Aromatic Orifice Openers: SUMMARY

(Summary adapted from the John and Tina Chen book, with additions from Bensky and Von Elgg notes.)

Aromatic herbs that open the orifices are used to resuscitate when there is a severe cardiac, respiratory, or central nervous system blockage. From a western standpoint, these herbs would treat disorders that include seizures, epilepsy, and stroke. From a TCM perspective, the conditions they are treating include febrile disorders, heat trapped in the PC, and phlegm obstructions of the sensory orifices. These are excess conditions. Herbs that open the orifices are not for deficiency conditions.

Deficiency conditions are "abandoned syndromes" or "open disorders" with signs and symptoms such as open mouth and hands and closed eyes, perspiration, incontinence, and a very faint pulse. Herbs that rescue the yang and tonify qi would be used in these cases.

Excess conditions are "bi zheng" or "closed disorders" with signs and symptoms such as clenched jaws, closed mouth, tight fists, and a forceful pulse. These closed disorders are those loss of consciousness disorders treated with orifice-opening herbs. These disorders come in two types - hot and cold, and therefore there are herbs that are warm and cold to treat.

Loss of consciousness due to cold is usually caused by poisoning and cerebrovascular accidents. Signs and symptoms of cold disorders include:

cold body
pale face w/ green or bluish hue
white tongue coat
slow pulse
sudden collapse
foaming at the mouth

Loss of consciousness due to heat is usually due to heat stroke, infectious disease, severe pneumonia, meningitis, septicemia, liver disease, or toxic uremia. Signs and symptoms of heat disorders include:

warm body
red face
yellow tongue coat
heavy breathing
high fever
delirium / irritability
rapid pulse

The aromatic herbs are combined with other herbs to treat these conditions. For cold conditions, they are combined with herbs that dispel cold and warm the interior. For heat conditions, they are combined with heat clearing herbs, and herbs that dispel toxins.

These are strong herbs that will consume qi (which is why they are to be used for excess conditions only). They revive consciousness, but do not treat the root cause. They are emergency medicine, used only for acute conditions in small dose in pill or powder form until consciousness is restored.

The herbs:

* are acrid and aromatic
* disperse obstructions to restore the five senses


She Xiang (Deer Musk) - WARM, acrid, aromatic; Heart, Spleen, Liver
Bing Pian (Borneol) - COOL, acrid, bitter; Heart, Spleen, Lung
Niu Huang (Cattle bezoar) - COOL, bitter; Heart, Liver
Shi Chang Pu ("flourishing reeds") - WART, acrid, aromatic, bitter; Heart, Stomach

Nourish Heart Calm Spirit: Ling Zhi (reishi mushroom)

Ling Zhi = Spiritual Mushroom

Sweet & Neutral (but I licked it, and it sure is bitter!)

Heart & Liver & Lung

3-15 grams decocted, 1.5 - 3 grams in pills and powders

Caution in patients with excess conditions

There have been disagreements as to the potency of Ling Zhi, but some have really set forth some magnificent claims to its powers: "Long term consumption will lighten the body and prevent aging, extend one's life, and make one an immortal."

Specific Indications:

1. Calms the Spirit / Augments Heart Qi / Tonifies Heart Blood - can be used solo for this
* insomnia
* fright
* palpitations
* forgetfulness

(all above associated with insufficient heart qi and blood - therefore the spirit is malnourished)

2. Tonifies Lung Qi / Transforms Phlegm / Stops Cough & Wheezing - can be used solo for this
* cough and wheezing from cold from deficiency or phlegm-damp
* asthma

3. Tonifies Qi / Nourishes Blood (immune enhancer) - can also be used solo for this
* deficiency consumption w/ SOB
* lack of appetite - weak digestion
* icy extremities or irritability with a dry mouth

Nourish Heart Calm Spirit: Xie Cao (valerian)

Xie Cao (Valerian Root)

Heart & Liver

Neutral & Sweet & Bitter

"Tranquilizes and calms spasms/PMS"

Valerian Root is not in Bensky, because I suspect it is considered to be more of a Western herb. It is, however, in Chen.

It is said to:

1. Tranquilizes the Shen
* insomnia
* emotional stress
* excessive worry

2. Relieves Spasms and Pain due to Liver Qi Stagnation
* PMS
* muscle tightness & spasms
* stomach cramps

Nourish Heart & Calm Spirit: He Huan Pi (mimosa bark)

he huan pi "the happy herb"

合欢皮 cortex albizziae julibrissinis

he = united / collective
huan = happiness
pi = bark

mimosa tree bark

Heart and Liver

Neutral and Sweet

6-15 grams

And, please, use with caution during pregnancy.

Oh, the mimosa tree is simply divine. And how wonderful that its bark nourishes the heart and calms the spirit. Except I wonder if you have to kill it in order to take its bark? Or can you just selectively trim its limbs?

Benksy quotes the Shennong Ben Cao Jing:

He Huan Pi "Quiets the five yin organs, focuses the mind, and makes people happy without care. Long-term consumption will lighten the body, brighten the eyes, and [allow people to] achieve their desires."

Whoa. That's some happy herb!

Specific functions:

1. Calm Spirit / Relieves Constraint
* bad temper
* depression
* insomnia
* irritability
* poor memory due to constrained emotions

2. Harmonizes the blood / Stops pain / reconnects sinews and bones (MILDLY)
* pain and swelling due to trauma, fractures

3. Dissipates Swelling / Reduces Abscesses-- internal & external

Nourish Heart Calm Spirit: Ye Jiao Teng

Ye Jiao Teng

Ye = night
Jiao = commingling (friends)
Teng = vine

Sweet & Neutral

Heart & Liver

In the heart channel, Ye Jiao Teng nourishes the blood & calms the spirit.
In the liver channel, Ye Jiao Teng expels wind & unblocks the collaterals to stop itching.
This herb is "gentle and helpful." It is also pretty, in my opinion.

A person who is blood deficient and consequently an insomniac, with restlessness, palpitations, disturbing dreams, aching limbs, and itchy skin due to wind invading the blood deficient channels, is a good candidate for Ye Jiao Teng.

Historically, Ye Jiao Teng was used only for itching due to wind invading the channels (especially used as a wash for scabies). The calming the spirit use of the herb is more recent, and a large dose is required to accomplish this function (15-30 grams).

Ye Jiao Teng belongs to the large polygonum family, which I have a particular nostalgic affinity for. A type of polygonum used to grow in my backyard in Washington state. They were tall -- probably fourteen feet, with large loping leaves, and looked slightly prehistoric. They grew in a big patch along the bulkhead which fronted the bay, proliferating quickly. I am happy to know that this family of plants can claim some pretty nice medicines, such as Ye Jiao Teng, and also He Shou Wu. They nourish the body, as looking as those plants nourished my spirit for many years.


Specific functions:

1. Nourishes the Heart & Blood & Calms the Spirit
* yin or blood deficient with insomnia & irritability
* very useful for dream disturbed sleep

2. Nourishes the Blood & Unblocks the Channels
* generalized weakness, soreness, pain, numbness due to blood deficiency
* auxiliary herb for painful obstruction

3. Alleviates itching - external wash for itching and rashes

Nourish Heart Calm Spirit: Yuan Zhi

yuan zhi

元志 radix polygalae tenuifoliae

"profound will"

According to the book "Prescription for Herbal Healing" by Phyllis Balch, Yuan Zhi is one of the most effective medicines for hangovers. Bensky, however, doesn't mention this most useful tidbit. He must not be a drinker.

Yuan Zhi goes to the Heart and Lungs. Its nature is bitter (drains), acrid (disperses), and slightly warm. The spicy bitterness of Yuan Zhi disperses and unblocks phlegm and clears the orifices. Which is probably why it's useful for hangover. The clearing phlegm function is also what sets this herb apart from the others in this category.

It works strongly in re-establishing communication between the heart and kidney, and therefore it would be nice if Yuan Zhi were said to also go to the kidneys, but alas, sometimes things are not that simple.

The medicine Yuan Zhi comes from is a low growing perennial with "lance-shaped leaves that have toothed edges" and it produces pretty lavender flowers. Yuan Zhi is the root of this plant.

Specific Functions:

1. Calm Spirit / Quiet Heart:
* insomnia
* palpitations
* anxiety, restlessness, disorientation
* excessive brooding; constrained, pent-up emotions
* emotions related to a lack of communication between the heart and kidneys

2. Expel Phlegm / Clear Orifices / Stop Cough (due to Liver constraint)
* phlegm enveloping heart orifice (emotional and mental disorientation / spasms / seizures)
* phlegm in lungs w/ copious sputum (difficult to expectorate)
* angina

3. Abscesses and Swelling (topically, with rice wine)
* boils
* abscesses
* sores
* swollen, painful breasts

Yuan Zhi is warm and drying - not for yin deficient heat, peptic ulcers, gastritis.

Nourish the Heart Calm the Spirit: Bai Zi Ren

bai zi ren

柏子仁 semen biotae orientalis

"cypress fruit seed"

Neutral
Sweet

Heart, Kidney, Large Intestine


Bai Zi Ren and Suan Zao Ren are similar and often used in conjunction to nourish the heart and calm the spirit. Bai Zi Ren is noticibly moister. Both go to the heart, but Suan Zao Ren travels to the LV/GB and the Spleen, whereas Suan Zao Ren travels to the Kidney and Large Intestine.

Bai Zi Ren is also gentle and harmonious, enriching, and moistening.

1. Nourishes the Heart / Calms the Spirit

* irritability, insomnia, forgetfulness
* palpitations with anxiety due to Heart yin deficiency and insufficient blood
* childhood night terrors (stand alone powder)

2. Moistens Intestines / Unblocks Bowels

* constipation (elderly, debilitated, or postpartum) due to blood or yin deficiency

3. Nightsweats due to yin deficiency