Herbs That Release The Exterior Wind Cold TCM Materia Medica

Many are acrid and warm
Used when fever is mild, chill severe, headache, body & neck pain, no thirst
Focus is on the superficial layer of the body and lung
Precautions:
Do not overdose herbs that promote sweating – disperses qi too much and consumes yin
Caution in bleeding conditions or pregnancy – too moving

Bai Zhi best for pain in forehead, eyebrows, teeth, gums; also for swelling, pus, vaginal discharge.
Cong Bai releases the exterior in the very early stages of wind-cold, may be used topically for abscesses and sores.
Fang Feng – releases exterior, useful for bi-syndromes, particularly wind-type.
Gao Ben – expels wind-cold, headaches, particularly vertex.
Gui Zhi – releases muscle layer of exterior, useful for wind/cold/damp bi-syndromes in the joints, limbs, and shoulders.
Jing Jie – releases exterior, useful for carbuncles or boils in initial stages, stops bleeding.
Ma Huang – releases exterior, induces sweating, disperse lung qi, promotes urination.
Qiang Huo – releases exterior, best with damp related body/joint pain and/or occipital headache, guiding herb for the governing vessel.
Sheng Jiang – release exterior, disperses cold, warms middle jiao, warms lung, reduces toxicity of other herbs.
Xi Xin – releases exterior, used most often with head and body aches in wind-cold, particularly with dampness or underlying KD Yang Deficiency, warms lung, unblocks nasal congestion.
Xiang Ru – release exterior, clears summerheat, transforms dampness, promotes urination, reduces swelling.
Xin Yi Hua – most often used with wind-cold, but always useful for any nasal/sinus conditions within appropriate combinations.
Zi Su Ye – releases exterior, wind-cold with fever, calms restless fetus, alleviates morning sickness, may be used alone or in a formula for seafood poisoning.

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