Dampness damp-cold syndrome

Hua Jiao has similar functions to Cao Dou Kou, but is much warmer, so its ability to dry dampness and disperse cold is stronger. Since this is a poisonous herb and it moves quickly in the Middle-Jiao, it is only used for acute excessive damp-cold syndrome for a short period of time, such as for severe cramping pain in the abdomen, frequent and urgent bowel movement and watery stools. 

In the diagnosis, the syndrome of dampness can be divided into damp-cold syndrome and damp-heat syndrome, which are decided by constitution and dietary habit of the individual, as well as the nature of the pathogenic factors. The treatment principles and the strategies of composing formulas are quite different in these two types. For clarity, these two syndromes are discussed separately. 

Figure 7.1 Etiology and pathology of internal damp-cold syndrome.

For patients who suffer from a cold syndrome, raw and cold food should be avoided. For patients who suffer from a heat syndrome or a syndrome where the Liver-Yang is ascending, spicy, heavy food, coffee and alcohol should be avoided. For patients who suffer from syndromes of damp-phlegm or damp-heat accumulation, sweet heavy food, milk products, nuts and alcohol should be avoided. Patients who suffer from skin disorders or have wounds which are characterized by itching, oozing and redness should avoid seafood, spicy food and alcohol. 

These three herbs are able to expel wind, cold and dampness from the skin, subcutaneous region and muscles. They can be selected as chief in a formula to treat a severe excess condition of wind-cold syndrome. 

Qin Jiao is neutral, bitter and pungent. Its function of expelling wind, dampness and cold is gentler than that of the other two herbs. It is more suitable for treating a deficiency condition of wind-cold syndrome. It is also used for conditions where there is coexisting heat. 

This formula can induce sweating and expel wind, cold and dampness. It is used in a common case of an excess condition of a wind-cold syndrome, or at the initial stage of a febrile disease. Patients suffer from chills, fever, headache with a heavy sensation, no sweating and have a blocked nose. A white tongue coating and a superficial, rapid pulse are seen in this syndrome. 

Fu Zi is a very pungent and hot herb. It enters the 12 regular meridians and moves quickly without any staying tendency. It can very quickly spread the Yang in the body. With these features, it treats internal cold syndrome. Since Fu Zi can spread the warmth quickly to the whole body through the 12 meridians, it can scatter cold and dampness in the body like the sun with the fog. This is the reason why Fu Zi is a very commonly used herb to treat Bi syndrome caused by cold, dampness and wind, as well as Yang deficiency of the body. Although Fu Zi... 

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. 

To treat Bi syndrome, herbs that expel damp-cold from the meridians are used. 

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