This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 139

Article part 23 published on 4th may, 2022 posted here due to software 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:

She Gan

Ma Huang

Sheng Jiang

Xi Xin

Zi Wan

Kuan Dong Hua

Da Zao

Fa Ban Xia

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)

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 139

Article part 24 published on 17 may,2022 posted here due to technical fault .

Hey, I'm back to continue on today's topic which is the selection and reason why they are the minister's herbs in the decoction:

Xi Xin
Sheng Jiang
Zi Wan
Kuan Dong Hua

This is how to analyse the therapeutic functions of the various decoctions part 24.

Let's start with the threshold established so far:

Association to a Specific Meridian Channel 

Xi Xin is also better known as Asarum Heterotropoides or (Manchurian Wildginger), and the whole plant is used.

It is associated with the:

Lung

Kidney - Meridian Channels respectively

Therefore Xi Xin has a direct link to the Lung and travels there to supplement and fuel the power of the monarch's herbs in softening and hence removing the cold phlegm.

As a rule of thumb, it is very appropriate to apply:

• (Xin Wen San Han Zhi Tong Tong Bi) 

whenever Xi Xin is used.

This means the combined application of: 

1) the pungent or spicy taste

2) warming effect

to disperse the cold accumulation and warm up the Lung to soften the cold phlegm to be readily coughed out or dissolved.  

The primary healing properties of Xi Xin are as follows:

A) Disperse cold to reduce aches such as migraine
B) Ease asthma and subdue cough

Sheng Jiang is better known as the Zingiber officinale Roscoe (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) and only the underground stem is used. 

It is associated with:

Lung
Spleen
Stomach - Meridian Channels respectively.

Again as a rule of thumb, apply:

• (Xin Wen Wen Fei Zhi Ke) 

whenever Sheng Jiang is used.

The primary healing properties of  Sheng Jiang are as follows:

1) Eliminate and prevent vomit
2) Ease cold cough

Zi Wan is better known as Aster Tataricus and only the root and the underground stem are used.

It is associated with:

• Lung - Meridian Channel only 

Again as a rule of thumb, apply:

• (Ku Gan Wen Zhi Ke Hua Tan)

whenever Zi Wan is used.

It is associated with:

• Lung - Meridian Channel only 

Again as a rule of thumb, apply:

• (Ku Gan Wen Zhi Ke Hua Tan)

whenever Zi Wan is used.

The primary healing properties of Zi Wan are as follow:

• Dissolve phlegm and subdue cough due to Lung overall deficiency

Kuan Dong Hua is better known as Tussilago Farfara L and only the bud is used.

It is associated with:

Lung - Meridian Channel only 

Again as a rule of thumb, apply:  (Xin Wen Zhi Ke Hua Tan) whenever Kuan Dong Hua is used.

The primary healing Property of Kuan Dong Hua is as follows:

Ease cough by dissolving cold phlegm

Complementary Effect

Over here, it is commonly applied in TCM that Kuan Dong Hua would complement Zi Wan to dissolve phlegm in a super, super manner to ease a cough.

Specific Taste

Xi Xin possesses a pungent or spicy taste.  

Sheng Jiang possesses a pungent or spicy taste.

Zi Wan possesses a sweet taste inclined to bitterness on the contrary.

Kuan Dong Hua possesses a pungent or spicy taste.

Specific Properties

Next, I'll touch on the specific property of:

1) Xi Xin which is warm.
2) Sheng Jiang is lukewarm.
3) Zi Wan is lukewarm.
4) Kuan Dong Hua is warm.

"The overall warm effect would complement the monarch's herbs to strengthen the healing power above. This is very clear that the whole decoction would soften the cold phlegm by the heat created by the minister's herbs to fulfil the mission of our topic."

I'll leave you now and return soonest to commence on the next topic. 

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)