herb functions

[Guest guest]

Jason and I have been having this interesting discussion about herb

functions. The discussion centers around which functions of herbs are

inherent to the herb itself and which are dependent upon combination

with other herbs. For example, gui zhi clearly does not harmonize ying

and wei by itself, nor does wu zhu yu treat sx of liver and stomach

heat. For other herbs, there is more debate, such as fang feng, i.e.

does it treat so-called intestinal wind, which manifests as a liver

spleen disharmony with bloody stool. Or is this only in the context of

a specific formula? In other words, could you add fang feng by itself

to other formulas to treat this symptom or pattern? If so, why? And

that is really the crux of this discussion, how people's choices when

constructing and modifying formulas are guided by materia medica

functions which may not be inherent to the single herb. I think as long

as one is guided by classical formulas and their typical modifications,

this issue is largely avoided. However, apparently it does come up. So

several questions come to mind:

 

1. to what extent are herb functions determined by context?

 

2. which herb functions are inherent and which are dependent?

 

3. what is really meant by the terms inherent and dependent (these are

my term choices, but I do feel like the dichotomy may be somewhat

artifical)?

 

Let me elaborate on number 3, as this one is essential in my mind.

Consider gui zhi again. Could one say that gui zhi's function to

release the exterior is inherent and it only acts internally when

combined with other herbs that guide it there? Perhaps. Or could one

say that gui zhi is inherently dispersing both on the exterior and

interior and it only acts in either location depending on combination?

Because through all of gui zhi's functions, there is the common thread

of dispersal and transformation. So the line gets blurry here to me.

Does gui zhi do NONE of its functions all by itself or does it do ALL of

its functions by itself?

 

Again, I think the best way to avoid this dilemma is in how one

constructs formulas. When I modify or construct formulas, I am always

considering whether I have seen every herb used in the way I plan to use

it and whether it combines well for this purpose with other herbs in the

formula. For example, if I have a formula that already contains chen pi

(bu zhong yi qi tang) and the patient also has damp phlegm, ban xia

immediately comes to mind because it is used with chen pi for this

purpose in er chen tang.

 

 

 

Chinese Herbs

 

 

" Great spirits have always been violently opposed by mediocre minds " --

Albert Einstein