Traditional Chinese Medicine Materia Medica
Warm, Acrid Herbs That Release the Exterior
Ma Huang 麻黄
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Ma Huang
Pharmaceutical Name: Ephedrae Herba
Channels: Lung, Bladder
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Slightly Bitter
Temperature: Warm
Direction: Upward and outward; promotes sweating and opens the exterior
Dosage: 2–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold exterior excess, absence of sweating, cough, wheezing, edema.
Primary Functions: Induces sweating, releases the exterior, facilitates Lung Qi, calms wheezing, promotes urination.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with hypertension, palpitations, insomnia, spontaneous sweating, deficiency sweating, pregnancy, or stimulant sensitivity.
Gui Zhi 桂枝
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Gui Zhi
Pharmaceutical Name: Cinnamomi Ramulus
Channels: Heart, Lung, Bladder
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Sweet
Temperature: Warm
Direction: Outward, upward, and warming through the channels
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold exterior patterns, cold pain, joint pain, palpitations from Yang deficiency.
Primary Functions: Releases the exterior, warms and unblocks channels, assists Yang Qi, warms the middle.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with warm disease, Yin deficiency heat, bleeding disorders, pregnancy, or excessive sweating.
Zi Su Ye 紫苏叶
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Zi Su Ye
Pharmaceutical Name: Perillae Folium
Channels: Lung, Spleen
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Aromatic
Temperature: Warm
Direction: Outward and upward; moves Qi
Dosage: 5–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold with cough, chest oppression, nausea, seafood reaction, pregnancy nausea.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, disperses cold, moves Qi, expands chest, calms fetus, resolves seafood toxicity.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with warm exterior disorders or Qi deficiency with excessive sweating.
Sheng Jiang 生姜
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Sheng Jiang
Pharmaceutical Name: Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens
Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach
Flavor/Taste: Acrid
Temperature: Slightly Warm
Direction: Outward, upward, and warming inward
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold, nausea, vomiting, cough with cold phlegm, digestive cold.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, warms middle, stops vomiting, warms Lung, reduces toxicity of other herbs.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Yin deficiency heat, internal heat, or bleeding from heat.
Jing Jie 荆芥
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Jing Jie
Pharmaceutical Name: Schizonepetae Herba
Channels: Lung, Liver
Flavor/Taste: Acrid
Temperature: Slightly Warm
Direction: Upward and outward
Dosage: 4.5–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, rashes, itching, bleeding when charred.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, expels Wind, vents rashes, relieves itching, stops bleeding when charred.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating.
Fang Feng 防风
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Fang Feng
Pharmaceutical Name: Saposhnikoviae Radix
Channels: Bladder, Liver, Spleen
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Sweet
Temperature: Slightly Warm
Direction: Outward; dispersing
Dosage: 4.5–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold, headaches, body aches, Wind-Damp pain, spasms.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, expels Wind, alleviates pain, relieves spasms, dries Dampness.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Blood deficiency spasms or Yin deficiency heat.
Qiang Huo 羌活
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Qiang Huo
Pharmaceutical Name: Notopterygii Rhizoma seu Radix
Channels: Bladder, Kidney
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Bitter, Aromatic
Temperature: Warm
Direction: Upward and outward; guides to Tai Yang
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Cold-Damp, occipital headache, neck stiffness, upper back pain.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, dispels Wind-Cold-Damp, alleviates pain, guides to Tai Yang channel.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Yin deficiency, Blood deficiency, or headaches from Liver Yang rising.
Bai Zhi 白芷
Category: Warm, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Bai Zhi
Pharmaceutical Name: Angelicae Dahuricae Radix
Channels: Lung, Stomach, Spleen
Flavor/Taste: Acrid
Temperature: Warm
Direction: Upward and outward; opens nasal passages
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Frontal headache, sinus congestion, nasal obstruction, skin sores, Damp discharge.
Primary Functions: Expels Wind-Cold, opens nose, alleviates pain, reduces swelling, expels pus, dries Dampness.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Yin deficiency heat or Blood deficiency.
Cool, Acrid Herbs That Release the Exterior
Bo He 薄荷
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Bo He
Pharmaceutical Name: Menthae Haplocalycis Herba
Channels: Lung, Liver
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Aromatic
Temperature: Cool
Direction: Upward and outward; dispersing
Dosage: 3–6g, add near end of decoction
Primary Uses: Wind-Heat, sore throat, headache, red eyes, rashes, constrained Liver Qi.
Primary Functions: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears head and eyes, benefits throat, vents rashes, moves Liver Qi.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Qi deficiency sweating or nursing, as large amounts may affect lactation.
Niu Bang Zi 牛蒡子
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Niu Bang Zi
Pharmaceutical Name: Arctii Fructus
Channels: Lung, Stomach
Flavor/Taste: Acrid, Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Direction: Upward, outward, and downward through the intestines
Dosage: 6–12g
Primary Uses: Wind-Heat sore throat, cough, rashes, mumps, constipation with heat.
Primary Functions: Disperses Wind-Heat, benefits throat, vents rashes, resolves toxicity, moistens intestines.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Qi deficiency loose stools or diarrhea.
Sang Ye 桑叶
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Sang Ye
Pharmaceutical Name: Mori Folium
Channels: Lung, Liver
Flavor/Taste: Sweet, Bitter
Temperature: Cold
Direction: Upward and outward; also descends Lung Qi
Dosage: 4.5–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Heat cough, dry cough, red eyes, Liver heat, mild bleeding from heat.
Primary Functions: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears Lung, moistens dryness, clears Liver, brightens eyes, cools Blood.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with cold from deficiency or absence of heat signs.
Ju Hua 菊花
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Ju Hua
Pharmaceutical Name: Chrysanthemi Flos
Channels: Lung, Liver
Flavor/Taste: Sweet, Bitter
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Direction: Upward and outward; clears upward to head and eyes
Dosage: 4.5–9g
Primary Uses: Wind-Heat, red eyes, headache, dizziness, Liver Yang rising, toxic sores.
Primary Functions: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears eyes, calms Liver, pacifies Liver Yang, resolves toxicity.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Yang deficiency, cold digestion, or loose stools.
Chai Hu 柴胡
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Chai Hu
Pharmaceutical Name: Bupleuri Radix
Channels: Liver, Gallbladder, Pericardium, San Jiao
Flavor/Taste: Bitter, Acrid
Temperature: Cool
Direction: Upward, outward, and coursing
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Shao Yang disorder, alternating chills and fever, Liver Qi stagnation, prolapse, menstrual constraint.
Primary Functions: Harmonizes Shao Yang, reduces fever, spreads Liver Qi, raises Yang Qi.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with Liver Yang rising, Yin deficiency heat, or true Yin exhaustion.
Ge Gen 葛根
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Ge Gen
Pharmaceutical Name: Puerariae Radix
Channels: Spleen, Stomach
Flavor/Taste: Sweet, Acrid
Temperature: Cool
Direction: Upward and outward; raises Yang
Dosage: 9–15g
Primary Uses: Stiff neck, upper back tension, thirst, measles, diarrhea from Spleen deficiency or heat.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, relaxes muscles, generates fluids, vents rashes, raises Yang, stops diarrhea.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution with excessive sweating or Stomach cold without heat signs.
Sheng Ma 升麻
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Sheng Ma
Pharmaceutical Name: Cimicifugae Rhizoma
Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach, Large Intestine
Flavor/Taste: Sweet, Acrid
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Direction: Strongly upward and outward
Dosage: 3–9g
Primary Uses: Measles, sore throat, toxic heat, prolapse, sunken Yang.
Primary Functions: Releases exterior, vents rashes, clears heat, resolves toxicity, raises Yang Qi.
Cautions/Contraindications: Avoid with headache, dizziness, or vomiting due to rising Liver Yang or excess above.
Chan Tui 蝉蜕
Category: Cool, Acrid Herbs that Release the Exterior
Pinyin: Chan Tui
Pharmaceutical Name: Cicadae Periostracum
Channels: Lung, Liver
Flavor/Taste: Sweet, Salty
Temperature: Slightly Cold
Direction: Upward and outward; light and floating
Dosage: 3–6g
Primary Uses: Wind-Heat, sore throat, rashes, itching, eye disorders, spasms.
Primary Functions: Disperses Wind, clears Heat, vents rashes, benefits eyes, stops spasms.
Cautions/Contraindications: Use caution during pregnancy.
Educational Disclaimer: This materia medica is for traditional study and educational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Chinese herbs should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner.
References: Bensky, Clavey, Stöger & Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica; Chen & Chen, Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology; Maciocia, The Foundations of Chinese Medicine.