VIDEO
Herbal Therapy in Traditional Chinese Medicine
What are the differences between the actions of Ma Huang (Ephedrae herba), Zhi Ma Huang (honey-roasted Ephedrae herba) and Ma Huang Gen (Ephedrae radix)?
Ma Huang is also called Sheng Ma Huang. ‘Sheng’ means ‘raw’. Sheng Ma Huang is very pungent and warm.
It is a very strong herb used to expel Wind and Cold to release Exterior Wind-Cold syndrome.
As Sheng Ma Huang is pungent and hot, the dosage should be controlled and it should not be used over a long period of time. Overdose may cause heavy sweating, which injures the Yin, Body Fluids, and Qi. It should be used with caution, especially in patients with a weak constitution and Deficiency syndrome. As its actions have an upward and outward tendency, Ma Huang should not be used or used with caution in cases of hypertension and heart disease.
Zhi Ma Huang is gentler in action compared with Sheng Ma Huang, because roasting with honey moderates the pungent taste. Zhi Ma Huang acquires the nature of honey, which is sweet and moistening, so its dispersing action is not as strong and quick as that of Sheng Ma Huang. It is often used to disperse the Lung-Qi and cause it to descend, to moisten the Lung and stop wheezing. In clinical practice, it is often used for treating asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and acute nephritis.
Ma Huang Gen has completely different characteristics from both Sheng Ma Huang and Zhi Ma Huang. It is neutral, sweet, and astringent, and enters the Lung meridian. It is excellent for stopping sweating. It can be used for treating spontaneous sweating and night sweating. It treats only the symptoms however, so it is often combined with other herbs that treat the cause of sweating. In addition, it should not be used in the syndrome of Phlegm accumulation or Exterior syndrome because it has an astringent property, which can retain Phlegm, close the pores, and retain the pathogenic factors within the body.
What are the characteristic functions of Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi cassiae ramulus)?
‘Twig of plants enters the limbs of human body’: such similes and allegories were often used in ancient times in Chinese medicine to explain the complicated links between the human and the natural environment.
Gui Zhi is an example of this. This herb is the twig of the plant and has a warm, pungent, and sweet nature. Besides expelling Wind and Cold to treat Exterior syndrome, Gui Zhi is often used to treat Bi syndrome. In this case, it can relieve pain and cold sensations in the affected limbs or joints.
The therapeutic effects are achieved by warming and strengthening the Heart-Yang, promoting the Blood circulation, spreading the Yang-Qi and unblocking the meridians, especially in the limbs.
This is why it is often used in Bi syndrome caused by blockage of the circulation of Qi and Blood by Wind, Dampness or Cold; examples are rheumatic fever, rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatic heart disease, Raynaud’s disease and the early and mid phases of vasculitis.
In chronic diseases, when internal Cold blocks the meridians, a small amount (about 10 m) of Gui Zhi alcohol drink is also a preferred formulation for daily use in the diet. Soaking 15 grams of Gui Zhi in a liter of alcohol (about 40% alcohol) made from cereals for 6 weeks yields Gui Zhi alcohol drink.
Alcohol is pungent and warm, so is considered to have the functions of invigorating the Blood and unblocking the meridians. The functions of Gui Zhi and alcohol therefore enhance each other. It is commonly used for chronic Bi syndrome.
As Gui Zhi is pungent and warm, it should be used with caution if there is any deficiency of Yin with Empty-Fire or Liver-Yang rising in the syndrome or in the treatment of Heat-type Bi syndrome.
