Warm Herbs that Transform Phlegm-Cold

Bàn Xià (Zhì)

Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum

“Half Summer”

Taste: Pungent, toxic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach

Actions:

• Dries dampness, transforms phlegm and descends rebellious qi

• Harmonizes stomach and stops vomiting (MAJOR)

• Dissipates nodules and reduces distention

• It is very important to understand this herb in relation to Chen Pi, with which it has many similarities: drying cold phlegm, lowering rebellious qi, stopping coughing, stopping nausea and vomiting, etc.

Dose: 4.5 – 12 g

Contra: Raw is toxic and can only be used externally. Usually processed in ginger juice to reduce toxicity.

Cooking: Should be crushed before decocting

Modern: This herb is now banned by FDA for use in prepared herbal supplements, because it contains small amounts of ephedrine alkaloids. It got caught up in the Ephedra ban that took effect April 2004.

Identification: Looks like little honey-roasted nuts when processed in ginger.

Some books call this a tuber, and some call it a rhizome

Important Formulas:

Er Chen Tang: Chen Pi, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Gan Cao (basic formula for damp phlegm with spleen deficiency)

Ban Xia Hou Po Tang: Ban Xia, Hou Po, Fu Ling, Sheng Jiang, Su Ye (for plum-pit sensation)

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Tiān Nán Xīng (Zhì)

Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum

Jack in the Pulpit

Taste: Bitter, pungent, toxic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Liver, Lung, Spleen

Actions:

• Dries dampness, expels phlegm; cough and stubborn phlegm – extremely drying

• Disperses wind phlegm in channels (numbness, facial paralysis, spasms in hands and feet, cramps, etc.)

• Reduces swelling and stops pain of trauma and topical sores

Dose: 4.5 – 9 g (processed); if untreated, .3 – 1 g, powdered only; topically, use as needed

Cooking: Must be cooked or processed; raw is extremely toxic

Identification: Large, white and powdery

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Dǎn Nán Xīng

Pulvis Arisaemae cum Felle Bovis

                 Tian Nan Xing     +         Cattle     +       Gallbladder

Powdered Tian Nan Xing mixed with cattle bile

Taste: Bitter

Temp: Cool

Channels: Heart, lung

Actions:

• Clears and transforms phlegm heat, extinguishes wind and arrests tremors

• Tremors, seizures or stroke due to phlegm heat

• Used in pediatrics

• NOT PART OF THIS CATEGORY REALLY because of temperature (it clears hot phlegm, not cold phlegm)– BUT DISCUSSED HERE WITH ITS SOURCE PLANT

Identification: Black and shiny, due to the bile processing

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Bái Fù Zǐ (Zhì)

Typhonii Rhizoma Preparatum

Commonly known as Giant Voodoo Lily
Resembles Fu Zi (Aconiti); but is whiter, therefore its name “White Fu Zi”

Taste: Pungent, sweet, toxic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Liver, Spleen, Stomach

Actions:

 

• Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, expels wind, stops spasm (very commonly used for wind and phlegm blocking channels, resulting in paralysis, numbness, wind-stroke, etc.)

• Expels wind cold damp, alleviates pain an relieves toxicity and dissipates nodules

Dose: 1.5 - 6 g

Contra: Pregnancy

Identification: Large, firm, white and powdery

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Bái Jiè Zǐ

Sinapis Semen

White Mustard Seed
Taste: Pungent

Temp: Warm

Channels: Lung

Actions:

• Warms the lungs, regulates qi, expels phlegm

• Dissipates nodules, reduces swelling, alleviates pain

• Excellent for chronic lung-cold conditions such as bronchitis, asthma, etc. People used to put a mustard plaster on their backs or chests for this.

Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Yin deficiency heat

Identification: Yellowish-white seeds from white mustard are superior to seeds from yellow mustard (a different species). You must specify “true white mustard seed” (Zhen Bai Jie Zi).

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Zào Jiá

Gleditsiae Fructus

“Soap Pod”

Chinese Honeylocust Fruit

Taste: Pungent, sl toxic

Temp: Warm

Channels: Large Intestine, Lung

Actions:

• Dispels phlegm (STRONG)

• Opens orifices to awaken shen

• Dissipates swellings with pus, as in abscess or boil

• Expels roundworms, unblocks bowels, used as a rectal suppository

Dose: Per Bensky, powder or pill only in 1 – 1.5 g

Contra: Pregnancy; OD can cause vomiting and diarrhea

Identification: Purplish-brown pods

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Zào Jiǎo Cì

Gleditsiae Spina

Thorn of the plant

Taste: Pungent

Temp: Warm

Channels: Liver, stomach

Actions:

 

• Reduces swelling, discharges pus, invigorates blood, reduces abscess

• Expels wind, kills parasites, topical for ringworm

• Early stage of swollen sores, but stop usage once sores have opened

Dose: 3-9 g (per Hsu)

Contra: Pregnancy

Identification: Thorn

This is in a formula to treat beast abscess and mastitis (Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin (Sublime Formula for Sustaining Life), due to its ability to “pierce through swellings”

Note: in China, this was used as a detergent (this is why it’s called “soap thorn”). It binds to grease and fat in the GI tract, so can help control obesity and cholesterol levels. A higher dosage than 5 g can cause GI disturbance.

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Jié Gěng

Platycodi Radix

Balloonflower Root

Taste: Bitter, pungent

Temp: Neutral

Channels: Lung

 

Actions:

• Opens up lung qi, expels phlegm; for cough of both wind heat and wind cold

• Discharges pus from lung abscess

• Benefits throat: sore throat, loss of voice, hoarse throat

• Guides itself and other herbs to the throat and chest (IMPORTANT)

Dose: 3-9 g

Contra: Hemoptysis (coughing of blood)

Identification: Looks like big slabs of taffy (or skinny slices); smells like Abba Zabba candy bar (a mix of peanut and taffy)

Now blooming in the Learning Garden!

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Xuán Fù Huā



Inulae Flos

“Revolved, upturned flower”

Taste: Bitter, pungent, salty

Temp: Sl Warm

Channels: Liver, Lung, Stomach, Spleen

Actions:

• Redirects rebellious qi downward and expels phlegm

• Stops vomiting and hiccups from rebellious stomach qi

Dose: 3-12 g

Contra: Pregnancy

Cooking: Decoct in cheesecloth

Identification: Large, intact, golden flower heads with white fur (resembles dandelion flowers)

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Bái Qián

Cynanchi Stauntonii

“White Before”

Taste: Pungent, Sweet

Temp: Sl Warm

Channels: Lung

 

Actions:

 

• Redirects Qi Downward and expels phlegm – cough with copious sputum and gurgling in throat; lung qi blockage and stagnation

• Strongly dispersing, though not very drying (related to Bai Wei, another Cynanchum, which clears deficiency heat)

• Also similar to Ma Huang in stopping wheezing, but is milder than Ma Huang

 

Dose: 3-12 g

Caution: Not appropriate for dry, lung-deficient cough without phlegm

Identification: Pale white woody sticks

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