acupuncture and phytotherapy

Translated by symptoms and drugs… (continued)

Other drugs are used depending on the specification of the symptoms already mentioned. Feeling of fullness in the chest due to Qi stagnation is relieved with Rhizoma Cyperi and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae. Irritability by internal heat is relieved with drugs such as Gypsum Fibrosum or Radix Scutellariae, for example. Note that in the previous paragraph all the drugs belonged to the category of drugs that relieve external syndromes. Drugs in this paragraph already belong to other categories as regulators of Qi or drugs that eliminate heat.

For its part, the patterns of the external patterns “type deficiency” manifests itself when there is a weak defensive response causing the external pathogenic factors enter the wei qi layer and unbalanced wei qi and ying qi. In symptomatic terms we would translate this technical jargon as night sweats, aversion to wind, shallow and weak pulse.

In this case it is necessary to regulate the wei qi (defensive qi) and ying qi (nutritive qi). For this we use drugs ramulus cinnamomi with Paeonniae Radix Alba, for example [i]. The external patterns of “deficient type” can still be complicated by other considerations such as yang or Qi deficiency. In this case, may use Qi tonic drugs as Radix Ginseng to treat a weak pulse and asthenia (fatigue). May use to the drug Radix Aconiti Praeparata to treat cold extremities or generalized cold due to Yang deficiency.

There may be other symptoms such as disorders of the Taiyang level (Bladder and Small Intestine meridians passing through the neck, one of the regions affected by the invasion of external wind) and complained of symptoms such as neck stiffness or pain and stiffness in his back. This case can be used to the drug Radix Puerariae.

It should be recalled that besides these drugs also may use drugs with a more marked effects on the symptoms of a particular organ, regardless of the external pattern or secondary patterns. Once we talk about drugs that relieve external syndromes should be noted that some of its main symptoms such as cough or breathlessness are effectively alleviated with the use of drugs such as Semen Armenicae Amarum and Fructus Perillae.

There is yet another relevant variation when considering the patterns of external wind-cold. We have seen that may be complicated by other patterns of excess. However it was already mentioned that these external patterns could also show different severities. It is now called attention to something quite important.

A pattern of wind cold there are two external pathogenic factors: wind and cold. Whichever one is in predominance over the other there are major symptomatic differences. When wind is prevailing to cold it is considered a soft external pattern and if the cold is more virulent than the wind is considered a severe external pattern.

The symptomatic difference is simple. Is related to sweating. If the wind (soft external pattern) is predominant to cold the patient will produce sweating. If the cold (severe external pattern) is predominant patient will present absence of sweating.

This symptomatic difference is irrelevant, since that will affect the choice of drugs and proprietys of formulas. Herba ephedrae and ramulus cinnamomi are better to warm and treat wind-cold with greater intensity. For its part drugs like Bulbus Alli Fistulosi and Semen Sojae are more effective to treat mild external patterns where the wind is predominant in the cold.

FINAL NOTES

[I] Li Fei, Chen Song Yu; Clinical Guide to Herbs and Formulas in Chinese medicine, pp. 114.