| From Divine Husbandman's Classic of the Materia Medica (Shen Nong Ben Cao Jing), the earliest Chinese herbal classic, Chinese herbal classics and medical books began to describe the functions and characteristics of single herbs by their categories. These are valuable references for us to study. With the development of human society and the disease spectrum, doctors had different understandings to diseases and herbs, therefore, descriptions recorded in classics changed and differences on the properties, flavours, channels entered, actions and indications appeared. What are the functions of a single herb? What are the functions when matched with other herbs? How to apply the herb in clinical practice to get a better effect? There are no clear answers in the textbooks or pharmacopoeia. We have to make literature study systematically on the properties, flavours, channels entered, actions and indications etc. to contribute more to the researches and clinical practice of Chinese herbs.This thesis has studied the properties, flavours, channels entered, actions and thought on clinical application of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) in the textbooks and pharmacopoeia of Chinese herbs objectively, systematically and comprehensively. The focus was on the thought of clinical application and the correspondence between the properties, flavours and actions of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng). Formulas and cases recorded in the herbal classics and ancient medical books were studied to discover the history, the thought of clinical application and the regularity in matching this herb to expand our scope in future clinical practice.The thesis contains four parts.1. Overview. Studies on chemical components, pharmacological actions, clinical applications of compound preparation, literature researches were made in this part from different perspectives. Although researches on chemical components and pharmacological actions were rich, there were less literature studies, especially on the properties and actions.2. Development of properties and actions of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng)Properties, flavours, channels entered, actions and indications of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) were retrieved for this study. This provided a reference for studies on the thought of clinical application and matching regularity. This part showed:1. Properties and flavours:Most classics recorded Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) as "warm" or "slightly warm" in property, which meant Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) tends to be warm. The classics recorded the flavour as "sweet and acrid", however, there were different opinions. Some emphasized more on "sweet" while some on "acrid". "Sweet" herbs function as tonifying and moderating; "acrid" herbs have more dispersing function. Does Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) tend to be more sweet or more acrid, or equally sweet and acrid? This is still a question.2. Channels entered:According to the classics, Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) enters the channels of Taiyang, Yangming, Shaoyang, Jueyin, Spleen and Stomach. But there was less agreement on the specific channels entered.3. Actions and indications: According to the classics, the main actions were:dispelling wind and dampness, which can be applied to treat exterior wind invasion, bi syndrome of wind and damp type and tetanus.3. Matching regularity and thought on clinical applicationCases in the history were classified and analyzed and statistics were made to study the characteristics and the thought on clinical application of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng). This part showed:Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng), when matched with other herbs, functions as raising yang to transform the spleen, dispersing stagnant fire, invigorating yang to move clear qi upward, unblocking the meridians, stopping wind to alleviate spasm, moistening, tonifying, driving the function of herbs upward, regulate qi to promote stool discharge, arresting the protective qi and the exterior to check sweating, promoting facial appearance, unblocking the orifices and dispersing the lung qi. Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) functions more when matched with other herbs.4. SummaryThe properties and flavours described in the textbooks of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) are "acrid, sweet and slightly warm", which emphasize more on the dispersing function, such as dispersing wind and releasing the exterior, dispersing wind to unblock the meridians. However, the "sweet" flavour and its functions such as tonifying and moderating were ignored to some extent. The clinical practice may be influenced if the this function was not taken seriously. Actually, we found that Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) has tonifying function. It is advised to understand Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) comprehensively, including its acrid, sweet flavours and slightly warm property. Thus, we should understand the tendency rather than only the actions. Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng) enters different channels without specificity. Generally, this herb belongs to yang with a floating, raising and expanding feature.Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fang Feng), property, action, thought on clinical application, literature study... |
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