Herbal remedies

An herb is a plant that is valued for qualities such as medicinal properties, flavor, scent, or the like. Herbal medicine is the natural therpies. In the philosophical view, it reflects the nature in totality and it is the expression of a universal harmony and equilibrium, the rupture of pathogenic facture which gives rise to numerous ill effects, among them environmental devastation in the biosphere and ill-health in the individual.

Formulas – Combination of herbs

Formulas that Release the Exterior

¨       Indication: fever and chill without sweating, headache, generalized body aches. Wind Cold disorders are marked by fever and chills, head and body aches, clear or white secretions (nasal discharge, sputum)

¨       Example: Ephedra Decoction.

Fomulas that Clear Heat

¨       Indication: High fever with profuse sweating and an aversion to hear, a red face, severe thirst and irritability. May also headache, toothache, or bleeding of the gums and nose.

¨       Example: White Tiger Decoction (bai hu tang)

Formulas that Drain Downward

¨       Indication: Severe constipation and flatulence, focal distention and abdominal fullness, abdominal pain

¨       Example: Major Order the Qi Decoction

Formulas that Treat Dryness

¨       Indication: dryness itself directly injures the lungs. It comes with a cough with little sputum. It caused dry mouth, throat, and thirsty irritability.

¨       Example: Apricot Krnel and Perilla Leaf Poweder (xing su san)

Formulas that Expel Dampness

¨       Indication: Dampness is one of Yin pathogenic influences, which has heavy and sluggish nature. The most common sign of dampness is to affect urination system including edema, urinary obstruction, and painful urinary dysfunction. Diarrhea may also appear in cases due to dysfunction of water metabolism.

¨       Example: Five Ingredient Power with Poria (wu ling san)

Formulas that Warm Interior Cold

¨       Indication: This formula is used for treatment of cold in the interior. The cold congeals in the channels and obstructs the flow of Qi. These formulas scatter the invading cold. Cold causes diarrhea with watery stool, nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain.

¨       Example: Regulate the Middle Pill (li zhong wan)

Formulas that Tonify

¨       Indication: Formulas that tonify the Qi are primarily used in treating conditions that involve the Spleen and Lungs. These organs produce the body’s Qi, which is derived from food absorbed by the Spleen and from air taken in by the Lungs. General symptoms of Qi deficiency include fatigue, reduced appetite, loose stool, and weakness in the limbs. 

¨       Example: Four Gentleman Decoction (si jun zi tang).

¨       Indication: Formulas are used in treating conditions due to blood deficiency.
Common indications of blood deficiency include dizziness, vertigo, cracked nails, palpitations, dry and itchy skin, insomnia, constipation, long menstrual cycles with scanty. 

¨       Example: Four-Substance Decoction-si wu tang.

Formulas that Stabilize and Bind

¨       Indication: there are two common causes for the improper discharge or leakage of fluids and other substances (including sweat, sputum, blood, urine, stool, sperm and leucorrhea) from the body. The strategy these formulas are to combine tonigying substances, which strengthen these processes with astringent  substances that firm up the processes and thereby prevent abnormal leakage. Diarrhea which occurs daily just before sunrise. Soreness of the lower back with  cold limbs.

¨       Example: Four Miracle Pill (sis hen wan)

¨       Indication: Fever, Night sweats, dry mouth and irritability.  The night sweats due to raging fire from deficiency.

¨       Example: Tangkuei and Six yellow Decoction (ang gui liu huang tang)

Formulas that Calm the Spirit

¨       Indication: Disturbances of the spirit due to deficiency of the blood and yin of the Heart usually manifest in palpitations, irritability, and insomnia. The proper strategy is to enrich the yin and nourish the blood of the Heart.

For patients who have suffered sudden, terrifying experiences, or in whom the Heart yang is ascendant with upward blazing of Heart fire. This results in such disturbances of the spirit as severe anxiety or phobia, restlessness, and uncontrolled emotions (usually manifested in bouts of laughter or crying).

Formulas that Treat Phlegm

¨       Indication: Phlegm interferes with the proper flow of Qi and may affect all parts of the body. Its manifestations are diverse and include coughing and wheezing, nausea, dizziness or vertigo, nodules or lumps, and seizures.

Formulas that Reduce Food Stagnation

¨       Indication: Food stagnation refers broadly to the accumulation and stagnation of food in the digestive system characterized by epigastric and abdominal focal distention and fullness, and aversion to food, rotten-smelling belching, abdominal pain, and sometimes diarrhea.

Update date: 3/14/2008

Author: Dr. Sool Kim