Dampness exterior

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. 

Xiang Ru is the warmest of these three herbs. It is able to induce sweating, disperse wind and dampness, and release the exterior. It is especially useful... 

Chen Pi is pungent, bitter and slightly warm. It enters the Stomach and Spleen meridians and is effective in regulating the Qi of these organs. Its aromatic smell can stimulate the Spleen, transform dampness and soothe the Stomach-Qi. It is often used in an exterior condition if there are symptoms such as distension and pain in the abdomen, reduced appetite, fullness in the stomach, nausea and vomiting. 

The Spleen is regarded as a Yin organ and it is easily injured by exterior damp-heat or cold. If the Spleen fails to transport water and food that has accumulated in the Middle-Jiao, this will eventually generate heat in a Yang constitution. Persistent accumulation of damp-heat in the Middle-Jiao may develop damp-heat in the Large Intestine. Both syndromes have a lingering process of pathological development. 

Huo Xiang is warm and can disperse and dissolve dampness in the Middle-Jiao. It also enters the Lung meridian and can treat exterior dampness as well. It is used in the syndrome where nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal cramp are accompanied by fever, chills and a heavy sensation in the body. 

The formulas that stabilize and bind are only used in deficiency conditions. There should be no exterior pathogenic factors or phlegm, dampness or blood stagnation in the body. Otherwise, they may retain the pathogenic factors in the body. 

Exterior dampness is a Yin pathogenic factor. It often invades the body with wind and cold. 

The exterior dampness stays at the skin, the subcutaneous region, the muscles and the joints. It blocks the Qi movement and blood circulation, and causes Bi syndrome. 

If exterior dampness accumulates in the Upper-Jiao and superficial region of the body, warm, aromatic or pungent herbs that enter the Lung, Bladder and Spleen meridians, and can disperse and induce mild sweating are often selected. 

Gang Zhu is pungent, bitter and warm, and enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians. It has a strong drying nature. It can either disperse the exterior dampness from the meridians or transform the interior dampness in the Middle-Jiao. Thus it can be chosen as chief in formulas that treat dampness. 

This formula can release exterior, transform dampness, regulate the Qi and harmonize the Middle-Jiao. It is used for treating invasion of exterior pathogenic wind-cold-dampness in the superficial region, as well as obstruction of damp-cold in the Middle-Jiao by inappropriate eating and drinking. 

Huo Xiang is used as chief. It has the function of either expelling wind, damp and cold from the exterior, or eliminating damp-cold from the Middle-Jiao. These functions are derived from its warm, pungent and aromatic properties and the ability to enter the Lung, Stomach and Spleen meridians. 

Zi Su Ye, Bai Zhi and Jie Geng enhance the ability of Huo Xiang to expel wind, dampness and cold in the exterior. 

Damp-febrile disease is one type of febrile disease the other is warm-febrile disease, which is discussed in Chapter 3, Internal heat syndrome and formula composition. Damp-febrile disease is an infectious disease caused by exterior pathogenic damp-heat and is related to area and climate. 

Pathogenic damp-heat invades the body through the nose and mouth. Sometimes the body reacts directly to the pathogenic factor, starting with exterior syndrome characterized by fever and chills with a superficial pulse. 

Second, herbs that expel exterior pathogenic factors and remove dampness and phlegm are selected. 

This chapter introduces the principles, methods and strategies for the composition of formulas that expel exterior wind, damp, cold and heat from the skin, subcutaneous region, meridians and collaterals. They are used to treat Bi syndrome, Wei syndrome and certain skin disorders. 

Damp patches. These are usually caused by differences in the capillary absorptivity of the masonry and are visible on exterior walls as uneven patchy areas after rain (Figure 6.8). 

Functions To emit perspiration and relieve the exterior, scatter wind and eliminate dampness while simultaneously boosting the qi... 

Because many of the medicinals in this formula are warm, windy, and drying, this formula should only be used for the treatment of exterior pattern wind, cold, and dampness. It is contraindicated in cases where there is heat. 

If there are fever and aversion to cold due to exterior patterns of summerheat and dampness, add Herba Menthae Bo He). This results in Ji Su San (Cock-waking Powder). 

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