Tonic and dispersing herbs

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The word " tonic " in TCM has a more limited meaning in TCM than it does in

Western herbalism. In TCM a tonic herb refers to an herb that increases

(supplements) something. Herbs classified a Qi tonics increase Qi.

Likewise, Blood tonic herbs increase quality Blood. (Don't restrict your

understanding of Blood Deficiency to the Western concept of anemia though

this may be one of the possible manifestations of Blood Deficiency. Yang

tonic herbs supplement Yang energy when it is in short supply (Yang

Deficiency), and Yin tonic herbs supplement Yin energy when it is Deficient.

 

In contrast, dispersing herbs disperse, get rid of, Pernicious Evils like

Wind, Cold, Heat, etc. Sort of like airing out your kitchen when you burn

something on the stove.

 

Unfortunately, many dispersing herbs also tend to disperse Qi, and over- and

inappropriate use of dispersing herbs can worsen or trigger Qi Deficiency.

This is why Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae) is not a good herb for weight loss.

Ma Huang is a dispersing herb, many if not most cases of obesity have Qi

Deficiency as a Root, and the Ma Huang causes already Deficiency Qi to be in

even shorter supply. Any dispersing herb that makes you sweat - which Ma

Huang does - can worsen or cause Qi Deficiency. BTW, the root of Ephedra -

Radix (Root of) Ephreda (Ma Huang Gen have the opposite effects of Herba

Ephreda (Ma Huang). Ma Huang Gen is an astringent herb. Astringent herbs

stop the leaks of fluids.

 

Some dispersing herbs can aggravate or trigger Blood, Yang, or Yin

Deficiency.

 

The general rule that applies in the majority of cases is when there is a

need to both disperse and tonify, disperse first. Otherwise, the tonifying

herbs can make the Pernicious Evil stronger. For example let's say that

someone with asthma due to Deficiency comes down with a common cold. In

most cases you stop the tonifying herbs and go to dispersing herbs in almost

all cases. You want the person to sweat so Protective Qi can battle the

Wind Chill Root and so the Wind Chill which is invading the body doesn't

become trapped and turn into Fire (pneumonia). Note: After the Wind Chill

invasion reaches a certain level, you want to change treatment from

dispersing to other things. (More about this when you study the Six Stages

of Cold-induced Evils.)

 

However, there are exceptions to this disperse first, then tonify rule when

both a need to disperse and tonify are present. In some cases the person

may be so weak and so old that you have to tonify first or risk killing the

person. If you disperse first, there is so little Qi, Blood, Yang, or Yin

that the dispersal of any of it can push the person over the line. You

tonify first in these cases.

 

Sometimes the proper procedure is to both tonify and disperse (or sedate) at

the same time. In the Scatology Redux article, Bob Flaws talks about the

need for doing both at the same time as set forth in Li Dong-yuan's

treastise Pi Wei Lun in cases of Yin Fire and Spleen vacuity (Deficiency).

 

There also are other times when it's the best to tonify and disperse at the

same time. The TCM herbalist I saw mixed a formula for me that both

tonifies and disperses at the same time.

 

But the general rule that applies in most cases is disperse first then

tonify in cases where a need to both tonify and disperse exists. Otherwise

the tonifying herbs can strenghthen the Pernicious Evil.

 

Victoria

 

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