Herbs that Regulate Qi

[Guest guest]

This is the class of herbs that gets Qi moving.

 

In the foreword to chapter 9, Bensky and Gamble talk about the

different classes of herbs that deal with pain depending on if it's

Exterior (affecting the head, neck, limbs, muscles, bones, or

meridans (pathways of Qi flow) or Interior (affecting the trunk of

the body, the Organs). They also emphasize that when Qi is blocked,

pain results.

 

" The herbs in this chapter " (Herbs that Regulate the Qi) " are used to

unblock stagnant qi, especially in the Organs. Pain occurs when the

flow of qi is impeded. Pain due to blockage in the channels can

occur anywhere in the body, but is usually found in the head or

extremities. Appropriate herbs for treating blockage in the channels

are generally those that expel wind-dampness and are discussed in

chapter 5. Stagnant qi that affects the Organs, on the other hand,

generally manifests as pain in the chest and abdomen. Treatment is

directed at reestablishing the natural flow and movement of qi. "

(Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica, Revised ed., Dan Bensky and

Andrew Gamble, p. 231.)

 

My note: This does not mean that all headaches are due to wind,

cold, or dampness in the meridians or channels (Exterior). Some

headaches are due to Interior imbalances - like Liver Yang Rising or

Liver Fire Blazing Upwards. And sometimes there will be both

Interior imbalance and wind, cold, and/or dampness in the meridians.

 

" There are three major types of stagnant qi, differentiated according

to the aorgans that are primarily involved:

 

" Stagnant Spleen and Stomach qi. Major symptoms include epigastric "

(middle, upper abdomen - the the vacinity where the stomach is

located) and abdominal distension and pain, belching, gas acid

regurgitation, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea or constipation.

 

" Constrained Liver qi. Major symptoms include a stifling sensation

in the chest, pain in the flanks, loss of appetite, depression,

irritability, and (in severe cases) hernial pain. In women this

disorder can also present as irregular menstruation or swollen,

tender breasts.

 

" Stagnant Lung qi. Major symptoms include coughing and wheezing

accompanied by labored breathing and a stifling sensation in the

chest. " (p. 231)

 

Remember, listings in the Materia Medica list which meridians and

Organs are targeted by a specific herb.

 

Bensky and Gamble go on to say that Herbs that Regulate the Qi rarely

are given alone. (Herbs rarely are given alone in TCM.) What they

are emphasizing is that something caused the Qi to Stagnate and Qi

Stagnation in turn can give rise to other imbalances. It's not

enough just to give an herb that gets Qi moving, one also has to

address the causes and effects of the Qi Stagnation. The elaborate:

 

" For example, if stagnant Spleen and Stomach qi is accompanied by

damp-cold, herbs that unblock the stagnant qi are combined with

others that warm and dry; if there is concurrent food stagnation,

herbs that reduce and conduct are added; and if there is also

deficiency, herbs that augment and strengthen are added to the

prescription. " (p. 231.)

 

" From a modern biomedical perspective, qi may be regarded as an

expression of the physiological activity of the tissues. Thus

understood, stagnant qi is an impediment or malfunction in the

activity of the tissues. Clinically speaking, many cases of stagnant

qi are due to dysfunciton of the gastrointestinal system, which

causes pain. Most of the herbs in this chapter are thought to

optimize the function of the gastrointestinal tract. " (p. 231.)

 

Bensky and Gamble also touch on the two major cautions and

contraidications for Herbs that Regulate Qi: Yin Deficiency and Qi

Deficiency. The Qi Regulating herbs tend to be drying in nature.

Longterm use can injure the Yin. Use can aggravate Dryness problems

in those who are Yin Deficient. (Yin Tonic herbs will need to be

added to the formula in these cases.) Because " by definition " they

disperse Qi, " they should therefore be used with caution in patients

with qi deficiency. " (My note: Some of the herbs in the Qi

Regulating class are safer to use with people who also have Qi

Deficiency than are other herbs in this class. The Materia Medica

will tell you which herbs in this class are the better herbs for

people who have both Qi Stagnation and Qi Deficiency. A Qi Tonic

herb or herbs will need to be added to the formula in these cases.

(p. 231)

 

The authors also caution that because these herbs contain volatile

oils, don't decoct (cook in water) for more than 15 minutes.

Otherwise, you are cooking away some of the active ingredients.

These herbs should be added to the brew in the last 15 minutes of

cooking.

 

In the summary at the end of the chapter, the authors say:

 

" The selection of appropriate herbs in treating stagnant qi disorders

is based upon the type of obstruction (Spleen/ Stomach, Liver, or

Lung), " the nature of the obstruction (hot or cold), and the location

of the pain. " (p. 244)

 

The Materia Medica also lists the thermal energy for each particular

healing substance. Cold, cool, neutral, warm, or hot. Some of the

Qi Regulating herbs have a cooling affect on the body, and some have

a warming effect. In the example that Bensky and Gamble give of cold-

damp accompanying Stagnant Stomach and Spleen Qi, one of the Qi

Regulating herbs that have a warm or hot effect on the body may be a

better choice than one of the Qi Regulating herbs that have a cooling

effect on the body (like Fructus Meliae Toosendan, aka Chuan Lian Zi,

which has cold thermal energy). On the other hand, if there is Heat

in the Stomach, Fructus Meliae Toosendan (chinaberry) may be a better

choice than say Bulbus Allii, aka Xie Bai, aka Chinese chive, which

has warming energy.

 

I want to caution readers that anytime Qi Deficiency is present, also

check for and rule in or rule out Qi Stagnation. If Qi Stagnation

also is present, and you just give Qi Tonic herbs, this is going to

aggravate the problems due to Qi Stagnation. Just giving Qi Tonic

herbs in these cases is going to add Qi to the body that will also be

blocked. Sort of like trying to force water into a hose which has a

blockage in it or a bend in the hose. Straighten the hose or remove

the blockage. Add a Qi Regulating herb to the formula in cases where

both Qi Deficiency and Qi Stagnation are present.

 

A lot (but not all) of the Qi Regulating herbs are citrus products.

 

Victoria