WARM ACRID HERBS THAT
RELEASE THE EXTERIOR
Revised: 8/28/2019
Sources:
• Bensky, D. (2004). Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica. Seattle, WA: Eastland Press. pp. 3-45
• Chen, J. and Chen, T. (2004). Chinese Medical Herbology and Pharmacology. Art of Medicine Press. pp. 33-67
Warm Acrid Herbs that
Release the Exterior
Herbs that Release the Exterior promote sweating in order to expel external pathogens from
superficial levels of the body (called diaphoresis).
External Attack of Wind-Cold:
• Fever and chills
• Headache, nasal congestion
• Stiff neck, muscle ache
• Absence of thirst
• Floating pulse
Because these herbs promote sweating and disperse qi, caution should be used with patients
with deficiency. These herbs should not be used longterm.
Warm Acrid Herbs that
Release the Exterior
Taste: • acrid
Temperature: • warm
Channels: • LU
Cautions &
• These herbs are warm, acrid, and dispersing
Contraindications: • Use caution in patients with qi deficiency, yin
deficiency, sweating, or with long term use
Main Action: • Promotes sweating to release the exterior
Warm Acrid Herbs that
Release the Exterior
• má huáng
• xì xīn
• guì zhī
• shēng jiāng
• zǐ sū yè
• shēng jiāng pí
• jīng jiè
• cōng bái
• fáng fēng
• xiāng rú
• qiāng huó
• cāng ěr zǐ
• gǎo běn
• xīn yín huā
• bái zhǐ
má huáng
ephedra herba
麻
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, slightly bitter
Channels: LU, UB
Dosage: 2-9 grams
⻩黄
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• for Tai Yang syndrome with absence of sweating
2. stops cough and wheezing
3. promotes urination to treat edema
• for wind-water edema in the upper body
4. treats bi syndrome
If Ma Huang is used for warm conditions, it should be combined with cold herbs
(e.g. Shi Gao, Huang Qin) or cooked in honey.
guì zhī
cinnamomi ramulus
桂
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, sweet
Channels: LU, UB, HT
Dosage: 3-9 grams
枝
1. releases the exterior and muscle layer
• harmonizes the Ying and Wei
• for wind-cold deficiency patterns with presence of sweating
2. warms and unblocks yang qi
• warms the middle-jiao → abdominal pain due to cold, watery diarrhea
• warms the chest → chest bi, chest pain, SOB, palpitations
• warms the UB → edema, urine retention, can used externally as compress
• warms the channels and (indirectly) invigorates blood
zǐ sū yè
perillae folium
紫
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, aromatic
Channels: LU, SP
Dosage: 5-9 grams
苏
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• mild
叶
2. regulates middle-jiao qi
• for vomiting, nausea, morning sickness
• calms the fetus; for restless fetus due to
middle-jiao qi stagnation
• Zi Su Geng (perilla stem) is stronger for this
3. detoxifies seafood poisoning
jīng jiè
schizonepetae herba
荆
Temp: slightly warm (almost neutral)
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, LV
Dosage: 4.5-9 grams
芥
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• used for both wind-cold and wind-heat
• esp. for skin rash due to wind-heat
2. used charred to stop bleeding
• esp. for lower-body bleeding (blood in the urine,
heavy menstruation, blood in the stool, etc.)
• when charred, called Jing Jie Tan
fáng fēng
saposhnikoviae radix
防
Temp: slightly warm (almost neutral)
Taste: acrid, sweet
Channels: UB, LV, SP
Dosage: 4.5-9 grams
⻛风
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• used for both wind-cold and wind-heat
2. dispels wind-cold-damp from the channels
• for bi syndrome
3. relieves spasm and contraction
• for trembling hands and feet, lock jaw, tenesmus
4. detoxifies mercury and arsenic poisoning
Fang Feng means “protect from wind.” It is the commander of all wind herbs. It is not drying, so it will not damage yin.
qiāng huó
notopterygii rhizoma seu radix
羌
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, bitter, aromatic
Channels: UB, KI
Dosage: 3-9 grams
活
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• esp. with accompanying symptoms of dampness,
e.g. joint pain, body heaviness, sleepiness
2. dispels wind-cold-damp to treat bi syndrome
• esp. in upper body
gǎo běn
ligustici rhizoma
蒿
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: UB, DU
Dosage: 3-9 grams
本
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• mild
• esp. for headache (vertex and occipital) and nasal congestion
2. dispels wind-dampness
• treats bi syndrome, esp. acute low back pain
• for wind-dampness affecting the the middle-jiao,
e.g. acute abdominal pain and diarrhea
bái zhǐ
angelicae dahuricae radix
⽩白
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, SP, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams
芷
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• relieves yang-ming headache
• opens nasal orifices
2. reduces swelling, stops pain, discharges pus
• for sores, carbuncles, mastitis
3. eliminates dampness
• for vaginal discharge due to damp-cold or
damp-heat in lower jiao
xì xīn
asari radix et rhizoma
细
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, toxic
Channels: LU, HT, KI
Dosage: 1-3 grams
⾟辛
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• esp. for pain; e.g. headache, body ache
2. warms the Lung
• for profuse, thin, white, bubbly phlegm
3. dispels wind-cold-damp
• for painful obstruction due to cold
Xi Xin is toxic. It is believed that it can cause Liver cancer and Kidney failure. Boiling the herb reduces its toxic effects.
Xi Xin used to be asari herba, but it was found that the leaves contain aristolochic acids. Now only the roots and
rhizomes are used.
shēng jiāng
zingiberis rhizoma recens
⽣生
Temp: slightly warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, SP, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams (2-4 slices)
姜
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• mild
2. warms the middle jiao
• for nausea, vomiting, cold in stomach
3. warms the Lung
• for profuse, thin, white, bubbly phlegm
4. detoxifies other herbs
shēng jiāng pí
zingiberis rhizomatis cortex
⽣生
Temp: cool
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, SP, ST
Dosage: 1-3 grams
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
2. harmonizes the middle jiao
⽪皮
3. promotes urination to treat edema
• esp. for edema just under the skin
Some books put Sheng Jiang Pi in the category Herbs that Drain Dampness.
cōng bái
alli fistulosi bulbus
葱
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams
⽩白
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• mild; for early-stage exterior attack
2. warms the yang qi in the Stomach
• for abdominal pain
3. used externally to resolve toxicity
• used as poultice for sores and abscesses
xiāng rú
moslae herba
⾹香
Temp: slightly warm
Taste: acrid, aromatic
Channels: LU, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams
薷
1. promotes sweating to release the exterior
• esp. for wind-cold contracted during the summer accompanied
by dampness
• expels summerheat dampness
2. promotes urination to treat edema
• for urinary difficulty, water retention, and
dampness accompanying exterior attack
cāng ěr zǐ
xanthii fructus
苍
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid, bitter, slightly toxic
Channels: LU
Dosage: 3-9 grams (usually less than 6 grams)
⽿耳
1. disperses wind to open nasal orifice
2. dispels wind-damp to treat bi syndrome
⼦子
3. treats wind related skin problems
• e.g. eczema, rash
Overdose of Cang Er Zi can cause symptoms such as digestive problems (n/v, abdominal pain,
diarrhea) and fatigue.
xīn yí huā
magnoliae flos
⾟辛
Temp: warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU, ST
Dosage: 3-9 grams (put in cloth or bag)
夷
1. disperses wind to open nasal orifice
花
As Xin Yin Hua is fuzzy, when used in decoction it should be put in a tea bag to avoid
throat irritation.
e bu shi cao
centipedae herba
鹅
Temp: slightly warm
Taste: acrid
Channels: LU
Dosage: 6-9 grams
不不
1. disperses wind-cold to open nasal orifice
• esp. when accompanied by red and dry eyes
⻝⾷食
2. clears heat toxicity
E Bu Shi Cao means, “grass that geese don’t eat.”
Large dosages can cause upset stomach. If this occurs, take ginger tea.
Summary
ma huang
releases the exterior
• stops cough and wheezing
ephedrae herba • for Tai Yang excess (no sweating) • promotes urination to treat edema
gui zhi
releases the exterior
• warms the chest, middle jiao, UB
cinnamomi ramulus • for Tai Yang deficiency (sweating) • indirectly moves blood
zi su ye
releases the exterior
• moves middle-jiao qi stagnation, esp for morning
sickness
perillae folium • mild
jing jie
releases the exterior
• use charred to stop bleeding (LV channel)
schizonepetae herba • for both wind-heat and wind-cold
• vents rashes
fang feng
releases the exterior
• can be used for all types of wind - internal, external,
hot, cold
saposhnikoviae radix • for both wind-heat and wind-cold
qiang huo
releases the exterior
• treats upper-body bi syndrome
notopterygii rhizoma seu radix • esp. when dampness is present
gao ben
releases the exterior
• treats bi syndrome, esp acute low back pain
(enters DU channel)
ligustici rhizoma • headache and nasal congestion
bai zhi
releases the exterior
• reduces swelling and discharges pus
angelicae dahuricae radix • yangming headache, opens nasal orifices • expels dampness (vaginal discharge)
xi xin
releases the exterior
• for pain due to cold
asari radix et rhizoma • esp. for body ache and headache • warms the Lung (profuse sputum)
• toxic (smaller dosage)
sheng jiang
releases the exterior
• warms the middle jiao (n/v)
zingiberis rhizoma • mild; esp for stomach problems • warms the Lung (profuse sputum)
sheng jiang pi
releases the exterior
zingiberis rhizoma cortex • for superficial edema under the skin
cong bai
releases the exterior
• warms middle jiao
alli fistulosi bulbus • mild, for early-stage
xiang ru
releases the exterior
moslae herba • for summerheat dampness
cang er zi
releases the exterior
• relaxes joints
xanthii fructus • opens nasal orifices • treats skin conditions
xin yi hua
releases the exterior
• cook in tea bag or wrapped in gauze
magnoliae flos • opens nasal orifices
