Cold-Dispelling Medications

Definition

Cold-dispelling medications (or warming medications) are substances that have a warm or hot taste and properties. They are characterized by their ability to warm the interior, promote circulation, warm the meridians, relieve pain, and restore yang energy.

Actions and Indications

• Warming and dispelling cold:
  • Spleen and stomach deficiency-cold: Warm the spleen and stomach, treating deficiency-cold conditions in these organs, manifesting as diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loose stools.
• Warming the meridians and dispelling cold:
  • Promoting circulation and relieving pain: Promote circulation in the meridians and alleviate pain caused by cold pathogens.
• Restoring yang energy:
  • Kidney yang deficiency and collapse of yang: Restore depleted yang energy in cases of kidney yang deficiency or collapse of the heart and circulation due to invasion by cold pathogens.

Classification

• Warming and dispelling cold: Medications that warm the spleen and stomach, treating deficiency-cold conditions in these organs.
• Restoring yang energy: Medications that restore depleted yang energy, rescuing individuals from collapse of yang caused by invasion by cold pathogens.

Restoring Yang Energy Medications

• Action: Recovers depleted yang energy or addresses collapse of the heart and circulation due to invasion by cold pathogens.
• Nature: Extremely hot, toxic, spicy and sweet in taste.
• Meridian affinities: Heart, Kidney, Spleen
• Examples: Aconite root (Fuzi), Cinnamon bark (Rougui).
• Cautions: Avoid use in cases of circulatory collapse due to infection, yin deficiency, and depletion of body fluids.

Warming the Middle Jiao Medications

• Action: Warm the middle jiao (the middle burner) when internal cold is excessive (leading to weakened digestive function, resulting in diarrhea, abdominal pain, and loose stools). Treat abdominal pain. Strengthen the spleen, regulate Qi, and resolve stagnation.
• Nature: Spicy, fragrant (essential oils), warm.
• Meridian affinities: Spleen, Stomach
• Examples: Amomum villosum (Saren), Sichuan pepper (Xuanxiao), Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Cao guo), Radix Platycodi (Dielan), Clove (Dingxiang), Anise (Xiao hui), Star anise (Dahui), Ginger (Liangjiang), Fructus Evodiae (Wutudu).
• Cautions:
  • Combine with qi-tonifying herbs: Radix Angelicae Sinensis (Dangshen), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), Rhizoma Atractylodis Lanceae (Zhicheng).
  • Crush the fruits before use.

Contraindications for Cold-Dispelling Medications

• Pseudo-cold due to true heat (Li heat, external cold): Internal heat, but externally appearing as cold, such as fever due to toxic infection, high fever with collapse, weak peripheral pulse, cold hands and feet, weak pulse (pseudo-cold), hot palms and soles, thirst (true heat).
• Yin deficiency giving rise to internal heat: Yin deficiency leads to a predominance of yang, manifested by night sweats, dry cough, dry throat, difficulty sleeping, red cheeks, and frequent urination at night.
• Blood deficiency, prolonged illness, depletion of body fluids: Due to the warming and drying nature of these medications, long-term use can lead to heat accumulation and depletion of body fluids.

Further Explanation of Terms

• Middle Jiao: From the upper opening of the stomach to the lower opening of the stomach, responsible for the digestion and transformation of food, the production of fluids, the absorption of essence from food and drink, and the generation of Qi. The Middle Jiao encompasses the Spleen and Stomach.
• Collapse of Yang: The phenomenon of yang energy escaping due to excessively strong pathogenic cold (severe allergic reactions, advanced stages of serious illnesses, exhaustion).
• Body Fluids: A bodily fluid, clear is “jin” (jin), cloudy is “ye” (ye). Body fluids are produced from the essence of food and drink and distributed with the Qi of the three Jiao to nourish the muscles and skin, moistening the skin and hair. Sweat and urine are derived from body fluids, the former exiting the surface, the latter passing through the bladder.

List of Cold-Dispelling Medications

1. Restoring Yang Energy Medications

• Aconite root (Fuzi): The tuber of Aconitum carmichaelii. Spicy, sweet, extremely hot, toxic. Meridian affinities: Heart, Kidney, Spleen. Actions: Restore yang energy, warm kidney yang, enhance circulation, dispel wind-cold-dampness, alleviate pain. Indications: Restoring yang energy: Heart and Kidney deficiency, spontaneous sweating, excessive vomiting, cold extremities, cramped limbs, weak pulse. Dispel cold, relieve pain: wind-cold-dampness, pain in bones and joints, cold and aching limbs, or stomach pain, neuralgia. Precautions: Not for pregnant women, avoid use with Pinellia ternata (Banxia), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gualou), Rhizoma Bletillae striatae (Beimu), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baibi), Polygala tenuifolia (Bai lian). Fresh aconite root is highly toxic and should only be used for external application, not for internal use.
• Cinnamon bark (Rougui): The bark of Cinnamomum cassia. Essential oil. Spicy, sweet, extremely hot, toxic. Meridian affinities: Heart, Liver, Kidney, Spleen. Actions: Supplement the “Mingmen fire”, promote blood circulation, dispel cold, relieve pain, stop diarrhea, detoxify. Indications: Treat cold extremities, cramps. Used for severe abdominal pain due to cold invasion, diarrhea, vomiting. Treat edema, difficult urination, especially severe swelling in the feet (yang deficiency).
• Ginseng (Renshen): The root. Saponins. Sweet, slightly bitter, neutral. Lung, Spleen. Actions: Promotes longevity, enhances health, lowers cholesterol, treats digestive disorders, cosmetic use. Available as tinctures, tablets, powders, and teas. Precautions: Do not combine with Pear (Li), Ganoderma lucidum (Lingzhi).

2. Warming the Middle Jiao Medications

• Clove (Dingxiang): The flower bud. Essential oil (Eugenol). Spicy, warm. Spleen, Stomach, Lung, Kidney. Actions: Warm the spleen, descend rebellious Qi, tonify kidney yang, alleviate pain. Indications: Warm the middle Jiao, descend rebellious Qi, strengthen the spleen, stop diarrhea: treat abdominal pain due to cold, abdominal distension, diarrhea. Relieve pain: treat toothache, gum pain, halitosis. Treat hiccups. Precautions: Do not combine with Turmeric (Wujin).
• Zanthoxylum bungeanum (Cao guo): The ripe fruit, dried. Essential oil. Spicy, warm. Spleen, Stomach. Indications: Warm the middle Jiao, relieve pain: used for cold-dampness conditions leading to abdominal distension and pain (can be combined with Citrus grandis (Huoxiang), Magnolia officinalis (Houpo), Aurantii nobilis (Qingpi), Pinellia ternata (Banxia). Strengthen the spleen, digest food: stimulate digestive fluid secretion, used for indigestion. Remove phlegm, stop cough: used for phlegm-producing coughs. Remove toxic substances.
• Amomum villosum (Saren): Use mature fruit, without the husk, dried. Essential oil. Spicy, warm. Spleen, Stomach, Kidney. Actions: Eliminate dampness, digest food, warm the spleen, stop diarrhea, regulate Qi, calm the fetus. Indications: Regulate Qi and eliminate dampness: used for abdominal pain, indigestion… Eliminate wind-dampness, alleviate pain: aching limbs and body. Restlessness or bleeding during pregnancy. Prevent cold in mountainous areas and protect against malignant malaria. Precautions: Yin deficiency giving rise to internal heat.
• Anise (Xiao hui): The ripe fruit, dried. Essential oil (anethole). Spicy, warm. Meridian affinities: Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach. Actions: Dispel cold, warm the liver, warm the kidney, relieve pain, regulate Qi, harmonize the Stomach, strengthen the Spleen. Indications: Dispel cold, relieve pain: treat abdominal pain, indigestion, vomiting, diarrhea. Open appetite, strengthen the spleen, improve digestion: appetizer, promotes good appetite and digestion. Detoxify seafood. Warm the kidney: treat male sexual dysfunction, inguinal hernia, and hydrocele. Kidney deficiency, vaginal discharge due to cold. Precautions: Yin deficiency with excess heat, lack of cold.
• Star anise (Dahui): The fruit. Essential oil. Spicy, sweet, warm. Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach. Actions: Similar to Anise (Xiao hui). Indications: Dispel cold, warm the meridians: used when cold pathogens invade, causing abdominal distension, pain, and diarrhea. Strengthen the spleen, digest food, stop vomiting, stimulate milk production: used for indigestion, nausea. Detoxify: seafood allergies. Regulate Qi, relieve pain: used for intestinal prolapse due to cold. Precautions: Yin deficiency with excess heat.
• Sichuan pepper (Xuanxiao): The dried fruit. Essential oil. Spicy, warm. Spleen, Lung, Kidney. Actions: Warm the middle Jiao, descend rebellious Qi, stop diarrhea, relieve pain, kill parasites, resolve stagnation. Indications: Warm the middle Jiao, relieve pain: used for abdominal, chest pain, and diarrhea due to cold. Kill parasites, resolve stagnation: treat abdominal pain due to worms, eczema, itchy skin, and toothache. Precautions: Yin deficiency with excess heat.
• Ginger (Liangjiang): The rhizome. Essential oil, flavonoids. Spicy, warm. Spleen, Stomach. Actions: Warm the middle Jiao, dispel cold, relieve pain, digest food, stimulate digestion. Indications: Treat cold, warm the middle Jiao, relieve pain: used for abdominal pain due to cold, fullness, distension… combine with: Angelica sinensis (Xiangfu), Citrus grandis (Huoxiang), Star anise (Dahui), Cinnamon bark (Guizhu). Detoxify, dispel heat: treat fever due to cold, malaria, combine with Pinellia ternata (Gankang). Precautions: Vomiting due to Stomach fire and diarrhea due to Stomach heat.
• Fructus Evodiae (Wutudu): The fruit. Spicy, extremely bitter, hot, slightly toxic. Meridian affinities: Liver, Kidney, Spleen, Stomach. Essential oils, alkaloids. Actions: Warm the middle Jiao, descend rebellious Qi, unblock stagnation, dispel cold, regulate Qi, relieve pain, kill parasites, stop diarrhea, consolidate and astringent. Indications: Dispel cold, relieve pain: abdominal pain, indigestion. Pain due to cold: headache, foot Qi, cold-dampness diarrhea, dysentery… Descend rebellious Qi, stop vomiting: treat vomiting due to Stomach cold. Regulate Qi: treat gastritis, epididymitis, metrorrhagia, menorrhagia. Eliminate wind, reduce itching: treat “Shizhen” (itching, yellow discharge), use Fructus Evodiae, Ostrea gigas (Wutuoge), Sulfur (Liuhuang), grind into a fine powder, sprinkle on the wound.
• Radix Platycodi (Dielan): The tuber. Essential oil. Spicy, warm. Spleen, Stomach. Essential oil (Methyl borneol). Actions: Warm the middle Jiao, dispel cold, eliminate dampness, remove stagnant Qi. Indications: Remove stagnant Qi. Eliminate dampness, warm the middle Jiao, dispel cold. Treat abdominal pain due to cold, toothache, promote digestion. Use as a fumigant.

General Cautions

• Cold-dispelling medications should not be used long-term, as they can cause heat accumulation and depletion of body fluids.
• Consult a qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine or a licensed physician before using any cold-dispelling medications.
• Follow the instructions of your practitioner and do not self-medicate or change dosages.
• Monitor your body’s response to cold-dispelling medications. Report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider immediately.

Additional Information

• In addition to the cold-dispelling medications listed above, many other types of medications are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
• Cold-dispelling medications can be combined with other medications to enhance the therapeutic effect. For example:
  • For treating abdominal pain due to cold invasion, cold-dispelling medications can be combined with Qi-regulating and digestive medications.
  • For treating spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, cold-dispelling medications can be combined with Qi-tonifying and spleen-strengthening medications.
• Besides medication, pay attention to your diet and rest to boost your health and support the healing process.

Further Information

• Beyond the cold-dispelling medications discussed in this article, many other types exist, including: Chinese jujube (Daizao), Atractylodes macrocephala (Baizhu), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Gancao), Pinellia ternata (Gankang)…
• Cold-dispelling medications are frequently used in conjunction with other types of medications to achieve more effective treatments. For instance:
  • To address abdominal pain caused by cold invasion, cold-dispelling medications might be combined with Qi-regulating and digestive medications.
  • To address spleen and stomach deficiency-cold, cold-dispelling medications might be combined with Qi-tonifying and spleen-strengthening medications.
• Along with medication, maintaining a balanced diet and adequate rest is crucial to bolstering health and aiding the healing process.
• Consulting a licensed physician or a qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine is essential before using any cold-dispelling medication.

Note

• This article provides information only and should not replace the advice of a qualified healthcare professional.
• Patients should avoid self-medicating and consult a licensed physician or a qualified practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine before using any medication.