Wind-cold syndrome excess condition

Wind-cold syndrome is caused by exogenous pathogenic wind and cold. According to different conditions of health and constitutions, the reaction of the body can be different, thus an excess or a deficiency condition can develop. 

Sheng Jiang and Cong Bai are often used in the initial stage of wind-cold syndrome in either excess or deficiency conditions. In China, a briefly cooked decoction of Sheng Jiang and Cong Bai is a commonly used folk remedy to treat the common cold. 

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. 

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. 

Xi Xin is a very pungent and hot herb with an aromatic smell. It does not enter the Bladder meridian, but does enter the Kidney meridian. It can be selected as deputy in the formula to enhance the action of the chief herbs in treating an excess condition of wind-cold syndrome and can release pain. 

These combinations make this formula effective and safe for short-term use in a severe excess condition of a wind-cold syndrome. 

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. 

Figure 1.1 Pathology of excess condition of wind-cold syndrome.

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. 

---