Qi-Regulating Herbs and Warm-Middle Dispelling-Cold Herbs 1999.2.8

Qi-Regulating Herbs and Warm-Middle Dispelling-Cold Herbs 1999.2.8

1. Qi-regulating herbs and gastrointestinal medicines often promote intestinal peristalsis and enhance gastric emptying, thus having the effects of relieving fullness, reducing bloating, and alleviating pain, such as Citrus aurantium immaturus, Citrus reticulata pericarpium, Lindera aggregata, Melia toosendan, and Areca catechu pericarpium. However, the dosage of qi-regulating herbs should not be too high, as excessive amounts may deplete qi. Recently, some practitioners have used excessively large doses of Citrus aurantium immaturus and Melia toosendan—while the former is used for raising blood pressure and the latter for coronary dilation, these are separate matters.

2. Warm-middle dispelling-cold herbs can stimulate the gastrointestinal sympathetic nervous system, thereby exhibiting significant antispasmodic effects, such as Sichuan pepper, dried ginger, cinnamon, Evodia rutaecarpa, Piper longum, Alpinia officinarum, fennel seeds, black pepper powder, Aconitum, and Fuzi. Most of these herbs are commonly used spices in daily life.