These herbs clear the surface of the body by promoting function of the skin and promoting perspiration, either sensible (ie. the perspiration is seen and felt), but often work by what was called ‘insensible transpiration’, meaning the skin function was made more efficient, and more sweat and toxins were expelled via the skin, but without being noticed as sweat.

TCM classifies the acute stages of Infection as either Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold. Wind ‘moves’ the pathogen into the body which is either Cold or Heat. In Winter, cold climates and Cold-natured bodies Wind-Cold attacks whereas in Spring, Summer, Hot climates and Hot-natured bodies usually Wind-Heat is the cause.

The skin is the largest cleansing organ of the body, and proper skin function is very important in a range of conditions where the system is overloaded or overburdened with various toxins, such as fever, infection, inflammation, edema, poor kidney function, various skin conditions and chronic arthritic complaints, as well as tumors, swellings and cancer. These medicines activate the skin function.

They are most useful in conditions which are said to be in the skin and superficial tissues of the body.

They are used for:

1. Fevers, Colds, Influenza, the beginning stages of Infectious diseases. This group is most suitable for acute conditions with chills, fever, headache, muscle stiffness, sweating (or absence of healthy sweating).
2. Pain of the muscles, especially that which is moving in nature.
3. Joint pain, especially of an acute nature. Also Headaches and acute Neuralgias etc.
4. Some herbs of this group have other functions such as treating Coughs, promoting expression of Rashes, promoting Peripheral Circulation, clearing Poisons, and easing Pain.

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i. Warm herbs for Exterior Wind-Cold

Symptoms include runny nose with clear mucous, Cough, Headache, body aches, fear of or aversion to Cold, feels the Cold, pale face, superficial (floating) pulse that is a little slow or weak.

Others:
Centipeda E Bu Shi Cao, Tamarix chinensis Xi He Liu, Mosla seu Elsholtzia Xiang Ru

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ii. Cold herbs for Exterior Wind-Heat

Symptoms include Fever, Chills, Cough, Sore Throat, Headache and body aches, red tongue with thin white or yellow tongue coat, superficial (floating) pulse which is rapid. The face is reddish and there may be restlessness, insomnia etc.

Others:
White Dittany,Scordium
TCM:
Horsetail (Mu Zei), Vernonia Yi Zhi Xiang, Abutilon Mao Zi Dun Tou, Soybean sprouts Da Dou Juan, Prepared Soybean Dan Dou Chi

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