Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold (Chapter 11)

Practice vocabulary flashcards covering the properties, actions, dosages, and contraindications of Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold according to Chapter 11 of Bensky.

Herbs that Warm the Interior and Expel Cold

A category of herbs (Bensky Chapter 11) used for Cold in the Interior or Internal Cold, often caused by an external attack or Yang deficiency (Spleen, Heart, Liver, Lungs, or Kidney).

Zhi Fu Zi (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Preparata)

The processed daughter root of Szechuan Aconite/Monkshood; it revives devastated Yang, tonifies Ming Men (Gate of Vitality), and guides the actions of other herbs to all 12 channels.

Zhi Fu Zi Dosage & Preparation

Dosage is $3-15\,g$; it is toxic and must be boiled for $30-60\,\text{minutes}$ prior to adding other herbs to the decoction.

Lu Dou

The specific antidote used for Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) toxicity.

Zhi Cao Wu (Aconiti Kusnezoffi Radix Preparata)

Processed wild Aconite Root; very toxic and almost exclusively used topically to scour Wind, disperse Cold, and break up accumulations of stagnant Qi.

Gan Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma)

Dried Ginger Root; it warms the Spleen/Stomach, transforms thin mucus (white/watery), and revives Spleen Yang.

Pao Jiang

Dry fried and blackened ginger root used to warm the channels and stop cold-type bleeding (thin, chronic, pale bleeding).

Rou Gui (Cinnamomi Cortex)

Cinnamon Bark; it warms and tonifies Heart, Kidney, and Spleen Yang, disperses deep Cold, and leads Fire back to its source (Ming Men Fire).

Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus)

Evodia Fruit; strongly warms the Middle and Lower Burner, redirects rebellious Qi downward to stop vomiting, and treats vertex headaches.

Hua Jiao (Zanthoxyli Pericarpium)

Sichuan Pepper; warms the Middle, kills parasites (roundworms), and is used externally as a wash for eczema (pruritus) or yeast infections.

Gao Liang Jiang (Alpiniae Officinarum Rhizoma)

Galangal; specifically warms the Stomach to treat epigastric pain, hiccup, and Sudden Turmoil Disorder (vomiting and diarrhea).

Ding Xiang (Caryophylli Flos)

Clove; warms the Middle Jiao, directs Stomach Qi downward to treat hiccups, and can be used locally to numb toothaches.

Xiao Hui Xiang (Foeniculi Fructus)

Fennel Seed; warms the Liver and Kidneys to treat bulging disorders (Shan DO) and regulates Qi in the Stomach for indigestion/gas.

Bi Ba (aka Bi Bo) (Piperis Longi Fructus)

Long Pepper Fruit; warms the Middle Burner and releases constrained Cold in the intestines; often cooked in congee as food therapy.

Hu Jiao (Piperis Fructus)

White/Black Pepper; eliminates pathogenic Cold in the Stomach and Intestines to treat vomiting and diarrhea.

Si Ni Tang (Frigid Extremities Decoction)

A common formula containing Zhi Fu Zi, Gan Jiang, and Zhi Gan Cao, used when Yang deficiency is so severe the body is icy cold.

Shan DO

Bulging disorders, often involving the Liver channel and groin pain/testicular issues, treated by herbs like Xiao Hui Xiang.

Ming Men

The Gate of Vitality; fortified primarily by Zhi Fu Zi and Rou Gui.

Comparison: Gan Jiang vs. Zhi Fu Zi

Both rescue devastated Yang, but Gan Jiang is specific to Spleen/Stomach Yang with a longer effect, while Zhi Fu Zi is for Heart/Kidney Yang and is more penetrating.