Aromatic Herbs That Transform Damp

Question 1

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - GENERAL OVERVIEW

Answer 1

PROPERTIES:

• ACRID
• WARM
• DRY
• AROMATIC (REVIVES SPLEEN WITH FRAGRANCE WHICH HELPS IN TRANSFORMATION OF DAMP)

GENERAL IMAGERY: SUN COMING INTO A DAMP MOLDY ROOM TO GENTLY WARM AND DRY AS OPPOSED TO DRAINING

DAMP = PATHOGEN THAT LEADS TO STAGNATION (EXCESS!); LIKES TO SETTLE DOWNWARD; CAUSE STAGNATION IN THE MIDDLE JIAO

CHANNELS: SP-ST

SYMPTOMS: DISTENTION/FULLNESS, NAUSEA, VOMITING, LACK OF THIRST/APPETITE, DIARRHEA, GASTROENTERITIS, HEADACHES, BODY ACHES

TONGUE: GREASY YELLOW OR WHITE COAT

PULSE: SLIPPERY, SOGGY

C/I: YIN DEFICIENCY (MOST OF THESE HERBS ARE ACRID, WARM AROMATIC AND DRY SO THEY CAN EXHAUST THE QI AND INJURE THE YIN)

Question 2

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - CANG ZHU (“SAN JOO”)

Answer 2

CHANNELS: SP-ST

PROPERTIES: ACRID, _BITTER (_DOWN!), WARM, AROMATIC

C/I: YIN XU, QI XU CAUSING EXCESSIVE SWEATING

DOSAGE: 5-10G

KEY POINTS:

• STRONGLY DRIES DAMP
• MUSCLE PROBLEMS (ACHING, BI SYNDROME, WIND DAMP)
• LOWER JIAO HEAT POURING DOWNWARD (IE EDEMA, VAGINAL DISCHARGE)
• ACRID => INDUCES SWEATING TO RELEASE EXTERIOR (ONLY MILD FXN)
• FOR THE EYES (IE CONJUNCTIVITIS)

Question 3

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - HUO XIANG

Answer 3

CHANNELS: SP-ST-LU (LUNG HERE TOO!)

PROPERTIES: ACRID, SLIGHTLY WARM, AROMATIC

DOSAGE: 5-10G (DOUBLED IF FRESH)

C/I: YIN XU WITH HEAT SIGNS (STOMACH FIRE)

KEY POINTS:

• AROMATIC QUALITY TRANSFORMS DAMPNESS
• DRYING: ***SUMMER HEAT*** (IMAGINE WALKING THROUGH DAMP HOT FOREST IN SUMMER AND OVEREATING WATERMELON!)
• VOMITING AND DIARRHEA (SUDDEN TURMOIL DISEASE WHEN YOU VOMIT AND HAVE DIARRHEA SIMULTANEOUSLY)
• OPENS NASAL ORIFICES

Question 4

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - SHA REN

Answer 4

CHANNEL: SP-ST

PROPERTIES: ACRID, WARM, AROMATIC

3-6G (CRUSH AND COOK LAST 5 MINS)

C/I: YIN XU WITH HEAT SIGNS

KEY POINTS:

1. STOPS VOMITING - TRANSFORMS DAMPNESS, HARMONIZES THE STOMACH, WHEN THERE IS QI STAGNATION, MORE INTERIOR, IE CHILDREN EATING TOO MUCH ICE CREAM
2. MOVES QI - REGULATES QI BY MOVING; GOOD FOR DISTENTION, PAIN, MJ PROBLEMS
3. STRENGTHENS STOMACH
4. CALMS THE FETUS - MORNING SICKNESS; CAN BE USED WITH GINGER
5. USED WITH TONIFYING HERBS TO PREVENT CLOYING AND STAGNATION

Question 5

SHA REN VS BAI DOU KOU

Answer 5

Question 6

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - BAI DOU KOU (“BYE DO KO”)

Answer 6

CHANNELS: SP-ST-LU (LUNG ADDED! AND IT IS WHITE => GOES TO LUNG!)

PROPERTIES: ACRID/WARM, AROMATIC

3-6G (CRUSH AND COOK LAST 5 MINUTES)

C/I YIN AND BLOOD XU

NOT FOR PREGNANCY! TOO STRONG! TEENAGER IS TOO AGGRESSIVE!

KEY POINTS:

1. REGULATES QI - FIXES DIRECTION OF QI FLOW WHEN THERE IS QI STAGNATION DUE TO SEVERE DAMPNESS
2. WARMS MIDDLE JIAO TO STOP VOMITING - DESCENDS REBELLIOUS STOMACH QI WITH WARMTH
3. AROMATICALLY TRANSFORMS DAMP - STRONGER THAN SHA REN; IT IS THE IMMATURE TEENAGER!; FOR MORE SEVERE DAMP ACCUMULATION; STIFLING CHEST FEELING
4. STRONGLY MOVES QI
5. CHEST PROBLEMS
6. HELPFUL FOR BABIES VOMITING MILK - BECAUSE THEIR MIDDLE JIAO NOT FUNCTIONING NORMALLY

Question 7

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - CAO DOU KOU (“SOW DO KO”)

Answer 7

CHANNELS: SP-ST

PROPERTIES: ACRID, WARM, AROMATIC

3-6G (CRUSH AND COOK LAST 5 MINS)

C/I: YIN XU

KEY POINTS:

1. NOT COMMONLY USED; VERY STRONG; STRONGER THAN BAI DOU KOU
2. FOR SEVERE PAIN! - pain, distention, there is already qi stagnation, severe dampness; pain, distention, epigastric pain
3. DRIES DAMP BY WARMING
4. STRONGLY MOVES QI

Question 8

Answer 8

Question 9

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - CAO GUO

Answer 9

CHANNELS: SP-ST

PROPERTIES: ACRID, WARM

3-6G (CRUSH AND COOK WITH OTHER HERBS, NOT JUST AT END!)

C/I: QI AND BLOOD XU, OR ABSENCE OF COLD-DAMP; OVERDOSE CAN CAUSE VOMITING, ROASTING REDUCES THAT EFFECT

KEY POINTS:

1. FOOD MEDICINE (IN MEAT)
2. FOR SEVERE DAMP AND COLD! THINK OF COLD MOUNTAINS WITH MIST AND DAMPNESS
3. MUSCULAR PAIN; WANTING WARMTH
4. NO APPETITE HEAVY FEELING
5. ***MALARIAL DISORDERS***
6. STRONGLY DRIES DAMP, DISPELS COLD
7. DISSOLVES STAGNATION FROM MEAT

Question 10

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - PEI LAN

Answer 10

CHANNELS: SP-ST

PROPERTIES: ACRID, NEUTRAL

DOSAGE NOT MENTIONED?

C/I: YIN XU

KEY POINTS:

1. LOOKS LIKE HUO XIANG (LIKE LITTLE SIBLING OF HUO XIANG, ALMOST ALWAYS COMBINED WITH IT, WEAK VERSION OF HUO XIANG)
2. STEM, NOT ROOT, SO LIGHTWEIGHT
3. SUMMER HEAT CONDITIONS - USED IN SUMMER, RAINY, DAMP HEAT
4. USED FOR GENERAL HEALTH OR TO PREVENT DAMPNESS
5. CAN BE USED AS INCENSE
6. GOOD IF YOURE GOING TO EAT LOTS OF GREASY FOOD
7. AROMATICALLY TRANSFORMS DAMPNESS (DAMP OBSTRUCTING MIDDLE JIAO)
8. STIFLING SENSATION IN CHEST, NAUSEA,

Question 11

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP - HOU PO (“HONEST AND SIMPLE”)

Answer 11

CHANNELS: SP-ST AND LU-LI (2 PAIRS!)

PROPERTIES: BITTER (SO DESCENDING!), ACRID, WARM, AROMATIC

3-10G

C/I: NOT FOR PREGNANCY! HAS A DESCENDING FUNCTION

KEY POINTS:

1. VERY IMPORTANT HERB!!!
2. CAN ALSO BE IN QI REGULATING CATEGORY
3. FOR EXCESS CONDITIONS!
4. MOVES QI (DOWN)
5. TRANSFORMS DAMP, RESOLVES STAGNATION
6. GREAT FOR FOOD STAGNATION - EXCESS DISTENTION, CONSTIPATION
7. TRANSFORMS PHLEGM - WHEEZING, COUGHING, STIFLING CHEST SENSATION
8. CONSTIPATION, DISTENTION

Question 12

AROMATIC HERBS THAT TRANSFORM DAMP SUMMARY (FROM PATRICK)

Answer 12