Tonic drugs/herbs include all the drugs that strengthen the body or part of the body that is weakened. Focuses on drugs there are 4 main categories: blood tonic, Qi tonic, Yin tonic and Yang tonic.
Although they are separate categories is very common to see combinations of these drugs. When I wrote about how we think the diagnosis I aproached the symptomatic differences between the different clinical patterns. It was possible, then, note that a deficiency of Qi can worsen to deficiency of Yang. In this case it is normal to associate drugs that tonify Qi and Yang. When we analyze the dynamics of the Zang-Fu, as expressed in TCM, we can see that the spleen (pi) produces blood (xue). Once a deficiency of spleen Qi can generate a deficiency of Liver Blood. In this case it is useful to associate drugs that are qi tonics and blood tonics.
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The drugs that release the exterior (external syndromes or patterns) may also be considered as diaphoretic because they induce sweating. The induction of sweating is a way to disperse and remove the external pathogenic factors that attack the body.
Usually all of them have pungent flavor that helps the dispersion of external factors, acting on the lung meridian, due to the connection of this organ (Zang) on the defensive qi (wei qi). In this case it is considered that the disease is still on the surface of the body. So says an old Chinese saying: “When [the disease] is in the skin, perspiration brings it out.”
Their nature can change from hot or cold. Drugs of acrid taste and warm nature are used to treat patterns of wind-cold (spicy + hot), while drugs of acrid taste and cool nature are used to treat patterns of wind-heat (spicy + cold).
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