Herbs that Expel Wind-Dampness

[Guest guest]

This is a basic post for those new to TCM. Since readers in the

northern hemisphere are coming up on spring - a season when Wind is

the predominate atmospheric condition - I thought this would be a

timely topic.

 

The Chinese Materia Medica is a book listing all healing substances

used in TCM and their properties. To simplify wordomg. animal parts

and minerals and fungi are also called " herbs " (though it's

understood they are not).

 

TCM herbs are classifed according to their main use. For example Qi

tonic herbs are those that supplement qi (pronounced chee, loosely

translated as " energy " ). Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

(like dried ginger) do what the name of the category says they do.

They warm a person up who is too Cold on the inside and expel the

Cold.

 

One of the classifications in the TCM Materia Medica is " Herbs that

Dispel Wind-Dampness. " The main thing we're talking about here are

arthritis and rheumatism. In Chinese this is called " bi " syndrome.

This translates as " painful obstruction " syndrome.

 

Arthritis and rheumatism are two of the few conditions that do

correspond to TCM imbalances. The Chinese see bi syndrome as being

due to invasion by Cold, Damp, and/or Wind.

 

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble in Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia

Medica, Revised Edition, go into the 4 major types of bi syndrome:

 

" Wind-predominant painful obstruction, also known as migratory

painful obstruction (xing bi): The migratory characteristic of wind

prevails with pain that moves from joint to joint. "

 

The pain doesn't stay in one place. One day it may be in the fingers

and the next in the wrist. It moves around.

 

" Cold-predominant painful obstruction, also known as afflictive or

very painful obstruction (tong bi): The fixed and congealing quality

of cold prevails with such symptoms as severe, fixed pain which is

aggravated by exposure to cold, and reduced mobility of the joints. "

 

The key symptoms are that the pain is very intense (can feel like it

goes straight through the bone or joint), it stays in one place, and

the pain gets worse and the person can't move as well when exposed to

cold.

 

" Damp-predominant painful obstruction, also known as lodged painful

obstruction (zhuo bi): The lingering nature of dampness prevails with

such symptoms as fixed pain, swelling of the extremities, and

numbness of the muscles and skin. "

 

Like cold-predominate bi, damp-predominate bi also stays in one

place. But you also get swelling and numbness.

 

" Hot painful obstruction, also known as febrile painful obstruction

(re bi): Heat predominates in this acute disorder with such symptoms

as heat, pain and swelling of the joints, fever, thirst, yellow

tongue coating, and rapid pulse. "

 

Any Pernicious Evil (Heat, Cold, Wind, Dampness, or Dryness) can

transform into Heat and then into destructive Fire. This is what

happens in some cases of arthritis. The Cold, Damp, and/or Wind

becomes trapped and turns into Heat and even Fire. Naturally

treatment is going to have to vary if Damp, Cold, or WEind have

transformed into Heat and Fire. The thirst, yellow tongue-coating,

the color red, and rapid pulse are all general symptoms of Heat

somewhere in the body. The skin in the area of the painful joints

may also be reddish.

 

" The selection of herbs for painful obstruction is based on the

nature of the disorder, the site of the pain, the age and constituion

of the patient, and the stage of the illness. "

 

All of the herbs in this class will expel Wind-Dampness. But, they

each have different properties besides that. For example, Du Huo,

aka Radix (root of) Angelicae Pubescentis, is Bitter and Acrid in

taste, and its thermal energy is warm. It specifically targets the

Kidney and Bladder. This one can be particularly good if the person

is getting hit by all three Pernicious Evils, Cold, Wind, and Damp.

It will take care of all three. It's also particularly good if the

painful obstruction is in the lower back and knees because it

specifically targets the Kidneys. (Pain in the lower back and knees

is a symptom of Kidney imbalance, and Du Huo specifically targets the

Kidneys. In TCM, an Organ is a collection of functions, and includes

more than just the anatomical organ. This is why the names of TCM

Organs are capitalized.)

 

On the other hand, Qin Jiao, aka RAdix (root of) Gentianae Qinjiao

has a bitter and acrid taste like Du Huo, butit's thermal energy is

slightly cold. This is one to consider in cases where the bi

syndrome has turned into hot bi.

 

Qin Jiao specifically targets the Gallbladder, Liver, and Stomach. If

there is pain along the course of one of these meridians, Qin Jiao

may be the best of the Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness to use.

 

In addition, Qin Jiao has the property of moistening " the Intestines

and unblocks the bowels " (p. 157). Because most of the herbs in this

class are drying (they expel Dampness), an herbalist may include a

little bit of Qin Jiao in the formula to prevent the other herbs in

this class from triggering dry constipation.

 

" Some of the herbs have a tonifying effect on the Liver or Kidneys

and therefore strengthen their associated tissues, the sinews and

bones. " The Liver is associated with the sinews, and the Kidneys

with the bones. If the pain is in the bones, one of the herbs in

this class that is tonic to the Kidneys may be chosen. If the pain

is in the sinews, one of the herbs which is tonic to the Liver may be

chosen.

 

Bensky adn Gamble go on to say that when taken for bi syndrome, these

herbs often are tinctured in alcohol because the alcohol has a mvoing

effect that is helpful in cases of bi syndrome.

 

The two authors also recommend combining herbal therapy with other

treatments such as " acupuncture, the topical application of medicinal

plasters and liniments, and massage therapy. " (p. 155) It would add

that sometimes heating pads (for Cold Bi) or ice packs (Hot Bi) may

be called for too.

 

" From the perspecitive of modern biomedicine, these herbs have

analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and circulation-promoting

properties. "

 

Becaues these herbs are aromatic and may be warming and are drying,

use cautiously in cases of Blood or Yin Deficiency.

 

Info taken from above referenced book, pp. 155 -157.

 

Victoria

[Guest guest]

I was talking to someone the other day and they said that pecan tree bark tea

and also green walnut extract had had a good effect on their friend's cancer?

Comment?

" victoria_dragon <victoria_dragon " <victoria_dragon

wrote:This is a basic post for those new to TCM. Since readers in the

northern hemisphere are coming up on spring - a season when Wind is

the predominate atmospheric condition - I thought this would be a

timely topic.

 

The Chinese Materia Medica is a book listing all healing substances

used in TCM and their properties. To simplify wordomg. animal parts

and minerals and fungi are also called " herbs " (though it's

understood they are not).

 

TCM herbs are classifed according to their main use. For example Qi

tonic herbs are those that supplement qi (pronounced chee, loosely

translated as " energy " ). Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

(like dried ginger) do what the name of the category says they do.

They warm a person up who is too Cold on the inside and expel the

Cold.

 

One of the classifications in the TCM Materia Medica is " Herbs that

Dispel Wind-Dampness. " The main thing we're talking about here are

arthritis and rheumatism. In Chinese this is called " bi " syndrome.

This translates as " painful obstruction " syndrome.

 

Arthritis and rheumatism are two of the few conditions that do

correspond to TCM imbalances. The Chinese see bi syndrome as being

due to invasion by Cold, Damp, and/or Wind.

 

Dan Bensky and Andrew Gamble in Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia

Medica, Revised Edition, go into the 4 major types of bi syndrome:

 

" Wind-predominant painful obstruction, also known as migratory

painful obstruction (xing bi): The migratory characteristic of wind

prevails with pain that moves from joint to joint. "

 

The pain doesn't stay in one place. One day it may be in the fingers

and the next in the wrist. It moves around.

 

" Cold-predominant painful obstruction, also known as afflictive or

very painful obstruction (tong bi): The fixed and congealing quality

of cold prevails with such symptoms as severe, fixed pain which is

aggravated by exposure to cold, and reduced mobility of the joints. "

 

The key symptoms are that the pain is very intense (can feel like it

goes straight through the bone or joint), it stays in one place, and

the pain gets worse and the person can't move as well when exposed to

cold.

 

" Damp-predominant painful obstruction, also known as lodged painful

obstruction (zhuo bi): The lingering nature of dampness prevails with

such symptoms as fixed pain, swelling of the extremities, and

numbness of the muscles and skin. "

 

Like cold-predominate bi, damp-predominate bi also stays in one

place. But you also get swelling and numbness.

 

" Hot painful obstruction, also known as febrile painful obstruction

(re bi): Heat predominates in this acute disorder with such symptoms

as heat, pain and swelling of the joints, fever, thirst, yellow

tongue coating, and rapid pulse. "

 

Any Pernicious Evil (Heat, Cold, Wind, Dampness, or Dryness) can

transform into Heat and then into destructive Fire. This is what

happens in some cases of arthritis. The Cold, Damp, and/or Wind

becomes trapped and turns into Heat and even Fire. Naturally

treatment is going to have to vary if Damp, Cold, or WEind have

transformed into Heat and Fire. The thirst, yellow tongue-coating,

the color red, and rapid pulse are all general symptoms of Heat

somewhere in the body. The skin in the area of the painful joints

may also be reddish.

 

" The selection of herbs for painful obstruction is based on the

nature of the disorder, the site of the pain, the age and constituion

of the patient, and the stage of the illness. "

 

All of the herbs in this class will expel Wind-Dampness. But, they

each have different properties besides that. For example, Du Huo,

aka Radix (root of) Angelicae Pubescentis, is Bitter and Acrid in

taste, and its thermal energy is warm. It specifically targets the

Kidney and Bladder. This one can be particularly good if the person

is getting hit by all three Pernicious Evils, Cold, Wind, and Damp.

It will take care of all three. It's also particularly good if the

painful obstruction is in the lower back and knees because it

specifically targets the Kidneys. (Pain in the lower back and knees

is a symptom of Kidney imbalance, and Du Huo specifically targets the

Kidneys. In TCM, an Organ is a collection of functions, and includes

more than just the anatomical organ. This is why the names of TCM

Organs are capitalized.)

 

On the other hand, Qin Jiao, aka RAdix (root of) Gentianae Qinjiao

has a bitter and acrid taste like Du Huo, butit's thermal energy is

slightly cold. This is one to consider in cases where the bi

syndrome has turned into hot bi.

 

Qin Jiao specifically targets the Gallbladder, Liver, and Stomach. If

there is pain along the course of one of these meridians, Qin Jiao

may be the best of the Herbs that Dispel Wind-Dampness to use.

 

In addition, Qin Jiao has the property of moistening " the Intestines

and unblocks the bowels " (p. 157). Because most of the herbs in this

class are drying (they expel Dampness), an herbalist may include a

little bit of Qin Jiao in the formula to prevent the other herbs in

this class from triggering dry constipation.

 

" Some of the herbs have a tonifying effect on the Liver or Kidneys

and therefore strengthen their associated tissues, the sinews and

bones. " The Liver is associated with the sinews, and the Kidneys

with the bones. If the pain is in the bones, one of the herbs in

this class that is tonic to the Kidneys may be chosen. If the pain

is in the sinews, one of the herbs which is tonic to the Liver may be

chosen.

 

Bensky adn Gamble go on to say that when taken for bi syndrome, these

herbs often are tinctured in alcohol because the alcohol has a mvoing

effect that is helpful in cases of bi syndrome.

 

The two authors also recommend combining herbal therapy with other

treatments such as " acupuncture, the topical application of medicinal

plasters and liniments, and massage therapy. " (p. 155) It would add

that sometimes heating pads (for Cold Bi) or ice packs (Hot Bi) may

be called for too.

 

" From the perspecitive of modern biomedicine, these herbs have

analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and circulation-promoting

properties. "

 

Becaues these herbs are aromatic and may be warming and are drying,

use cautiously in cases of Blood or Yin Deficiency.

 

Info taken from above referenced book, pp. 155 -157.

 

Victoria