Blood wind-cold syndrome

The principal syndrome where the main pathological development is identified manifests through a series of main symptoms. For example, the main symptoms indicating an exterior wind-cold syndrome are chills and fever, headache and generalized body pain. These result from the invasion of wind and cold at the superficial region of the body, the failure of the Defensive-Qi to spread, and obstruction in the blood circulation. 

Gui Zhi is pungent, warm and sweet. Besides expelling wind and cold to treat exterior syndrome, Gui Zhi is able to warm the blood, promote blood circulation and reduce the general pain, stiffness and cold. It is particularly chosen as deputy to enhance the strength of chief herbs to expel wind-cold in treating a severe excess condition of wind-cold syndrome when the general pain of the body is severe. 

A side effect of Xi Xin occurs when it is applied incorrectly. Because it is very hot and pungent, it can easily injure the Yin, blood, body fluid and Qi. It should not be used, or must be used with caution, in patients who suffer from exterior wind-cold syndrome where internal heat also coexists and the Yin, blood and body fluids are deficient. The dosage of Xi Xin should also be controlled carefully in the range of 1-3 g per day for crude herbs. If the powdered herbal extract is used, the dosage should be reduced to 0.1 -0.5 g per day. Overdose may cause numbness in the throat and tongue, a stifling... 

Bai Shao Yao is often selected in the deficiency condition of an exterior wind-cold syndrome when the Yin, body fluids and blood are weakened through sweating. 

Gui Zhi is sweet and warm, and primarily enters the Heart meridian. It has an aromatic smell that gives this herb a thin pungent property, which makes it move quickly and lightly. It can particularly warm the blood, stimulate the Heart and promote the blood circulation thus it can treat cold hands and feet, cramp of the muscles and pain due to cold obstruction of the blood circulation. In addition, Gui Zhi also enters the Lung and Bladder meridians, is able to expel wind and cold in the superficial region and can therefore treat exterior wind-cold syndrome. 

Deputy Regulate the Qi and blood, enhance the strength of the chief herbs to expel wind-cold treat the secondary syndrome and coexisting syndromes... 

Cold obstructs the warm spreading of Yang, the movement of the Qi and the circulation of the blood. Patients therefore suffer from cold sensation, severe pain and cramp of the muscles, and stiffness of limbs, such as in a Bi syndrome caused by wind, cold and dampness. 

These six herbs are effective for treating Bi syndrome as a result of cold. They are very hot and pungent, and have strong ascending and dispersing abilities. They can strongly disperse wind, cold and dampness, intensively warm the meridians, accelerate the movement of Qi and blood, and thus effectively relieve pain. 

When Qi, Yang, fire and wind are ascending in an acute pathological condition, herbs that move Qi, blood or Yang upwards and outwards should be used with caution. Relevant formulas here are those which treat Bi syndrome or exterior syndrome caused by wind, damp and cold, formulas that disperse and spread the Liver-Qi and formulas that treat headache caused by Qi and blood stagnation. 

In chronic Bi syndromes, blood stagnation often presents with wind, damp, cold or heat in the syndrome. Because wind, dampness and cold can block the Qi and blood circulation, they should be removed in order to improve the blood circulation. 

This formula expels wind and eliminates dampness from the superficial and subcutaneous regions of the body. It treats wind-dampness in the superficial level of the body together with blockage of Qi movement and blood circulation - an acute and excess condition. This syndrome is manifested as stiffness and pain of the neck, back and shoulders, headache, heaviness of the body, aversion to cold with mild fever, a white, slightly sticky tongue coating and a superficial pulse. 

This formula has the function of expelling wind, dampness and cold, stopping pain, tonifying the Qi and blood, and strengthening the liver and Kidney. It is used to treat chronic Bi syndrome due to wind and damp with a chronic condition of blood and Qi deficiency. 

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