed and therefore many U.S. distributors don't want to bother with them.

The other oddball thing about Xi Xin is that it floats around in the category department. Dennis placed it in the "Warm Herbs that Dissolve Cold Phlegm" category, while Hua Ling puts it in the Warm Herbs that Release the Exterior category -- which is where most people seem to place it.

Here's what Hua Ling says about Xi Xin:

It is warmer than most herbs in this category. It releases Wind-Cold, but more so for cold or cold phlegm, or cold phlegm fluid, obstructing the lung leading to cough. Xi Xin will warm the lung to transform the phlegm fluid to stop cough.

She said it is also an herb used to stop pain (an anesthesia herb), or for pain due to headaches and toothache. It is an important herb used to open the nasal passages (Xi Xin + Bai Zhi).

CI: use under 3 grams! and do not use with Li Lu.

Additional info...from Bensky and Dennis....

Xi Xin travels to the Lung, Kidney, Heart. According to some texts, it travels to all 12 channels.
It is "vigorous" and "very acrid" and therefore the low dose. Functions are:

1. Dispel wind, disperse cold, Relieve pain
headache (shaoyin headaches -- empty -- d/t Heart and Kidney disharmonies)
Wind-Damp-Cold Bi pain

2. Dispels exterior W-C

3. Warms Lung, Resolves Phlegm and Watery Mucus

4. Opens sensory orifices (nasal congestion)

Warm, Acrid Release Exterior: Qiang Huo / Gao Ben / Bai Zhi

Bai Zhu
Gao Ben
PICTURED ABOVE, top to bottom: Bai Zhi, Gao Ben, Qiang Huo

Qiang Huo / Gao Ben / Bai Zhi

So glad that Hua Ling combined these three herbs together because these three are all a bit foggy in my memory, and now I can get them straight. (Especially Bai Zhi -- what with Bai Zhu, Bai Shao, Bai Wei, Bai Bu, Bai Qian, Bai He, Bai Guo... oy yoy yoy!)

Qiang Huo, Gao Ben, Bai Zhi....

All expel Wind-Cold
All expel Wind-Cold-Damp (body aches, bi syndrome) to stop pain
All for headaches...

Where is the headache?
UB Channel / occipital headache? Use Qiang Huo
Du channel / vertex headache? Use Gao Ben
Frontal headache? Use Bai Zhi

A way to try to remember this is that they are alphabetical from front to back- start in the front, with the frontal headache and put a B(ai Zhi) on the forehead (and reaching down to the nose -- Bai Zhi is good for nasal congestion, too); Go to the vertex with a G(ao Ben), and end at the occiput with a Q(iang Huo). That is all that Hua Ling pointed out about those three herbs.

Further information:

Qiang Huo (UB, KD) - no additional info from Dennis except that Qiang Huo is contraindicated for Blood deficiency.

Gao Ben (UB, DU) Lovage root - Dennis says that in addition to vertex headaches, Gao Ben is good for treating Jueyin headaches (LV via GB channel)

Bai Zhi (LU, SP/ST) Angelica root- Bai Zhi is also good to REDUCE SWELLING and DRY PUS and for vaginal discharge due to damp-cold, though Hua Ling says it is not often used thusly. Because Bai Zhi is DRYING, it is CI for yin def or blood heat. In addition to being contained in formulas for expelling wind-cold, it Bai Zhi is also used in some damp draining formulas, such as Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang -- a formula for external wind-cold with internal turbid dampness.

Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior: Jing Jie and Fang Feng

Fang Feng (above) and Jing Jie (below)
Jing Jie and Fang Feng are often used together as a powerful duo that releases exterior wind. They are usually used for Wind-Cold, but can also be used for Wind-Heat when appropriately combined with other herbs. They are both great to treat ITCHY SKIN due to wind.

Jing Jie specifically VENTS RASHES and can STOP BLEEDING in the stool or uterus when in its charred form. It is more superficial than Fang Feng.

Fang Feng's specialty is WIND-COLD-DAMP invading the channel (external OR internal wind), as in WCD Bi pain. It helps to stop the pain from WCD and headaches from W-C. Because Fang Feng works with internal Liver wind, too, it can relieve spasms and convulsions. Hua Ling says it can also work to stop diarrhea due to LV/SP disharmony (like in IBS).

Warm, Acrid Release Exterior: Gui Zhi

Gui Zhi is cinnamon twig.

Gui Zhi goes to the Lung and UB, like Ma Huang, but also to the Heart (of course cinnamon goes to the heart!). It is considered acrid (dispersing) and sweet.

Functions of Gui Zhi:

1. Releases the exterior (Wind-Cold). Dennis says it does not induce sweat, Hua Ling says it does, so long as it is used with Ma Huang.

2. Gui Zhi warms and assists the yang with Bai Shao. Together these two harmonize the ying and wei. This function also means that it can transform thin mucus (for edema and urinary problems).

3. It warms and unblocks the channels and collaterals of cold. This means Gui Zhi can be used for Bi pain, painful periods (though it does not regulate blood)

4. Gui Zhi warms the middle, directing turbid yin downward (for SP/St cold)

Gui Zhi is CI in pregnancy because it activates the channels.

Warm Acrid Herbs the Release Exterior: Ma Huang

Ma Huang (ephedra)

acrid, sl. bitter; goes to the Lung and UB

First, raw Ma Huang induces sweating to release exterior wind cold.

Second, it disseminates and facilitates lung qi to calm wheezing and stop cough. It can be used for other excess conditions, such as lung heat, or phlegm cold, as long as it is combined with other appropriate herbs. Ma Huang is not appropriate for Lung Qi deficiency, however.

Third, Ma Huang promotes urination and reduces edema in this way -- especially for wind evil edema in the face. It is not appropriate for edema caused by deficiency.

Ephedra is a powerful Central Nervous System stimulant -- it activates the sympathetic nervous system, constricting blood vessels, increasing blood pressure, expanding bronchial tubes, and increasing the heart rate. Ephedra was inappropriately used in diet pills, causing illness and some deaths, thereby being banned in supplements by the FDA in early 2004. Fortunately, Ma Huang is still obtainable as a Traditional Chinese Medicinal.

Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior

This category is way out of order and should have been my very first entry. Now that I am reviewing single herbs for the comprehensive exam, I have another chance to look into the Release the exterior herbs. Lucky me!

The list of "Jie Biao" herbs:

Ma Huang
Gui Zhi
Zi Su Ye
Jing Jie
Fang Feng

Qiang Huo
Gao Ben
Bai Zhi
Xi Xin

Sheng Jiang
Xiang Ru
Xin Yi Hua
Cang Er Zi


Notes about use of these herbs:
The evil is in the superficial level -- the exterior. It can also be said this is the taiyang stage of disease (taiyang excess), Wei level, in the upper burner, or the evil is invading the Lung.

The six evils (cold, damp, heat/fire, dry, wind, summerheat) follow the wind, and the wind directs the evil around the body. You use other herbs for summerheat (outside of this category).

Signs and symptoms:
Chills & Fever (severe chills, mild fever)
No sweat, or little sweat (and evil not resolved)
headache, stiff neck
body aches, muscle pains
Nasal congestion
itchy throat, sl. cough, throat may be sore