Individual Chinese Herbs

Introduction

Chinese herbal medicine has been widely used to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases. It largely consists of natural medicines and produced ones, namely medicines made from herbal, animal, mineral, some chemical substance and biological substance. The Classic of the Materia Medica, written during the Han Dynasty, is the first organized description of individual herbs and their applications. This text described purely physical actions of herbs and their effects on the individual's sensations and symptoms. Ancient herbalists presumably obtained this information empirically, by simply giving the herb preparation to people and observing the effects. Later additions to herbal knowledge followed the style and format of the Classic, placing emphasis on taste, the herb's heating or cooling nature, which organs and meridians it primarily affects, dosage ranges, degree of toxicity, and overall effects of the herb on specific patterns of symptoms.

Finally, this articles will discuss the Chinese herbal medicines which apply the functions of releasing superficial and promoting the skin eruption.

Keywords: Chinese herbal medicine, Materia Medica, Paozhi, skin rash

History of Chinese Herbal Medicine

The earliest existing book on Chinese herbal medicine, Shennong Ben Cao Jing ¹(Ben means root and Cao means shoot), was written in the Qin and Han Dynasty (221 B.C.-220A.D.) based on the work of medical experts who collected lots of materials before the Qin Dynasty. The book recorded 365 types of medicine, some of which is still used in contemporary clinics. This book set up a beginning of the establishment of eastern medicine.

In the Tang Dynasty (618 A.D.-907 A.D.), economy prospered, which boosted the eastern medicine. The Tang government wrote the book, Tang Ben Cao ², which is the earliest existing book in the world on pharmacopeia. This book included 850 types of medical herbs and their pictures, which further improved the scale of eastern medicine. Xinxiu Bencao (Newly Revised Canon of Materia Medica) is the first pharmacopoeia (a book listing drugs and their directions for their uses) published by the Chinese government and is widely considered as the "first pharmacopoeia in the world." Twenty-three people headed by Su Jing of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) compiled the book in 659.

Zhang Zhongjing, established a system for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Sun Simiao, born circa 581 AD, wrote the first comprehensive encyclopedia of Chinese medicine. His 30-volume work included over 4,500 formulas, many of which are still in use today.

In the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D. - 1644 A.D.), an expert of herbal medicine Li Shizhen who lived during the Ming Dynasty, from 1518-1593. Spent 27 years accomplishing the book, Ben Cao Gang Mu recorded 1,892 types of herbal medicine, making it the greatest book in Chinese history, which included the most type of herbal medicines. His massive Compendium of Materia Medica has been translated into many languages, and is considered the leading reference work for Chinese herbal medicine.

Tang Hin Hing four years (AD 659), Lee Ji Su Jing, who presided over the preparation of the "Newly Revised Materia Medica" The book is voluminous Haobot reproduces the Chinese and foreign enter the drug up to 844 kinds. Kaiyuan (AD 713 - 741), Chen Zang devices compiled into the "Herbal Supplements", the book will be the function of various drugs summarized as ten categories, which made the famous "ten", the first traditional Chinese medicine clinical classification vision.

Song herbalism, Shenwei the Tang Materia Medica The book reproduces the drug for more than fourteen hundred kinds.

Yuan Dynasty, suddenly Si Hui of "to drink meal", summed up and development of the diet.

Ming Dynasty is the most glorious period in the history of Chinese herbal medicine development. Li Shizhen (AD 1518 - 1593) made a comprehensive sorting of ancient herbalism, summarize, and improve, and learned a lot of folk medicine and foreign medicine, wrote the great medical masterpiece, "Compendium of Materia Medica". The book contains 1892 kinds of medicine. The natural properties of the drug, divided into 16 Gang, 60. This scientific classification, the classification system is the most complete medieval herbalism.

After following Li, Zhao Xuemin of Qing Dynasty (ca. 1719 - 1805) made a folk medicine widely collecting and collating in the 1765 annual line "Compendium of Materia Medica theft by finding" the drug 921 kinds of new drugs as many as 716 kinds.

Herbal medicine since the Han dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, each era has its own achievements and characteristics, and the ages to each other, becoming Shigetomi. To the modern Chinese herbal medicine has reached about 5000 kinds.

Major texts and their contributions

Xinxiu Bencao (Newly Revised Canon of Materia Medica) is the first pharmacopoeia (a book listing drugs and their directions for their uses) published by the Chinese government and is widely considered as the "first pharmacopoeia in the world." Twenty-three people headed by Su Jing of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) compiled the book in 659.

Sun Simiao (AD 581-682) - Qianjin Yaofang (Prescriptions Worth a Thousand Gold for Emergencies) & Qianjin Yifang (Supplement to the Precious Prescriptions)

The first medical encyclopedia in China was comprised of 30 volumes and 5,300 prescriptions. These books dealt with acupuncture, moxibustion, dietary therapy as well as disease prevention and health preservation. It was an outstanding reference for treatment of deficiency diseases.

Xinxiu Bencao (Newly Revised Materia Medica)

Su Jing(AD 659)

The first official pharmacopoeia in China and in the world, which listed 844 kinds of Chinese medicine. It was the first to include diagrams and illustrations of the herbs in the text.

Shiliao Bencao (Herbal Diet Therapy)

Meng Xin(AD 621-714)

A pharmacopoeia with both medicinal and dietary references.

Bencao Shiyi (Supplement to Materia Medica)

Chen Cangqi (AD 713-741 )

This pharmacopoeia becomes a practical guide for clinical diagnosis and drug application. It contributed greatly in the development of prescriptions.

Song government (1057 AD)

The Bureau for the Re-editing of Medical Books was established to collect, collates and verifies all medical texts bequeathed by 1,000 years of history. As a result, several of the established classics were published and many books were rewritten or revised under new titles.

Jiayou Buzhu Shennong Bencao (Complete and Annotated Materia Medica of the Jiayou Era)

Zhang Yuxi ( 1060 AD )

The number of medicines recorded was increased to 1,083.

Bencao Tujing (Illustrated Materia Medica)

Su Song ( 1061 AD )

The first time woodblock printing illustrations were included in a pharmacopoeia.

Zhenglei Bencao (Classified Materia Medica)

Tang Shenwei ( 1082 AD)

A pharmacopoeia that listed 1,558 drugs with illustrations; it remained the model for the next 500 years.

Zhenzhunang (The Pearl Bag)

A pharmacopoeia which makes significant advances on the theory of drug actions especially related to meridian tropism.

Zhujie Shanghanlun (Annotations on Shanghanlun) - Cheng Wuji (1144 AD)

The first comprehensive treatise on commentary notes of Shanghanlun

Jin-Yuan period (1115-1368AD)

Tangye Bencao (Materia Medica for Decoctions)

Wang Haogu ( 1306 AD)

This book provides information about the major ingredients, actions, administration and preparation of drugs for various diseases.

Yinshan Zhengyao (Principles of Correct Diet)

Hu Sihui ( 1330 AD)

A proponent of a balanced diet, Hu Sihui, especially focused on eating in moderation.

Yijing Suhuiji (A Discourse on Tracing Back to the Medical Classic)

Wang Lu ( 1368 AD )

This book differentiates Shanghan from Wenbing syndromes and recommends different therapeutic approaches for the syndromes.

Jiuhuang Bencao (Herbal for Relief of Famines)

Zhu Su & colleagues ( 1406 AD)

A botany book that is a medicinal and dietary guide for famine periods.

Bencao Jiyao (Collection of the Essential Herbals)

He further developed the herbal classification method used by Tao Hongjing (456-536AD).

Tangye Bencao (Materia Medica for Decoctions)

Wang Haogu (1306 AD)

This book provides information about the major ingredients, actions, administration and preparation of drugs for various diseases.

Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica)

LiShizhen (1578 AD)

This book summarizes most of the herbal information available in the sixteenth century.

Yifangkao (Study on Prescriptions)

Wu Kun (1584AD)

This was a brief commentary on herbal prescriptions, including their nomenclature, properties of each component, efficacy, indication, ways of modification and contraindications.

Paojiu Dafa (A Complete Handbook on Medicinal Preparation)

Miao Xiyong (1622 AD)

This is an important reference for learning and studying the applications and preparation of Chinese medicine.

The objectives of herbs preparation

The various methods of preparation permit one to modify or control the nature and functions of the remedies, the principles objectives of these Chinese medicinal herbs are briefly summarized as follows. ³

· Removing or reducing the toxicity , drastic properties and side effects of some Chinese medicinal herbs. For instance, the toxicity of medicinal herbs, such as Chuanwu ( Radix Aconiti ), Caowu ( Radix Aconiti Kusnezoffii ), Gansui ( Radix Euphorbiae Kansui ) , and Tiannanxing ( Rhizoma Arisaematis ), will be reduced when they are processed; Changshan (Radix Dichroae), after taken, easily induce vomiting and if used to prevent recurrence of malaria, the side effects can be reduced after stir-baked with wine.

· Reinforcing the therapeutic effects. For instance, Baibu ( Radix Stemonae ) and Pipaye ( Folium Eriobotryae) roasted with honey can promote nourishing the lung to relieve cough; Chuanxiong (Rhizoma Chuanxiong) and Danggui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis ) stir-baked with wine can promote warming channels to circulate the blood; Yanhusuo (Rhizoma Corydalis) prepared with vinegar can strengthen the effects of relieving pain; the effect of invigorating the spleen to relieve diarrhea will be strengthened after Baizhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) is stir-baked with earth; Xiangfu (Rhicoma Cyperi) prepared with vinegar can promote soothing the liver and regulating liver-qi

· Modifying the natures and Qi, flavour, actions of Chinese medicinal herbs so as to make them suitable for therapeutic requirements. For instance, Shengdihuang (Radix Rehmanniae) cool in nature has the effect of eliminating blood-heat, but after processed, it can be warm and good at nourishing the blood; Heshouwu (Radix Polygoni) in raw form has moistening-purging effect, but after processed, it can be good at invigorating the liver and kidney; Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei ) in raw form has strong effect of purging, whereas after processed, its purging effect can decrease and after stir-baked into charcoal, it hardly has purging effect but is good at stopping bleeding.

· Facilitating decocting and taking medicine, making preparation and storing medicine. Most botanical medicinal herbs after cut into segments or pieces will be easily decocted in water and their effective components will be easily dissolved out or the forms of medicines will be easily prepared. And most minerals and shells of Chinese medicinal herbs, after calcined or quenched with vinegar, will be easy to be ground into powder. Some medicinal herbs are to be stir-baked and fully dried so as to be kept for a long time from being moldy and rot.

· Taking away the impurity, non-pharmaceutical parts and unpleasant tastes, thus making the medicinal herbs clean and pure, and convenient for patients to take. The pharmaceutical herbs which are generally mixed with mud and sand must be washed and the impurity in the plants must be cleared away, thus they are convenient for patients to take. Some pharmaceutical plants need to be softened so as to be easily cut or pre- pared. The hair of some plants must be brushed away; heads, feet or wings of some pharmaceutical animals must be taken out; and the salty or offensive taste or smell of some sea products must be eliminated by rinsing with wat。

The aims and functions of each method of Pao Zhi

Herbs processing, also known as Pao zhi is a drug made from a variety of formulations before finishing the medicine, as well as heat treatment according to the medical needs of some of the ways. ^{2, 4} The purpose of each method and function of Pao zhi as follows:

1. Washing the original drug on the water, sediment impurities have been washed to the surface of the net drugs, so as to achieve clean and sanitary purposes. Should be noted that the immersion side length of time not soluble in water to prevent the active ingredients.

2. Drift will have the smell of fish (such as turtle shell, turtle, cuttlefish bone) or salt (such as kelp, seaweed) or toxic (such as Aconitum, monkshood), drugs, repeatedly dip drift can use large amounts of water, often for water, you can drift to the odor or reduce toxicity.

3. The bubble is to use the drug juice soaked the original drug to reduce the potent or irritant, such as licorice blisters Polygala, Miss Levin dogwood.

4. Stains on drugs spray a small amount of water to allow water to gradually penetrate leaving the drug soft, easy to slice. Certain drugs after soaking herbs easy to get lost, this method should be.

5. Water fly is one of the powdered methods, applicable to the ore and shellfish drugs that are poorly soluble in water, such as cinnabar, drug crush the more delicate, and to facilitate oral and topical. First drug in the water before flying until frothy and the end and then placed in a mortar and water research, dumping to take the upper suspension, and then submerged in the lower part of the thick end to continue to grind, so that repeated operation, and research to the powder no residue on the tongue to taste the degree. Silymarin can prevent the powder flying in the grinding, in order to reduce the loss.

6. Calcined role of drug, directly or indirectly, calcined by fire, making it crunchy texture, easy to crush, full efficacy.

Direct fire: for ore and shellfish is not easy fragmentation of drugs such as magnets, oysters and other. Drugs on the wire sieve, placed in a smoke-free fire in calcination, calcined extent as the drug of a different nature may be. Ore drugs must be calcined to red for the degree; shell drugs calcined pale reddish cooling.

The stew calcined (Indirect burning): a small number of body light loose drugs, such as Chen brown human hair and other applicable stew calcined France. Upcoming drugs on the wok, another small iron pot, covered with salt mud solid seal soup, small wok on the pressure of a heavy object, inconvenience leak, set the fire till the drop of water to boiling in a small wok immediately or a White affixed to the pot on, until the paper burned, and after cooling out.

7. Stir fry processing methods commonly used in a heating method, the drug is heated in the pot, with a spade shovel constantly moving, stir-fry until a certain extent to remove. The speculation is as follows:

- Fried, without additional adjuvants, drugs with the aid of low or moderate fire until one obtains a yellowish color and a burnt aroma. The objectives of this method are reinforced, moderate an action and lessen toxicity.

- Bran fried drugs (Pieces) plus the Mizhi bran fry, stir-fry until the film was light yellow for the degree.

The above two kind purpose are to ease the effects of the medicine. The methods are aid to add other adjuvants such as wine and ginger with stir-frying for the different requirements of the medication.

Stir-frying till carbonized with the aid of powerful fire; the drugs become black on the outsides and brown on the inside without ashing residues, mostly to increase the function of astringent.

8. Pao is basically the same as stir-frying-carbonized, but the Pao requires fierce fire, operation should be quick, it will give the drug (usually to be cut into small pieces) to loose and expansion by high thermal degree, such as GanJiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), this method processed into Pao-jiang carbonized.

9. Roasting (Wei Fa) is to ease the potency and reduce side effects. The drug is enveloped in wet paper or in a paste of rice flower, wheat bran, or Talcum (Hua Shi). They are then plunged under live coals until the envelop paper becomes brownish and crackly. Once they have cooled, they are removed from their envelope. This method to remove any fatty materials such as with Row Dou Kou, lessen a drastic action such as Gan Sui.

10. Zhi: mix-frying with liquid adjuvants. Commonly used are:

Mizhi: plus refining the honey and stir. The honey is first cooked over a lower fire. The medicinal substances are then added and stir-fried until honey is no longer sticky to touch. Such as to Zhi Dang Sheng, Zhi Huang Qi (Astragalus), Zhi Gan Cao.the objectives to reinforce the moistening action on the lungs to stop cough.

Sand Zhi: The first sizzling iron ore heating till blue color, pour the drugs into stir-frying until loose degree, take all substances out, weed out the iron sand. Such as the ShanJia films, turtle shell, turtle shell into a crisp, easy to make concoction and powdered pill.

11. Drying and baking are also heated with tiny fire to dry.

12. Vapour drugs known as steaming. It is required to cook different point’s watertight heat. A steaming make drugs to change their original performance, such as rhubarb, diarrhea achievements by steaming the cooked rhubarb, use it to Thanh Hoa hot and humid in the major clinical, promoting blood circulation and eradicates the role of stasis

13. Boiling the original drug after sorting and washing, on the pot with water and other adjuvant material are cooked completely. Such as monkshood, aconite root, cook with tofu to reduce toxicity.

14. Dip-calcining (Cui Fa), the drugs are heated till red and are then dipped while hot into liquid (vinegar or clear water). The operation is operated several times. This procedure is used for minerals, shells, carapaces. This method can render the material friable in order to facilitate pulverization. Such as with Dai Zhe Shi, Ci Shi.

Conclusion

In TCM, the body surface forms the first barrier against the invasion of exogenous pathogens, and is dominated by the lungs and bladder channel. When external pathological factors such as Wind, Dampness, Dryness, or Heat can invade the body and cause skin disorders. Internal imbalances are differentiated into patterns such as Blood Stasis, Disharmony of Liver and Kidney, or Blood Deficiency, and are often reflected on the skin. When skin problems are generated by internal imbalance, the underlying problem must be addressed, in order to clear up the surface manifestation. TCM's strategy is to dispel the pathogens from the exterior and prevent it going deeper into the body. ⁵

In this article, to treat disharmonies in the superficial portion of the body through the actions of inducing sweating, releasing muscles or promoting eruption. I introduce some of the most popular herbs, which is commonly used for a variety of skin disorders. ^{6, 7}

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind cold

Herb name	Characteristics	Meridians entered	Medical Function
Ma Huang	Acrid, slightly bitter	Lung, urinary bladder	Promoting the flow of lung qi, disperse the retained water to relieve oedema.
Gui Zhi	Acrid, sweet	Lung, urinary bladder, heart	promote the flow of yang qi in the blood vessels, to treat obstruction of blood, or retained water
Zi Su Ye	aromatic , acrid	lung, spleen, stomach	dispersing wind cold to relieve exterior patterns
Jing Jie	acrid, aromatic	lung, liver	disperse wind to stop itching, to help promote skin eruption
Fang Feng	Acrid, sweet	urinary bladder, spleen, liver	Releases the exterior and expels wind
Bai Zhi	Acrid, aromatic fragrance	lung, spleen, stomach	Early stage of superficial sores and carbuncles , expels dampness and alleviates discharge
Qiang Huo	aromatic , acrid, bitter	urinary bladder, kidney	dispersing wind cold to relieve exterior patterns, Wind cold damp bi in upper limbs and back

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind heat

Herb name	Characteristics	Meridians entered	Medical Function
Niu Bang Zi	Acrid, bitter	lung, stomach	Fever, Carbuncles, cough
Ju Hua	Sweet, bitter	Lung, liver	Calms the Liver and extinguishes Wind
Bo He	Aromatic	Lung, liver	Vents rashes, Unblocks Liver Qi, Expels turbid filth
Sang Ye	Sweet, bitter	Lung, liver	removing pathogens from the collaterals of the lung to relieve cough, regular liver qi, Clears Heat from the Lungs
Chai Hu	Acrid, bitter	Liver, pericardium, sanjiao, gall bladder	Releases heat in the muscle layer, Raises Yang Qi in Spleen or Stomach Qi deficiency, Liver Qi Stagnation
Ge Gen	Acrid, sweet	Spleen, stomach	Releases the muscles and clears heat, Vents rashes,
Sheng Ma	Acrid, sweet	lung, stomach, spleen, large intestine	disperse wind heat, in the upper and superficial parts of the bod

References

1. Yang, Shou-zhong. The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica: A Translation of the Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing. USA, Blue Poppy Press, 5^th edition, 2007

2. Philippe Sionneau, Bob Flaws, Pao Zhi: An Introduction to the Use of Processed Chinese Medicinals

3. Chen Ping (editor in chief), History and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1999 Science Press, Beijing.

4. Med Jiuzhang, Guo Lei, a General Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2010 Science Press, US

5. Lu, Yubin. How to learn Chinese herbs (Part four). The journal of Chinese Medicine. October 1, 2003

6. Tan, D. (2004). Science of Chinese Materia Medica (1^st ed.): Publishing House of Shanghai University of TCM.

7. Jialin, T. (2007). Chinese Materia Medica (2^nd ed.): People’s Medical Publishing House.

心元中醫館網誌

2012年3月30日星期五

Individual Chinese Herbs

Introduction

History of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Major texts and their contributions

The objectives of herbs preparation

The aims and functions of each method of Pao Zhi

Conclusion

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind cold

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind heat

References

中醫分子談論陽虛則外寒，陰虛則內熱

2012年3月30日 星期五

Individual Chinese Herbs

Introduction

History of Chinese Herbal Medicine

Major texts and their contributions

The objectives of herbs preparation

The aims and functions of each method of Pao Zhi

Conclusion

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind cold

Herbs that relieve exterior patterns due to wind heat

References

中醫分子談論 陽虛則外寒，陰虛則內熱

2012年3月30日星期五

中醫分子談論陽虛則外寒，陰虛則內熱