Regulate Qi - Actions & Indications

chen pi

Actions

• Regulates qi of both LU and ST/SP

• Dries dampness and transforms phlegm

• Helps in preventing stagnation; aids in the digestion of rich formulas

Indications

• Epigastric distention, abdominal distention

• Bloating, fullness, belching, nausea

• Stifling sensation in chest, coughing

• Loss of appetite, fatigue, loose stool

qing pi

Actions

• Regulates qi of LV and ST

• Dries dampness and phlegm, dissipates clumps

• No action on LU

Indications

• Distention, pain in the chest, breast or hypochondriac regions, bulging disorder pain

• Food stagnation with accumulation manifesting as pain or distention

mei gui hua

Actions

• Harmonizes LV and SP/ST qi

• Moves blood and relieves pain

• Calms and nourishes shen

Indications

• Stifling sensation in chest, pain and distention in flanks and epigastrium, belching, poor appetite

• Irregular menses, premenstrual breast tenderness, menstrual pain

• Blood stagnation secondary to trauma

xie bai

Actions

• Moves and warms qi of the chest

• Xiong bi due to cold; chest-bi syndrome

• Moves qi and blood to treat abdominal and chest pain

Indications

• Chest-bi, chest, flank, or upper back pain, dyspnea, cough, wheezing, stifling sensation in chest

tan xiang

Actions

• Moves qi through chest and abdomen

Indications

• Modern use for heart disease

chen xiang

Actions

• Relieves qi stagnation in middle jiao

• Aids the kidneys to grasp the qi

Indications

• Distention, pain, or a feeling of pressure in the epigastric or abdominal region especially problems d/t cold from deficiency or blood stasis

• Asthma, wheezing, dyspnea, difficulty inhaling, hiccups

da fu pi

Actions

• Drives rebellious qi downward from middle jiao

• Promotes urination to relieve edema

• Moves stool downward

• “Big abdomen peel”

Indications

• Epigastric and abdominal distention

• Discomfort with difficult bowel movements

• Mild edema or superficial facial edema

fo shou

Actions

• Spreads and regulates LV qi

• Harmonizes ST, strengthens SP

• Dries phlegm, especially “dog froth”

Indications

• Rib or flank pain, distention, belching

• Epigastric pain, fullness, distention

• Lack of appetite, belching, vomiting

• Chronic cough with chest pain with copious sputum

chuan lian zi

Actions

• Moves qi, stops pain

• Cold to clear heat, bitter to dry dampness

• Kills parasites, slightly toxic

Indications

• Pain in the chest/ribs, distention and pain from LV/ST disharmony, bulging disorders

• Pain d/t roundworms, tapeworms

wu yao

Actions

• Warms and moves lower jiao qi

• Alleviates pain in flank, abdomen and chest

• Moves cold stagnation; mainly used to warm KD/BL

Indications

• Stifling sensation in chest, flank pain, epigastric/abdominal pain d/t constraint from cold

• Lower abdominal pain, bulging disorders, menstrual pain

• Urinary infrequency, incontinence d/t cold from deficiency

mu xiang

Actions

• Aromatically moves lower jiao qi

• Regulates stagnant qi in the intestines

• Strengthens SP

Indications

• Lack of appetite, food sitting in stomach, epigastric distention, nausea, vomiting, pain, distention, trapped gas

• Diarrhea, dysenteric disorders, abdominal pain, tenesmus

• Weak transformation/transportation of SP

xiang fu

Actions

• Regulates LV qi

• Harmonizes LV and SP

• Regulates menses/emotions by regulating at blood level

• Duiyao pair with Chuan Xiong

Indications

• Hypochondriac pain and epigastric distention, flank pain, PMS

• Dysmenorrhea, irregular menses

zhi ke

Actions

• Moves qi of the middle jiao

• Descends qi

• Weaker than Zhi Shi

Indications

• Cough, distention, constipation

zhi shi

Actions

• Breaks up stagnant qi

• Transforms phlegm and expels focal distention

• Unblocks constipation when used with purgatives

• Recently used to increase blood pressure

Indications

• Epigastric or abdominal pain and distention, or indigestion with focal distention or gas

• Focal distention and fullness in chest and epigastrium

• Low blood pressure