Course: / Herbal Treatment of Disease 1 / Date: / Sometime early in Spring 2010
Doc: / Exam 1 Study Guide / Instructor: / Lesley Hamilton

Common Cold(compare symptoms by looking horizontally across this chart)

Wind Cold Invasion / Wind Heat Invasion / Summer Wind-Damp Invasion / Exterior cold + Interior Heat
Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Strong aversion to Wind and Cold
  • Slight concurrent fever
  • No sweating
  • Cough + thin white sputum
  • Nasal/sinus congestion + clr/white runny discharge
  • Scratchy throat
  • No sensation of excess thirst
  • Headache
  • Aching joints/limbs
T: Body not dry/red, thin W moist coat
P: Floating, tight / Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Slight aversion to Cold
  • Prominent fever
  • Sweating
  • Cough + thick yellow phlegm
  • Nasal congestion with turbid yellow mucus
  • Dry or sore throat
  • Obvious thirst
  • Headache
T: Dry body, red tip, thin Y coat
P: Floating, rapid / Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Slight aversion to Cold
  • Unsurfaced fever
  • Slight/no sweating
  • Cough + sticky phlegm
  • No thirst or wants warm drink
  • Headache with heavy sensation
  • Irritable
Damp Signs
  • Dizziness
  • Foggy headed
  • Chest tightness/oppression
  • Lack of appetite/nausea
  • Tastelessness
  • Greasy feeling in mouth
  • Distention/fullness of epi/ab
  • Loose stools
  • Heavy limbs/joints
  • Cloudy or dark/scanty urine
T: Slimy thick Y or W coat
P: Soft/soggy, slippery / Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Strong fever + chills
  • No sweating
  • Cough + sticky yellow sputum
  • Nasal congestion
  • Sore throat
  • Thirst
  • Dyspnea
  • Dark yellow urine
  • Constipation
T: W or Y’ish coat
P: Floating, rapid
F: Jing Fang Bai Du San / F: Yin Qiao San / F: Xin Jia Xiang Ru Yin / F: Shuang Jie San
Release exterior, dispel cold, disperse LU Qi / Release exterior, Dispel Wind, clear Heat / Release exterior, resolve damp, dispel wind / Release exterior, clear heat, relieve toxicity, disperse LU Qi

Common Cold cont’d

Exterior Wind Invasion + Qi/Yang Xu / Exterior Wind Invasion + Yin/Blood Xu
Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Strong aversion to Cold
  • Slight fever
  • May have slight sweating, doesn’t help
  • Cough (weak) + white discharge/phlegm
  • Nasal/sinus congestion + white discharge/phlegm
  • Headache
Qi/Yang Xu signs
  • Shortness of breath
  • (Cough is weak)
  • No desire to speak
  • Tiredness or fatigue
T: Pale body + W coat
P: Floating, no root, forceless / Common Cold exterior invasion signs
  • Slight aversion to Cold
  • Prominent fever, hotter at night
  • Slight/no sweating
  • Dry cough, scanty phlegm
  • Nasal congestion, dry
  • Dry or sore throat
  • Thirst + dry mouth/throat
  • Headache
T: Red body + little coat
P: Floating, rapid
F: Shen Su Yin / F: Jia Jian Wei Rui Tang
Release exterior, dispel wind, dissipate cold, supplement Qi / Release exterior, dispel wind, clear heat, nourish yin

Single Herbs for Common Cold

These aren’t the only herbs you could use for these things. Plug in your own if you prefer.

Induce sweating / Dispel Wind / Aches/Pain
Wind/Cold Invasions
  • Ma huang
  • Gui zhi
  • Zi su ye
  • Sheng jiang
Summer Wind-Damp Invasions
  • Xiang ru
/ Wind/Cold or Wind/Heat Invasions
  • Jing jie
  • Fang feng
/ Wind/Cold Invasion Pain
  • Qiang huo (upper body, taiyang HA))
  • Du huo (lower body)
  • Gao ben (taiyang, jueyin HA)
  • Bai zhi (yangming/sinus HA)
  • Chuan xiong
  • Xi xin (shaoyin HA, body aches)
/ Wind/Heat Invasion Pain
  • Ge gen
    (upper back and neck, expel pathogens)
  • Ju hua (wind/heat HA)
  • Man jing zi (taiyang HA)
  • Chai hu (shaoyang HA)

Relieve Sore Throat / Cough / Itching / Clear Sinuses
Wind/Heat Invasions
  • Bo he
  • Niu bang zi
Toxic Heat
  • Jin yin hua
  • Lian qiao
  • Da Qing ye
  • Ban lan gen
  • Lu gen (generates fluids)
  • Tian hua fen (dry sore throat)
  • Xuan shen (sore throat + cool bld)
/ Wind/Heat Invasions
  • Sang ye
  • Ju hua
  • Qian hu (descends Lu Qi)
Cough + sore throat due to Toxic Heat
  • Shan dou gen
  • She gan
/ Wind/Heat
  • Chan tui
/ Wind/Cold
  • Xin yi hua
  • Xi xin
  • Cang er zi
  • Xiang ru
  • Cong bai

Release W/H with Yin Xu / Affect on Lung / Aromatic/Transform Damp / Shameless plug…
  • Dan dou chi
/ Clear fire/toxic heat in Lung
  • Huang qin
Open Lung
  • Jie geng (also guides to upper jiao)
/ Use for Summer Wind/Damp invasions with n/v/diarrhea – either hot or cold conditions
  • Huo xiang
  • Pei lan
  • Hou po
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Cough(compare symptoms by looking horizontally across this chart)

Wind/Cold Invasion of the Lung / Wind/Heat Invasion of the Lung / Wind/Dry Invasion / Phlegm Damp
Cough
  • High pitched cough
  • Heavy sensation in throat/itchy throat, bronchii, and trachea prompting need to cough.
  • Choking feeling prompting need to cough
Other W/C/exterior symptoms
  • Aversion to cold
  • Headache
  • Possible nasal congestion
  • Clear sputum
T: Thin, white coat
P: Floating, tight / Cough
  • Frequent cough
  • Thick, sticky phlegm, hard to expectorate
Other W/H/exterior symptoms
  • Slight aversion to cold
  • Headache
  • Thirst
  • Dry/sore/itchy throat
  • Dry mouth
  • Itchy eyes
  • Prominent fever
  • Sweating
  • Heavy breathing
T: Red tip, thin yellow coat
P: Floating or slippery, rapid / Cough
  • Dry cough
  • Phlegm that is scanty, sticky, hard to expectorate, may have blood streaks
May combine with either Heator Cold evils.Can also be d/t airborne allergies – cough happens in winter when it’s cold/dry or in very dry climates.
Other W/Dry/exterior symptoms
  • Aversion to wind
  • (cold) Aversion to cold
  • Thirst
  • Stool may be dry, difficult to move
  • (heat) May have feverish sensations
T: Body is dry, no coat moisture
P: Floating, tight (cold) or rapid (heat) / Cough
  • Heavy, low sounding
  • Copious sputum, can be thick, watery or sticky. Clear or white, more in the morning. Can be due to external invasion migrating to interior or from foods in the diet.
Other Phlegm/Damp/exterior symptoms
  • Aversion to wind
  • Gastric fullness
  • Flatulence
  • Abdominal bloating
  • Poor appetite
  • Tired/fatigued
  • Loose stools
T: Pale + thick white coat
P: Deep, slippery
F: San Ao Tang and Zhi Sou San / F: Sang Ju Yin / F: (w/Heat) Sang Xing Tang
F: (w/Cold) Xing Su San / F: Er Chen Tang and
San Zi Yang Qin Tang
Dispel wind/cold, disperse Lu Qi, stop cough / Dispel wind/heat, disperse Lu Qi, resolve exterior / Moisten dryness, disperse Lu Qi / Strengthen Spleen, dry damp, resolve phlegm, stop cough

Cough cont’d

Phlegm/Heat Accumulation in Lung / Liver Fire Insulting Lung / Liver Overacting on Stomach / Lung Yin Deficiency
Cough/phlegm
  • Cough with thick, sticky, yellow phlegm
Other Ph/H signs
  • Fever or sensations of heat
  • Sore throat
  • Chest pain from so much coughing
  • Thirst without desire to drink
  • Dark yellow urine
  • Constipation
T: Red + yellow slimy coat
P: Slippery, rapid / Cough/phlegm
  • High pitched cough
  • Sticky yellow phlegm, hard to expectorate
  • Cough induces hypochon pain and chest tighness
Other Liver/heat signs
  • History of emotional stress (chronic or acute)
  • Irritability
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Red face
T: Red + yellow coat
P: Wiry, rapid / Cough/phlegm
  • High pitched cough
  • Sticky yellow phlegm, difficult to expectorate, may be scanty
  • Cough induces epi and hypochon pain
  • Cough can result from acid reflux if happens in recumbent position.
Other Liver/heat signs
  • History of emotional stress (chronic or acute)
  • Irritability
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • Red face
  • Burning sensation in epi, along esophageal tract, throat. May be worse in recumbent position
  • Burning hunger
  • Belching putrid odor
T: Red + yellow coat
P: Wiry, rapid / Cough/phlegm
  • Chronic dry cough, worse at night
  • Dry sticky sputum
Other Lu Yin xu signs
  • Thirsty
  • Dry mouth
  • Low grade fever, tidal fever, or warmer at night
  • Hoarse voice
  • Lassitude
Don’t confuse this with a Lung dryness cough! They look similar, but Lung dry doesn’t have the yin xu signs.
T: Deep red + scanty/peeled coat
P: Thready, rapid
F: Qing Jin Hua Tan Wan / F: Dai Ge San and
Huang Qin Xie Bai San / F: Zuo Jin Wan / F: Sha Shen Mai Men Dong Tang
LU/KI yin xu:
(above, plus gen weakness,
low back/knee pain, tinnitus)
F: Ba Xian Chang Sou Wan
(aka,Mai Wei Di Huang Wan)
Clear heat, resolve phlegm, disperse Lu Qi, stop cough / Clear Lu and Lv heat, descend Qi, stop cough / Clear Lv and St heat, descend Qi,
stop cough / Nourish yin, moisten Lu, resolve phlegm, stop cough

Single Herbs for Cough

You’ll note a lot of overlap in these herbs, Asthma herbs, and Lung Distention herbs. Look for the similarities and make your life easier!

Phlegm / Wind
Phlegm Cold (dry damp/trx phlegm)
  • Ban xia
    #1, also↓ St qi
  • Tian nan xing
    Lv wind/phlegm
  • Xuan fu hua
    ↓ Lu/St qi
  • Bai qian
    copious phlgm, direct ↓
  • Bai jie zi
    excess cold/damp, warm Lu
/ Phlegm Heat
  • Bei mu
    zhe – acute phlegm heat
    chuan – chronic cough, moistens
  • Dan nan xing
  • Gua lou’s
    gua lou – opens chest
    gua lou pi – open tight chest pain
    gua lou ren – constipation
  • Qian hu
    ↓ Lu Qi
  • Pang da hai
    sore throat, hoarse, mild constip
Clear heat/transform phlegm
  • Zhu ru
  • Hai fu shi
  • Hai ge ke
/ Phlegm - Neutral
  • Jie geng
    open/disperse LuQi
    guide to upper jiao
/ Wind-Heat
  • Sang ye
  • Ju hua
  • Bo he
Wind-Cold
  • Jing jie
  • Fang feng

Cough/Wheeze / Astringe Lu Qi / Tonify Kidney / Others…
  • Xing ren
    Wheezing/ asthma
  • Zi wan
    #1 stop cough/moisten Lu
  • Bai bu
  • Bai guo
    excess of deficiency of Lu/Ki
  • Kuan dong hua
    esp cold cough
  • Pi pa ye
    ↓ Lu/St Qi
Same list as in the Asthma list /
  • Wu wei zi
    stop cof, gen fluid, tonify Ki
  • Wu mei
    stop cof, gen fluid
  • Bai guo
    stop cof/whz for excess or xu of
    Lu/Ki
/
  • Ge jie
  • Dong chong xia cao
  • Hu tao ren
/
  • Huang qin
    Clr Lu heat, dry damp, detox
  • Chen pi
    Dry damp, resolve phlegm, reg Qi
  • Di gu pi
    Clr Lu heat (excess/xu), stop cof
  • Lai fu zi
    ↓ Lu Qi, reduces phlegm

Asthma – Acute Phase

Cold Type Asthma / W/C + Yin/fluid Accumulation
Wind cold on the surface
+ internal phlegm/fluid / Excess above(ph/c)+ Xu below (Ki yang xu)
Cold ph/fluid in Lu with Ki qi xu
Asthma/cough/phlegm signs
  • Asthmatic wheezing
  • Chest tightness
  • Difficult breathing
  • Minimal cough
  • Minimal clear phlegm
  • Expectorant: thin white, possibly foamy
  • Dark face d/t low O2 intake
  • Exposure to cold air/drink can induce acute attack.
Other cold signs
  • Aversion to cold
  • Cold limbs
  • Preference for warm drinks
Possible other early w/c invasion signs
  • Slight fever
  • Headache
  • No sweat
  • No thirst
  • Aching joints
T: Pale + thin white coat –or–
swollen + moist coat
P: Tight, floating, wiry, slippery / Asthma/cough/phlegm signs
  • Asthmatic wheezing
  • Difficult breathing
  • Copious phlegm in Lu + thin clear foamy phlegm
  • Exposure to cold air/drink can induce acute attack
Other w/c signs
  • Aversion to cold
  • Cold limbs
  • Preference for warm drinks
Possible other early w/c invasion signs
  • Slight fever
  • Headache
  • No sweating
  • No thirst
  • Aching joints
T: Swollen + moist coat
P: Slippery or soggy, tight, floating / Asthma/cough/phlegm signs
  • Asthmatic wheezing
  • Difficult inhalation
  • Fluid in Lu + copious thin clr foamy phlegm
Other cold and xu signs
  • Aversion to cold
  • Cold limbs
  • Low back/knee pain and weakness
  • Edema
  • Fatigue
T: Pale, may be swollen, + white slippery coat
P: Slipperyor soggy, deep, weak
F: She Gan Ma Huang Tang / F: Xiao Qing Long Tang / F: Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Dispel w/c, warm Lu, disperse Lu Qi, resolve phlegm, stop wheezing / Dispel w/c, warm Lu, disperse Lu Qi, resolve phlegm-fluid, calm wheezing / Disperse cold, disperse LU qi, resolve phlegm, stop wheezing

Asthma – Acute Phase cont’d

Heat Type Asthma
Asthma/cough/phlegm signs
  • Asthmatic wheezing
  • Fast, difficult breathing
  • Slight cough
  • Sticky, yellow phlegm
Heat/exterior signs
  • Feverish or feels hot
  • Red face
  • Irritable
  • Restless
  • Sweating
  • Thirst for cool drinks
Other possible cold signs w/mild heat
  • Slight fever
  • Aversion to cold
  • Headache
  • Aching joints
  • No thirst
T: Red + thick yellow coat
P: Fast or tight + slippery/wiry /  If no mixed hot/cold signs for Heat Type Asthma /  If Ki Qi and Lu yin damaged due to disease +
  • Profuse sweating
  • Must sit up to breathe
  • Aggitation
P: Weak, thin pulse
F: Ding Chuan Tang / F: Sang Bai Pi Tang / F: Qi Wei Du Qi Wan
Clear heat, disperse LU qi, resolve phlegm, stop wheezing

Asthma Remission Phase

Wei Qi Deficiency / Lung Qi Deficiency / Spleen Qi Deficiency / Kidney Qi Deficiency
Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Asthma, plus…
Wei Qi Xu signs
  • Tendency to get W/C invasions
    (common cold and allergy types)
  • Tends to sweat easily, spontaneous sweating
  • Sensitivity to windy conditions
  • Easily fatigued
T: (varies)
P: Weak / Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Wheezing
  • Weak, forceless cough
  • Possible thin, runny nasal discharge or sputum
Lung Qi Xu signs
  • Tendency to catch colds
  • Sweats easily, spontaneous sweating
  • Sensitivity to windy conditions
  • Shortness of breath
  • Tiredness with breathing
  • Feeble voice
  • Preference not to talk
  • Easily fatigued
T: Pale
P: Weak, forceless / Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Asthma, plus…
  • Often triggered by foods, esp stuff that causes loose stools
Spleen Qi Xu signs
  • Tiredness
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of appetite
  • Loose stools
T: Pale, swollen + white coat
P: Slippery or soggy, weak / Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Persistent wheezing
  • Aggravated by work
  • Shallow breathing/shortness of breath
  • Difficult to maintain regular respiration rhythm
Kidney Qi Xu signs
  • Fatigue/lassitude
  • General weakness/pain of low back and/or knees
  • General coldness of body or limbs
  • tinnitus
T: Pale
P: Deep, weak, thready
F: Yu Ping Feng San / F: Bu Fei Tang
(no dryness/yin xu)
F: Sheng Mai San
(dry cof, thirst, cof @ nite) / F: Liu Jun Zi Tang / F: Shen Ge San
Tonify qi, stabilize exterior, stop sweating / Nourish LU, bu LU qi, calm wheezing / Strengthen Sp, resolve phlegm/damp / Strengthen Ki, calm wheezing

Asthma Remission Phase cont’d

Kidney Yin Deficiency / Kidney Yang Deficiency
Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Asthmatic wheezing, worse at night
Kidney Yin Xu signs
  • Red malar flush
  • General weakness/pain of low back/knee
  • Warm feeling
  • Night sweating
  • Thirst
  • Tinnitus
T: Small, red + minimal coat
P: Thready, rapid / Asthma/cough/phlegm
  • Asthmatic wheezing, worse with inhalation
Kidney Yang Xu signs
  • Fatigue
  • General weakness
  • Coldness/pain of lower back/knees
  • General coldness of limbs
  • Edema
  • Profuse clear urination
  • Loose stools
T: Pale, swollen
P: Deep, thready, weak
F: Qi Wei Du Qi Wan / F: Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan
Strengthen Ki yin, calm wheezing / Strengthen Ki yang, calm wheezing

Single Herbs for Asthma

Note the similarities between this chart and the herbs detailed in Cough and Lung Distention.

Phlegm / Cough and Wheeze
Phlegm Cold (dry damp/trx phlegm)
  • Ban xia
    #1, also↓ St qi
  • Tian nan xing
    Lv wind/phlegm
  • Xuan fu hua
    ↓Lu/St qi
  • Bai qian
    copious phlgm, direct ↓
  • Bai jie zi
    excess cold/damp, warm Lu
/ Phlegm Heat
  • Zhe bei mu (acute phlegm heat)
  • Chuan bei mu (chron cof, moist)
  • Dan nan xing
  • Gua lou – opens chest
  • Gua lou pi – open tight chest pain
  • Gua lou ren – constipation
  • Qian hu - ↓ Lu Qi
  • Pang da hai
    sore throat, hoarse, mild constip
Clear heat/transform phlegm
  • Zhu ru
  • Hai fu shi
  • Hai ge ke
/ Phlegm - Neutral
  • Jie geng
    open/disperse LuQi
    guide to upper jiao
/
  • Xing ren
    Wheezing/ asthma
  • Zi wan
    #1 stop cough/moisten Lu
  • Bai bu
  • Kuan dong hua
    esp cold cough
  • Pi pa ye
    ↓ Lu/St Qi

Cold Type Asthma (excess) / Heat Type Asthma (excess) / Deficient Type Asthma / Astringe Lu Qi
  • Ma huang
    expands bronchii
  • Zi su zi
    ↓ Qi, stop cof/whz, trx phlegm
  • Xing ren
    various cough/wheeze, moist int’s
  • Zi wan
    cough/wheeze/trx phlegm
  • Hou po
    wheeze d/t phlegm, Lu qi ↓
    aromatic, drying, warming
/ Drains Lu heat/ cough wheeze/ + urin
  • Ting li zi
  • Sang bai pi
Other
  • Di long
    wheeze, trx phlegm, ↓ Qi
  • She gan
    wheeze from phlegm/heat
/
  • Ge jie
    strong tonifies Ki to rec Lu qi
  • Dong chong xia cao
    ton Ki/Lu to trx phlegm
  • Hu tao ren
    warm Lu, help Ki grasp Qi
  • Zi he che
    ton Ki/Lu Qi
  • Bu gu zhi
    aid Ki 2 grasp Qi, warms
/
  • Wu wei zi
    ton Ki, nour yin
  • Wu mei
    astringe Lu qi, stop cof, gen fluids
  • Bai guo
    stop cof/whz due to excess or xu
    of Ki/Lu

Other…
  • Huang qin
    clr lung heat, dry damp, detox
  • Chen pi
    dry damp/res phlegm, regulate qi
/
  • Di gu pi
    clr xcs Lu heat/xu heat, stop cof
  • Lai fu zi
    Lu qi ↓, reduces phlegm

Lung Distention – Acute Phase

Exterior Cold +
Interior Yin Fluid Accumulation / Phlegm Heat Accumulation in Lu / Phlegm Stasis Obstruction
(Phlegm obstruction  blood stasis) / Phlegm Misting the Heart/Shen
Breathing/cough/phlegm/lung
  • Dyspnea, unable to lie down
  • Cough
  • Copious thin, clr or foamy sputum
  • Swollen chest
  • Dark complexion/purplish face
Other cold/fluid signs
  • Aversion to cold
  • No thirst
  • Clear urination
T: Purple(cyanotic), swollen +
moist white coat
P: Floating, tight / Breathing/cough/phlegm/lung
  • Dyspnea + rough breathing
  • Cough/wheeze
  • Thick sticky yellow phlegm
  • Chest fullness
  • Probable pulmonary infection
Other phlegm/heat signs
  • Purple/red face
  • Fever
  • Restless
  • Irritable
  • Slight chills
  • Thirst for cold drink
T: Dark red/purple + sticky yellow coat
P: Floating, slippery, rapid / Breathing/cough/phlegm/lung
  • Dyspnea
  • Cough and/or sobbing
  • Clear phlegm
  • Significantly distended chest, suffocating sensation
This is pulmonary fibrosis due to phlegm obstructing qi and causing blood stasis!
Other stasis signs
  • Dark grey complexion
  • Purplish lips
T: Purplish w/congested sublingual veins + greasy sticky coat
P: Slippery, wiry / Breathing/cough/phlegm/lung
  • Dyspnea + phlegm in throat
Reduced O2 levels cause lethargy, restlessness, reduced reactions, delirium, increasing lack of clarity, near coma-like state or loss of consciousness
T: Dark red + thick white or
sticky yellow coat
P: Slippery, rapid, thready
F: Xiao Qing Long Tang / F: Yue Bi Jia Ban Xia Tang / F: Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei Teng and
Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan / F: Di Tan Tang (-phlegm)
F: An Gong Niu Huang Wan
(induce consciousness)
Warm Lu, dispel cold, descend/disperse Lu qi, resolve ph/fluid / Purge heat, resolve phlegm, descend/disperse Lu qi, stop cof/whz / Resolve phlegm, remove stasis, purge Lu, disperse Lu qi, stop cof/whz / Purge phlegm, open orifices, extinguish wind

Lung Distention – Chronic/Remission Phase