Herbs that Regulate Qi

Jul 11, 2024

Take quiz

Review flashcards

Herbs that Regulate Qi

Introduction

  • Purpose of Lecture: Discuss herbs that regulate Qi, their functions, specific herbs within this category, and formulas that include these herbs.
  • Resources: Slides, flashcards, and practice tests can be found via provided links.
  • Sponsor: Supported by viewers and contributors via Patreon and Buy Me a Coffee.

Understanding Regulating Qi

  • Two Main Goals:
    1. Ensure Qi is moving (prevent stagnation).
    2. Ensure Qi is moving in the correct direction (prevent rebellion).

Qi Direction in Organ Systems

  • Lung: Downward direction (down-bear Qi when breathing in).
  • Spleen: Upward direction (raises the clear).
  • Stomach: Downward direction (down-bear food into small intestine).
  • Liver: Upwards and outwards (free courses Qi into limbs like tree branches).

Issues with Qi

  • Rebellious Qi: When Qi moves in the wrong direction (e.g., cough, nausea, belching due to improper lung/stomach Qi direction).
  • Liver Qi: Often moves upwards excessively, causing liver yang rising.

Treatable Conditions with Qi-Regulating Herbs

  • Stagnation and Rebellious Qi: Herbs treat both conditions—Qi stagnation often leads to rebellious Qi.

Treatment and Terms

  • Chinese Terms:
    • Qi stagnation (氣滯, Qi Zhì) and Rebellious Qi (逆氣, Ni Qi)
    • Treat with herbs that either move Qi (行氣, Xíng Qì) or descend Qi (降氣, Jiàng Qì).
  • Rebellion Scenarios: Liver Qi failing to course properly can lead to cold extremities.
  • Specific Terms:
    • Qi constraint/depression (氣鬱, Qì Yù): Often due to liver failure in free coursing.

Treatment Actions

  • Course and Relieve Constraint: Moving and breaking Qi to relieve stagnation and counter-flow.
  • Herbs:
    • Acrid (moves and disperses), aromatic (awakens), and bitter (downward movement).

Types of Qi Regulation

  • Middle Jiao Qi: Spleen/Stomach issues like distension, bloating, vomiting.
  • Liver Qi: Manifests as headache, chest tightness, irregular menses, etc.
  • Lung Qi: Generally not covered in this category.

Herb Properties

  • Taste and Temperature:
    • Acrid, aromatic for middle Jiao, bitter for descending Qi.
    • Mostly warm, with a few exceptions that are cool.
  • Channel Entry: Herbs enter SP/ST for middle Jiao Qi and LV/GB for liver Qi.
  • Cautions: Generally warm and drying – may cause heat or damage Yin. Use caution in pregnancy.
  • Pain Relief: Many herbs relieve pain by moving Qi.

Individual Herbs

  1. Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel)
    • Regulates middle Jiao, strengthens spleen, dries dampness, and transforms phlegm.
    • Useful in preventing stagnation from tonifying herbs.
  2. Ju Hong (Red Tangerine Peel)
    • Warmer and drier than Chen Pi, primarily used in similar ways.
  3. Qing Pi (Green Tangerine Peel)
    • Breaks up liver Qi, stronger action, treats liver-related pain and distension.
  4. Zhi Shi (Unripe Bitter Orange)
    • Moves Qi downward, treats constipation and abdominal pain, transforms phlegm.
  5. Zhi Ke (Ripe Bitter Orange)
    • Similar to Zhi Shi but milder and safer, especially for expanding the chest.
  6. Da Fu Pi (Betel Nut Husk)
    • Moves middle Jiao Qi, treats incomplete bowel movements, promotes urination.
  7. Xiang Fu (Cyperus Rhizome)
    • Regulates liver Qi, especially for menstrual disorders, neutral to cool in temperature.
  8. Mu Xiang (Aucklandia Root)
    • Regulates middle Jiao Qi, stops pain, moves large intestine Qi for damp-heat diarrhea.
  9. Wu Yao (Lindera Root)
    • Regulates Qi, warms channels and interior, treats hernia pain and urinary issues.
  10. Chen Xiang (Aquilaria Wood)
    • Regulates middle Jiao Qi, stops pain, treats cold stagnation, warms kidney.
  11. Tan Xiang (Sandalwood)
    • Regulates Qi, stops pain, opens the chest, especially for damp-heat conditions.
  12. Chuan Lian Zi (Melia Fruit)
    • Regulates liver Qi, stops pain, cold in temperature, treats heat-related liver stagnation, kills parasites.
    • Also known as Jin Ling Zi.
  13. Additional Herbs (not part of main syllabus but useful for exams):
    • Shi Bai (Chinese Chives): Unblocks chest Qi and disperses phlegm.
    • Fo Shou (Buddha's Hand): Regulates all types of Qi, transforms phlegm.
    • Mei Gui Hua (Chinese Rosebud): Harmonizes liver and spleen, regulates menstruation.

Formulas Featuring Qi-Regulating Herbs

  1. Er Chen Tang
    • Primary Herbs: Ban Xia, Chen Pi.
    • Treats: Phlegm dampness in the spleen or lungs.
  2. Chai Hu Shu Gan San
    • Primary Herb: Chai Hu.
    • Treats: Liver Qi constraint, includes Zhi Ke, Xiang Fu, Chen Pi.
  3. Gua Lou Xie Bai Bai Jiu Tang
    • Treats: Chest pain due to phlegm and Qi stagnation.
  4. Jin Ling Zi San
    • Treats: Liver Qi stagnation transforming into heat.
    • Key Herb: Chuan Lian Zi.
  5. Tian Tai Wu Yao San
    • Treats: Hernia pain due to cold stagnation in the liver channel.
    • Key Herbs: Wu Yao, Mu Xiang, Qing Pi, Chuan Lian Zi.

Review Checklist

  1. Separate herbs by Qi type they regulate (middle Jiao vs. liver).
  2. Note herb temperatures (warm vs. cool/neutral).
  3. Identify herbs' specialties or additional actions (e.g., Chen Pi for dampness, Xiang Fu for menstruation).

Thank you for attending. Next lecture: Herbs that regulate blood.