Assistant syndromes

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Baker, E. R., Best, R. G., Manfredi, R. L., Demers, L. M., and Wolf, G. C. 1995. Efficacy of progesterone vaginal suppositories in alleviation of nervous symptoms in patients with premenstrual syndrome. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics 12 205-209. 

Following the treatment principle, which is established in accordance with the syndrome differentiation, a formula can be composed. A formula is neither a group of herbs that treat all symptoms nor a combination that only treats the main syndrome. It has a structure where herbs are organized in order to meet the needs of the treatment. The structure of a formula contains four parts, namely the chief, the deputy, the assistant(s) and the envoy. Each of these has specific functions in the formula. 

Lu Gen is sweet and cold, and enters the Lung, Stomach and Kidney meridians. It is often used as assistant in a formula to treat a wind-heat syndrome because it not only clears heat but also generates body fluids, which have been injured by heat in a wind-heat syndrome. In addition, it is also used to treat nausea and belching when the heat from the Lung affects the Stomach. 

In the syndrome of Yang collapse, if the Yang is extremely weak and the internal cold exceeds its maximum, and the conflict between the cold pathogenic factor and the hot herbs is very severe, a small amount of cold herb, which follows the nature of the pathogenic cold, can be added. This herb serves as strategic assistant in the large amount of hot herbs used to reduce the conflict and is helpful in fulfilling the therapeutic effect. 

Assistant Promote the movement of Qi, eliminate cold-dampness serve as strategic assistant in treating the syndrome of Yang collapse moderate the harsh herbs and protect the Yin... 

Damp-cold accumulation often coexists in Yang deficiency syndrome. Because cold obstructs the meridians, this leads to obstruction of Qi movement and water circulation, and cold-dampness is thus formed. Moreover, when the Yang is too weak to steam the fluid into Qi and Yin, the water metabolism becomes very slow and the water may accumulate in certain places in the body. In this condition, herbs that are warm in nature and have the function of transforming dampness should be used as assistants in formulas. 

Gui Zhi is sweet, pungent and warm, and enters the Heart meridian. Since the twigs enter the meridians according to the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine, this herb is able to stimulate the Yang and the Qi of the Heart. Together with herbs that tonify the blood, it can accelerate the speed of the bloodgenerating process. It is mainly used as assistant in the formula to tonify the blood so as to warm the blood, promote blood circulation and open up the obstruction. It is particularly selected in the syndrome where there is numbness and tingling of the limbs, cold and pain of the extremities. 

These two herbs are warm and pungent, and enter the Kidney meridian. They do not tonify the Yang or stimulate the Yang of the Kidney, but they can expel wind, cold and dampness in the Kidney meridian. Therefore they can assist the Yang growing and spreading in the Lower-Jiao. They are particularly useful in formulas that treat chronic Bi syndrome and where the Kidney is weakened with time. In such cases, patients suffer from pain particularly in the lower part of the body, such as arthritis of the back and legs in elderly people and after the menopause. 

The other three herbs are able to leach out dampness and promote urination. They can be selected in the formula to assist the chief and deputy herbs to remove damp-phlegm. Among these herbs, Fu Ling is neutral and can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi Ze Xie and Yi Yi Ren are cold and are more suitable for treating phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Assistant Promote food digestion and enhance the ability of the chief treat the causes and accompanying syndromes... 

Dang Gui is often used as a helping assistant to tonify the blood and promote blood circulation. It treats a syndrome where blood stagnation and blood deficiency coexist. It also serves as a corrective assistant. It nourishes the blood that has been consumed by pungent and warm herbs that promote Qi and blood in the formula. 

Qing Hao is bitter, cold and aromatic, and enters the Liver and Gall Bladder meridians. It can clear and disperse heat from these meridians, especially from the blood and Yin levels. In a formula that descends the Liver-Yang, Qing Hao is used as a corrective assistant to disperse and ascend the restrained Liver-Qi, which is suppressed by the heavy and cold descending minerals and herbs. Meanwhile, since Qing Hao can brighten the eyes, clear summer-heat and damp-heat, it can be selected if red and swollen eyes with blurred vision are present in the syndrome. 

Sang Ye and Ju Hua are sweet, bitter and cold Bo He is pungent and cold. They all enter the Lung and Liver meridians and have light dispersing and descending abilities. As assistants in formulas, they disperse constrained Liver-Qi and clear Liver-heat to treat secondary syndromes. They are particularly effective for treating dry eyes, blurred vision and headache. 

Jing Jie and Fang Feng are pungent and slightly warm. They can expel wind and are commonly used for mild exterior wind-cold syndrome. In the syndrome of disharmony of Ying and Wei, they can be selected as assistants to expel wind and directly relieve aversion to wind. 

Fu Ling is neutral and bland, and enters the Heart, Spleen and Kidney meridians. It can gently tonify the Qi of these organs, and can be used in either heat or cold syndromes of deficiency. It is often used as assistant to eliminate dampness in the Middle-Jiao. The dampness can be generated by deficiency of Spleen-Qi or from the cloying nature of the sweet tonifying herbs. Fu Ling can also tonify the Heart-Qi and calm the mind. 

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