LU+-+Ma+Huang+&+Xing+Ren

Combination of Xing Ren and Ma Huang
==**__Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen, Rosacea; Prunus armeniaca, sibirica, mandshurica; Apricot kernel)__** == 

**__Category:__**

 * __Transform Phlegm and Stop Coughing__

**__Properties:__**

 * Bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
 * Lung, Large Intestine
 * Directs Lung qi down
 * Disperse Wind-cold
 * Moistens the intestines
 * slightly toxic
 * CONTRA: b/c bitter, warm and draining not for yin xu or general debility, not for infants or with diarhea

**Notes:**

 * Because xing ren doesn't have a acrid flavor is appears to only be moistening and down directing and not releasing or dispersing. but when ext is encumbered by Wind-cold such that the lung qi accumulates and rebels, this bitter herb is essential to direct rebellious lung qi down, making is flow smoothly and only then can the exterior be released. - Zhang Bing-Cheng; //Convenient Reader of Materia Medica//
 * By dispersing and directing qi down this herb releases the muscle layer and disperses wind, direct qi down and moisten dryness and reduce accumulation. For the latter it should be used with herbs that treat trauma. Its toxicity kills parasites. Not for long term. //-Li Shi Zhen//

Category:

 * Warm Release the Exterior

Properties:

 * Acrid, Slightly bitter (bitter not prominent), warm
 * Lung, Bladder
 * Induces sweating
 * Calms wheezing
 * Promotes urination
 * CONTRA: b/c strong diaphoretic use small dose, not for the debilitated or with spontaneous sweating from exterior deficiency, night sweats, or yin deficiency or with Kidney failing to accept qi

Notes:

 * "After using any medicine with ephedra one must avoid drafts for one day: - Li Shi Zhen
 * "Problem of red eyes arising from Ma Huang can be avoided by using Huang Qin (scutellariae radix) in combination

Dr Liu says:
 * preparation of Ma Huang
 * Never use alone
 * Always check constitution of patient (LV yang rising, High Blood Pressure, Palpitation, etc.)
 * Cut out nodes
 * cook seperately and remove foam
 * smash internodes and only use fiber ("Ma Rong")
 * Combine w/ Gan Cao
 * SHL 35 is first mention of Ma Huang
 * Combo Ma Huang with Xing ren it goes to Large Intesting
 * Combo Ma Huang with Shi Gao goes to Bladder
 * Use to tx obstruction of qi leading to wheeze
 * MUST differentiate rebelling lung qi and Lung qi obstruction, heat lodged in the Lung, and, Lung qi Deficiency! Different Tx!
 * Tx: EPI, Skin issue, Lung probs
 * Broad scope of function! NOT just for sweating, open pores.
 * Limited sweating function without Gui Zhi that provides source of sweat from the blood/muscle layer

Combination of Xing Ren and Ma Huang

 * 1) Combining Principal: Same channels and opposite but complementary directions
 * both Lung and
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">stop cough and wheezing BUT different Mechanisms
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Ma Huang: disseminates and facilitates the flow of Lung qi, unbinds the muscle layer, hard by nature, external
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Xing Ren primarlily drains and directs the lung qi down and opens the collaterals ofhte lungs, soft by nature, internal
 * Ma huang is hard: up and out to skin and nose, also promotes urination via downward movement to bladder
 * Xing Ren is Soft
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Together their movements exactly match the natural movement of the Lung (disseminate and move down)
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Xing ren is known as the "right hand' of Ma Huang.
 * <span style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">With appropriate additions this combination can address any pattern whether hot or cold and strong enough as a two herb formula when wind cold exterior is causing cough, sensations of fullness in the chest and wheezing
 * 1) Indication: wind cold exterior is causing cough, sensations of fullness in the chest and wheezing
 * 2) Tx wheezing by dispersing qi to the upmost surface by promoting sweat, not so much phlegm
 * 3) Can lift lung qi to nose, treats asthma
 * 4) Revive D/D fxn of Lung
 * 5) Formulas
 * San Ao Tang
 * Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang

Dr Liu's notes:

 * 1) Tx Constraint looking like wheezing
 * 2) Less cough because that is rebellious qi movement
 * 3) In this case the pores are open but NOT sweating
 * 4) Strongly releases the Lung to the skin
 * 5) Esp with body aches
 * 6) If Wheezing need stronger movement out and down
 * Ex: UB & LI are down movement but LU is Down and Dispersing
 * 1) Key to this combination is Qi Stagnation
 * 2) BUT doesn't treat phlegm at all (*If the chest is tight there is phlegm and the Pulse will be SLIPPERY, Tounge will be misleading. in this case ADD Ban Xia)
 * 3) Blood is the source of sweating
 * 4) Jie Geng and Xing Ren
 * 5) More moist
 * 6) both down
 * 7) Tx more phlegm, can't release ext
 * 8) Can't distribute lung to skin
 * 9) distribute qi to throat

Jie Geng VS Xing Ren

 * 1) Both go to throat, NOT exterior
 * 2) Treats cough with less constraint
 * 3) Regulates the up and down movement of LU qi to move at a normal speed