This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 134

Article part 30 published on 13 July 2022, posted here due to technical fault.

Hey, I'm back to discuss with you the effect of the herb: 

• Gan Cao

Just before I'll commence on today's topic, I would like to make a small differentiation between the real peony plant and Shao Yao as the 'peony-like' plant.  The real peony plant has one flower per stock and Shao Yao will have five or more flowers per stock.  Although there are many confusions about the name, they still belong to the same family ( Paeoniaceae) and so we would use the Shao Yao in all future explanations in the TCM perspective and not peony any longer.

• Shao Yao -  Paeonia Lactiflora
• Bai Shao -  Paeonia Anomala 
• Chi Shao -  Paeonia Veitchii 
• Mu Dan Pi - Paeonia Suffruticosa 

I'll discuss this herb - Mu Dan Pi when focusing on backache treatments in my later blogs.

• Messenger's herb - Gan Cao

This messenger's herb in the Xiao Qing Long Tang would not be explained here as you can refer to it in the earlier blogs.

This is how to analyse the  functions of the various decoctions. (part 30）

Difference:  2nd half Revelation

Ideally, both decoctions are suitable for all these treatments:

1. Acute upper respiratory infection
2. Chronic bronchitis 
3. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 

Our topic is removing cold phlegm with the important difference in hearing wheezing sounds in the throat when: 

1. Either there are a lot of phlegm -  should apply She Gan Ma Huang Tang 
2. Or there are much light and thin phlegm - should apply Xiao Qing Long Tang

Therefore, She Gan Ma Huang (with more herbs in the decoction known to dissolve phlegm) is more suitable to dissolve the thick phlegm as a result would be able to subdue cough.  On the contrary, Xiao Qing Long Tang is better than the two to dissolve light phlegm to improve the asthmatic condition.

So, in reality, when being approached by the child with a wheezing sound in the throat;

• Be fast to check for the aforesaid paragraph for symptoms and apply the correct decoction appropriately.

I'll leave you with more time to digest this blog and get ready for the next interesting formulas not to miss.

Best of all,

Xiong Sian 

***Reference:

( Emperor's Interior Sutra is available on sales better known as the esoteric scripture of the yellow emperor in Amazon, it's just a different way of naming the book cover)

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 133

Article part 27 published on 15th june 2022 posted here due to technical fault 

Hey, I'm back to discuss today's new formula, which is: 

• Xiao Qing Long Tang   

We're still on the same topic:

• Cold phlegm trapped deeply 

The rest is to juggle on the individual herb to:

1. Relief Cough and
2. Ease Asthmatic Condition

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions. (part 27)

These are the individual herbs constituting the decoction;

Xiao Qing Long Tang

1. Ma Huang  
2. Gui Zhi
3. Gan Jiang
4. Xi Xin
5. Wu Wei Zi
6. Shao Yao
7. Fa Ban Xia
8. Gan Cao

Today I'll be touching on the Monarch's herbs in this decoction and they are:

• Gui Zhi and Ma Huang

As it's already passed a certain reasonable time, it becomes very appropriate to revise with you now.

Association to the Specific Meridian Channel

Gui Zhi is associated with:

• Lung 
• Heart
• Bladder - Meridian Channels respectively

and Ma Huang is associated with:

1. Bladder 
2. Lung - Meridian Channels respectively 

Specific Taste

The specific taste of both herbs are as follow:

1. Gui Zhi - pungent and sweet
2. Ma Huang - pungent and slightly bitter

Specific Property 

The specific property of both Gui Zhi and Ma Huang is warm.

Apply (Xin Wen Jie Biao Ping Chuan San Jie) whenever Ma Huang is used.

Apply (Xin Wen Zhi Tong Zhi Ke Ping Chuan San Jie) whenever Gui Zhi is used.

Next development - Shadow of new decoction

At this junction, it has come to a point that you would discover some new formula, have you? And it becomes imperative that I should show you how. The new development is to sidetrack a little so that you would not feel the difficulties in learning Traditional Chinese Medicine.

What is the Shadow of New Decoction?  

Just before I explain that, let me relate the proactive thinking of the Shadow. Normally it needs some prerequisites; 

• a reasonable lapse of time to develop some understanding of certain herbs with the threshold established to discover this shadow.

Shadow means the image of another formula discovered and plays its role in the current formula. So there is a shadow of Gui Zhi Tang in the Larger decoction, Xiao Qing Long Tang. Although there is a slight variation in one herb of the Gui Zhi Tang, it does not affect the main monarch's herbs from performing their function for the whole decoction. Is so far ok and can comprehend?

The difference between Sheng Jiang and Gan Jiang lies in the process of drying up the Sheng Jiang or better known as raw ginger resulting in specific properties of:

the former as

• warm 

and the latter as 

• hot

In our topic today, Xiao Qing Long Tang uses 

• Gan Jiang 

and Gui Zhi Tang uses 

• Sheng Jiang

Therefore the adoption of Gan Jiang into Gui Zhi Tang becomes secondary importance and I'll discuss the function of Gui Zhi Tang in Xiao Qing Long later in my next blog.  This would clear all doubt and confusion caused.

Xiao Qing Long Tang is dedicated to treatments when:

• Observed that there is No perspiration
• Wheezing sound detected in the throat with much light and thin phlegm
• Asthmatic conditions worsen when reclined
• Body ache detected
• Light oedema observed

If you are reading my blog for the first time, please remember to subscribe by email address correctly and click 'submit' below so that you wouldn't miss anything I teach here.

There are so many other blogs out there but none teach you why, when and where to use the relevant herbs, only I give the reasons for 3 W; why, when and where.

Best of all,

Xiong Sian 

***Reference:

( Emperor's Interior Sutra is available on sales better known as the esoteric scripture of the yellow emperor in Amazon, it's just a different way of naming the book cover)

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 132

Article part 23 published on 4th may, 2022 posted here due to technical fault.

Hey, I'm back to discuss today's new subject in the discrimination between She Gan Ma Huang Tang and Xiao Qing Long Tang.

Both decoctions are suitably formulated for:

• Flu invasion with Cold phlegm trapped deeply and

Each has its way to:

• Relief Cough and Ease Asthmatic Condition

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions (part 23)

These are the individual herbs constituting the decoction;

• She Gan Ma Huang Tang

leaving Xiao Qing Long Tang to be discussed in the next blog:

1. She Gan
2. Ma Huang
3. Sheng Jiang
4. Xi Xin
5. Zi Wan
6. Kuan Dong Hua
7. Da Zao
8. Fa Ban Xia
9. Wu Wei Zi

Today I'll be touching on the Monarch's herbs and they are:

Monarch's Herbs - She Gan and Ma Huang

The scientific name for these 2 herbs are:

• She Gan - is better known as Belamcanda Chinensis and only the horizontal underground stem(rhizome) is used.  
• Ma Huang - please refer to my previous blog on the analysis,

and I'll touch on the topic of Cold phlegm trapped deeply, especially in the Lung.

Let's start with the threshold established so far:

Association to the Specific Meridian Channel

She Gan is associated with:

• Lung Meridian Channel only

and Ma Huang is associated with:

• Bladder 
• Lung - Meridian Channel respectively 

Specific Taste

The specific taste of both herbs are as follow:

• She Gan - bitter 
• Ma Huang - slightly bitter

Specific Property

The specific property of  She Gan is Cold

and Ma Huang is warm.

Primarily, She Gan is noted with the capability to dissolve deeply trapped phlegm, especially with phlegm wheezing sound on diagnostic observation as a single herb application. It has the opposite effect of Ma Huang, which is the perspiring and relieving properties*** to raise the Yang Qi, meaning it is sufficiently warm to soften the sticky phlegm. As a result, the combination would heat up the cold sticky phlegm and remove it. Although the specific property of She Gan is cold it would necessarily combine with the minister's herb to complete the phlegm removal objective.

I'll discuss the individual relevant treatment of the minister's and messenger's herbs on their natural cure for relieving the cough and easing the asthmatic condition in my next blog.

Finally, I've to introduce one new terminology here as it is a very common TCM question on whether the formula selected is suitable for treating the root causes or just keeping the superficial symptoms down and there would be a possible relapse in due course. (See diagram for the new terminology)

The former is

• root treatment 

and the latter is 

• subsiding superficial symptoms.

I'll leave you now and hope that you can digest this blog easily.

If you are reading my blog for the first time, please remember to subscribe by email address correctly and click 'submit' below so that you wouldn't miss anything I teach here.

There are so many other blogs out there but none teach you why, when and where to use the relevant herbs, only I give the reasons for 3 W; why, when and where

Best of all,

Xiong Sian 

***Reference:

( Emperor's Interior Sutra is available on sales better known as the esoteric scripture of the yellow emperor in Amazon, it's just a different way of naming the book cover)