Aromatic Substances for Opening Orifices

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There is a class of herbs for Opening the Orifices.

 

The following is taken from Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica,

revised ed., Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble, Chapter 15, " Aromatic

Substances that Open the Orifices " , p. 411.

 

" The substances in this chapter are used to open up the sensory

orifices and awaken the spirit. The Heart governs the spirit; when

pahtogenic influences envelop and veil the clear sensory orifices,

the spirit is locked up and the patient becomes delirious or even

comatose. This is the presentation of the closed or 'locked-up'

disorder (bi zheng), a type of wind-stroke which manifests as coma,

locked jaw, clenched fists, rigid limbs, and a forceful pulse. These

substances are also used for treating turbid phlegm veiling the

sensory orifices, which has a similar presentation and may include

seizures. "

 

(This class of herbs is used to open sensory orifices. The orifices

can become closed because of either Wind (called 'closed' or 'locked-

up' disorder) or Phlegm.)

 

" Closed disorders may be further subdivided into two major categories:

 

" Hot closed disorder: symptoms include delirium, irritability,

convulsions, red face, heavy breathing, yellow tongue coating, rapid

pulse, and usually a high fever. This occurs when warm-febrile

diseases enter the nutritive (ying) level as in meningitis,

encephalitis, severe pneumonia, and the toxemic stage of suppurative

infections. It can also occur in heat stroke, endstage liver

disease, uremia, and cerebrovascular accidents. "

 

( " Febrile " means fever. The Chinese divide feverish infections into

two types: The Virulent Heat Evil ones and the Cold-Induced ones.

The Virulent Heat Evil ones will attack 4 levels. These are the Wei,

Qi, Ying, and Blood (Xue) levels. If the infection, heat stroke, or

other Heat Evil has gotten to the Ying level, it's serious. The Ying

level is further divided into Wind and Damp. The " closed " disorders

are those that have an element of Wind. " Suppurative " means

bacterial. The Virulent Heat Evils are so strong that they can

overwhelm even strong Protective Qi. In theory, if one's Qi is

strong enough one is not going to contract one of the Cold-Induced

febrile conditions. But not so with the Virulent Heat Evils.)

 

" Cold closed disorder: symtoms include an ashen or cyanotic face,

cold body, white tongue coating, and a slow pulse. This disorder is

sometimes heralded by a sudden collapse or foaming at the mouth,

which is usually seen in coma from cerebrovascular accidents or

poisonings. "

 

(It is always important in TCM to determine if a condtion and/or

person is Hot or Cold because giving herbs with warm thermal energy

to a person who already is too Hot is going to make the person even

Hotter. Likewise, giving herbs that have a cooling effect on the

body to a person who already is too Cold will make the person even

more Cold. Some imbalances and people (and herbs) will be neutral.

The person is neither too Hot nor too Cold.)

 

" Aromatic substances that open the orifices are scattering by nature

and can drain the source qi. They are used for treating the

manifestation, not the root, of a disorder. " (In the case of Phlegm-

Fire Harassing the Heart or any of the other Phlegm closing or

misting orifices conditions, this is especially important to keep in

mind. Chances are the person already is Qi Deficient or the Phlegm

could not have formed. The Spleen Qi would have been doing its job of

transporting and transforming Fluids. When you use one of the

aromatic substances that Open the Orifices, you are scattering what

Qi there is. So use very cautiously and consider combining with a Qi

tonic herb to increase Qi.)

 

" They " (Aromatic Substances that Open the Orifices) " should not be

used for treating abandoned disorders (tuo zheng) when delirium or

coma follows excessive sweating, excessive vomiting, or hemorrhage,

or if the patient is weak or in shock with such symptoms as severe

sweating, cold limbs, flaccidity, loss of bladder and bowel control,

and a munute, weak pulse. " (Excess sweating, vomiting, and hemorrhage

can all cause Qi Deficiency. Blood Deficiency too.) " In such cases,

substances that warm the middle burner " (Stomach and Spleen) " and

rescue devastated yang would be appropriate.

 

" From a modern biomedical perspective, these substances stimulate the

central nervous system and lead to revival from coma. Paradoxically,

they also have a tranquilizing effect and can thus be used in

treating irritability and stopping spasms. They are almost always

combined with other substances to achieve the optimal effect: for hot

closed disorders, substances that clear heat and relieve toxicity are

used; for cold closed disorders, warm, acrid substances that move the

qi are added. " (Herbs for treating Qi Stagnation. Cold will cause Qi

to Stagnate.)

 

" Because most of these substances are acrid and aromatic, when

ingested they are almost always taken in pill or powder form. "

(Aromatic herbs have volatile oils, and decocting some of the

aromatic herbs can be a problem. Too much heat for too long of a time

can boil away the volatile oils.) " Note that in recent times

substances that open the orifices have been successfully used for

treating angina pectoris. For this purpose they are combined with

substances that warm the middle, promote the movement of qi,

invigorate the blood, and allerviate pain. "

 

One of the main things to remember about the Aromatic Substances that

Open Orifices is that you do not want to use them continuously as

they do scatter Qi and can trigger Qi Deficiency.

 

Most of the herbs in this class are contraindicated in cases of Yin

Deficiency and in pregnancy.

 

Victoria