I. The origin of winter tonic and poultice
1.Winter tonic
Winter tonic is a folk custom in China and has a long history. Chinese medicine “Su Wen Zhi Jie” said: “All things are born in spring, grow in summer, harvest in autumn, hidden in winter, people should also be.” The ancients believed that March is the season of “latent vitality and hidden yang energy”, so we should pay attention to “the way of nourishing and hiding”, that is to say, winter is the stage of maintenance and accumulation in all four seasons of the year. People’s appetite increases greatly in winter, and the spleen and stomach become strong in transportation and transformation, so the tonic at this time can better play the role of the tonic, and it can be said that the investment is small and the effect is fast. Therefore, winter is also the best time to take poultices, folk often say “winter tonic, spring tiger”.
2.Ointment prescription
The internal use of poultices is the evolution of soup (decoction) concentration development, where the effective treatment of soup, can be boiled poultices to take. The origin of the cream prescription can be traced back to the “Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine”, which was written during the Warring States period to the Western Han Dynasty. In the Nei Jing, the paste of boars and horses was based on animal fat and was mainly used externally to treat external and injury diseases.
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, some of the so-called “decoctions” in “The Essentials of the Golden Horoscope” were very similar to modern methods of making ointment prescriptions, such as the decoction of dai wutou and the decoction of pig paste hair, which are the modern methods of making ointment prescriptions. This is also the earliest record of the internal consumption of the cream formula. In the Northern and Southern Dynasties, there was a single dihuang decoction in “Xiao Pin Fang”, which was the earliest tonic cream formula; in the “Qian Jin Fang” of the Tang Dynasty, there were individual “decoction” prescriptions that were completely consistent with modern cream formulae; in the Southern Song Dynasty, the “Hong’s Collection of Experimental Formulae” contained a famous cream formula, which is still widely used today.
The development of ointment prescriptions has entered a mature stage in the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the Ming dynasty, cream prescriptions made great progress, whether it was a small prescription book or a large or medium-sized medical book, all of them were prepared with cream prescriptions. For example, the “secret recipe for health” includes two winter cream, Xuanji cream, pear cream, etc., “Chishui Xuanzhu” contains a more complex composition of the cream. The development of the Qing Dynasty was very prosperous, from the court, down to the folk, recipes, the application is very extensive, the production is also elaborate and complicated. There were many cases of folk doctors, and each had its own characteristics.
In modern times, Beijing Tong Ren Tang, Hangzhou Hu Qing Yu Tang, Shanghai Lei Yun Shang and other pharmacies have homemade creams, such as Shou Wu Yan Longevity Cream, Baxian Longevity Cream, Bao Chun Cream, Ginseng and Deer Tonic Cream, etc. All of them have their unique strengths and are widely used in clinical practice and enjoy a certain reputation both at home and abroad.
Types of winter tonic
1.Paste: also known as paste, is a thick decoction of medicine, and then add gum, deer horn gum, turtle board gum and other gums, and decoct together to form a paste. It is convenient to take a tablespoon of tonic paste and put it in a cup with boiling water. It is best to ask a doctor to prescribe the tonic paste according to the patient’s physique and the disease he or she is suffering from, and to combine the evidence with the disease to make a tonic paste that is completely suitable for the patient’s characteristics, just like tailoring the clothes.
2, medicinal wine: that is, the drug is immersed in wine, so that the active ingredients of the drug are dissolved in the wine, and after taking it, the medicinal power of the wine can be used to promote the maximum effect of the drug. Because of the nature of wine is hot, walking but not guarded, has the effect of harmonizing the qi and blood, through the veins and collaterals, invigorating Yang to remove cold, dispel dampness and dispel wind, generally applicable to be able to drink wine, the body is on the cold side.
3, medicinal food: medicinal food is a combination of Chinese medicine and food, through cooking and processing of delicious food, it has the effect of strengthening the body to prolong life, prevention and treatment of disease. The food supplement should also be applied to identify the evidence, Yang hot body people should not serve more ginger, garlic, chili, mutton and dog meat and other warm food, Yin cold body people, should not enter more fruits, cold drinks, duck, razor clams, clams and other cool food. Otherwise, it will not achieve the purpose of tonic, but easy to cause disease.
4, proprietary Chinese medicine: proprietary Chinese medicine tonic refers to the purpose of tonicity by taking proprietary Chinese medicine with tonic effect. For example, for Yin deficiency, Liu Wei Di Huang Wan and Zuo Gui Wan are commonly used; for Yang deficiency, Jin Kui Kidney Qi Wan and Right Gui Wan are commonly used; for Qi deficiency, Zhong Zhong Yi Qi Tang is commonly used; for blood deficiency, Gui Shen Wan is commonly used.
Among the many tonic products, the ointment medicine, which reflects the characteristics of diagnosis and treatment and is specially made according to traditional experience, is especially suitable for winter tonic. Paste is generally composed mainly of tonic products.
It is not only about tonic for deficiency, but also healing diseases. The prescription uses about 20-30 flavors of medicine, and the common dosage of one material of poultice medicine is about 20-30 posts of soup. The production steps are: first soak the drug with water for one night, then decoct 3 juices, filter the dregs, concentrate with a gentle fire, then add sugar (such as rock sugar, syrup, honey, etc.) and gum (such as gum, turtle plate gum, etc.) and other ingredients to collect the paste.
Third, the appropriate people for the cream recipe
1.Tonic for chronic patients: If you are suffering from chronic diseases, you can combine it with your illness in winter season, and take it as a tonic while treating your illness, which is more useful for the treatment and recovery of your illness. From the current clinical application of the cream, not only can patients of internal medicine take the cream, but also patients of gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, orthopedics and osteopathy, and patients with weakness of qi, blood, yin, yang and fluids can also take the cream to achieve the purpose of removing diseases and strengthening their bodies.
2, sub-healthy people’s tonic: modern society in young people’s work life pressure and labor intensity is very large (mainly for mental tension, brain overdraft), at the same time, many social functions, excessive alcohol and tobacco hobbies, long-term sleep and rest, can cause the normal physiological functions of the human body substantial changes, the ability to resist disease decreased, so that the body in a sub-healthy state, it is very necessary to timely and comprehensive overall conditioning The best choice is to use the cream therapy.
3, the elderly tonic: the elderly, due to its physiological characteristics, the various functions of the human body, with the growth of age, and tend to decline, and winter tonic, can enhance physical fitness, delay aging.
4, women’s tonic: for women, the spleen and stomach, the main whole body vital energy, the spleen and stomach weak, insufficient vital energy, it is easy to cause women’s aging; if the spleen and stomach can absorb the nutrients in the diet, fully nourish the whole body organs and skin couples, when the spleen and stomach normal operation, the whole body’s nutrition constantly replenished, the person’s anti-aging ability, vitality and subsequently enhanced, the face will be rosy, the skin will be full of luster and elasticity.
5, children’s tonic: children according to the needs of growth can be appropriate tonic, especially children with recurrent respiratory infections, long cough, anorexia, anemia and other physical deficiencies are suitable for tonic.
Fourth, the winter tonic before the preparation.
Before we plan to take winter tonic, we should take a look at our body condition to see if it is suitable for tonic.
First of all, the tonic should be digested and absorbed before it can take effect. Some people with poor gastrointestinal function, poor digestion and absorption, or even heavy dampness and heat, thick and greasy tongue, usually feel less digestive when eating, and often bloated, then take tonic products, which will certainly aggravate the above symptoms. For these people, doctors often give open-way medicine, starting with Chen Pi, Semen, Chuan Park, Citrus Aurantium, Shen Qu, and Hawthorn, in a decoction to transport the spleen and strengthen the stomach, and improve the spleen and stomach’s function of transportation by regulating qi and resolving dampness. So that the dampness and heat in the stomach and intestines can be cleared, the function of the stomach and intestines can be restored, the tongue is clean, and eating does not feel full and distended, then the patient can take the tonic. In some patients, there is no obstacle to take poultice medicine, then you can also not need to take open road medicine, you can directly take poultice medicine, to achieve timely tonic.
Secondly, for some newly ill people, the first thing is to cure the disease completely. If the patient suffers from cold, cough and phlegm, the cold and cough should be cured first before the tonic can be taken. Otherwise, it is like “staying behind closed doors”, not only is it uncomfortable to eat the tonic, but it makes the cold and cough sticky and difficult to heal.
V. How to apply the cream formula according to the evidence
1.Tonic for identification
With a history of nearly 1,000 years, the poultices are formulated after the Chinese medicine practitioner has carefully examined the patient’s details, looked, smelled, asked and cut the four diagnoses together, and under the guidance of the concept of overall adjustment in Chinese medicine, discriminatory treatment is carried out, and the changes of qi, blood, yin and yang in the body are comprehensively considered, with the characteristics of strong targeting and obvious comprehensive effect.
For example, for people with Qi deficiency, manifesting as fatigue, shortness of breath when moving, tasteless diet, weak pulse, etc., the formula made from Ginseng, Astragalus, Poria, Atractylodes, etc. can be used; for people with Blood deficiency, manifesting as pale face, dizziness and forgetfulness, insomnia and weak pulse, the formula made from Agaricus, Shu Di, Angelica, Bai Shao, etc. can be used; for people with Yin deficiency, manifesting as thin body, dry mouth The body of the yin deficiency, manifested as a thin body, dry mouth, dry throat, thirst for water, hot flashes and night sweats, etc., can use the cream made from Chinese herbs such as maidenhair, sage, turtle board, wolfberry, etc.; Yang deficiency, manifested as the fear of cold limbs, indifference to sexual desire, frequent urination, cold pain in the abdomen, etc., can use the cream made from Chinese herbs such as deer horn gum, dulcimer, mealybug, walnut. It can be seen that, although the cream formula is good, the use should be treated differently, not blindly use.
2, the old and young women and men, tonic different
Older people have a tendency to have high viscosity, high coagulation and easy thrombosis due to the weakness of qi and poor blood flow. Therefore, the elderly should be supplemented with a combination of both tonic and static. Because “tonic” is a “static” medicine, it must be combined with “dynamic” medicine which can help to strengthen the blood circulation and remove blood stasis, in order to achieve the effect of “consolidating the root and clearing the source The effect of “tonics” is “quiet”. For women, the liver is the precursor, so the tonic must be supplemented by draining liver qi. For children, the main purpose should be to supplement the “later heaven”. The spleen and stomach are healthy and can grow and develop normally.
Six, taking the cream points to note
1.Taking time
When is the best time to take the cream for the whole winter? Generally speaking, about 50 days from the winter solstice, that is, the winter solstice after the “first nine” to “six nine” (the first nine days after the winter solstice for the first nine, the tenth day to the eighteenth day for the second nine, and so on), or serve until the end of spring. If you are going to take two poultices in one winter, you can take them at an earlier time. When taking poultice medicine also need to be combined with dietary regimen, appropriate labor and exercise health care, so as to make the role of poultice medicine to the best.
2.Taking method and dosage
Take one tablespoon in the morning on an empty stomach or one tablespoon in the morning and one in the evening on an empty stomach every day, all with plain water, and take evenly. If the formula with ground yellow and other nourishing drugs or ingredients such as gum in larger doses, the paste is thick and sticky, difficult to melt, it can be taken after steaming with water. The cream can also be contained, that is, the cream in the mouth, so that the cream in the mouth melting, in order to play a medicinal effect.
The dose of cream should be decided according to the condition or the patient’s body and the nature of the drug, especially with the patient’s digestive function has a close relationship, in general, taking cream should start with a small dose, gradually increase, such as taking a tablespoon per day, about 5 to 10 grams can be, if the patient’s digestive function is normal, or the condition requires, and then changed to a tablespoon each morning and evening to enhance its therapeutic effect.
3.Paste formula contraindications
During the period of taking the cream formula, if you mistakenly eat the prohibited food, it can often reduce the efficacy of the cream formula or cause adverse reactions. For example, when taking a cream containing ginseng and astragalus, raw radish should be avoided, because radish is a product that breaks the gas and eliminates the guide. It is generally not advisable to use tea to drink when taking the cream, because tea can solve the medicinal properties and affect the healing effect. If the patient is Yang deficiency with cold, should avoid eating cold diet; such as Yin deficiency fire, avoid spicy stimulating food; such as asthma patients, should avoid eating shrimp and crab fishy. In addition, in case of cold and fever, diarrhea, etc., should be temporarily stopped, to be cured of the above-mentioned acute diseases, and then resume taking ointment medicine, so as not to “close the door to stay ko”.
4.Storage method
Ointment medicine should be stored in a porcelain jar or enamel pot storage, but should not use aluminum pot as a container. Stored in a cool place, such as the refrigerator, avoid near the kitchen fireside, to prevent mold. When taking the ointment every day, do not change a spoon each time to pull out, so as not to bring moisture into the jar every day, prompting mold deterioration. A fixed spoon should be placed in the jar.
VII. Special functions of poultices
(I) Weight loss
The ancient literature of Chinese medicine records the view that “it makes people thin” and “eliminates human fat and flesh”, recording the effect of Chinese herbs in eliminating fat. Some herbal medicines have the functions of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, clearing heat and dampness, moistening the bowels, benefiting Qi and strengthening the spleen, diuresis and dampness, activating blood circulation and resolving blood stasis, resolving phlegm and dispersing knots, which can promote fat metabolism, lower blood lipids, inhibit metabolism, reduce body weight and improve palpitation and shortness of breath. Such as seaweed, kombu, lotus leaf, zedoary, rhubarb, adzuki bean, barley, mung bean, konjac, yam, tea, etc.
(II) Beauty
Chinese medicine beauty is glorious to the world with its various methods and flexible forms. With dilation of skin capillaries, accelerate blood circulation, nutrition, anti-inflammatory, regulation of sebaceous glands, sterilization, whitening and other effects, common aloe vera, angelica, wolfberry, yam, lotus seed, lily, red dates, groundnut, peach kernel, caraway, almond, etc.
(C) tranquilizer
Chinese herbal medicine has the advantages that sleeping pills do not have, that is, it is not addictive and does not produce the characteristics of dependence, so insomnia patients choose Chinese herbal medicine for evidence-based treatment is a very good treatment method, commonly used such as vermilion, magnet, keel, sour date, amber, Yuan Zhi, helianthus bark, mother of pearl, jujube, etc.
(IV) Immune regulation
Pharmacological experiments have found that the tonic drugs commonly used in cream formulas such as Radix et Rhizoma Ginseng, Radix Astragali and Atractylodes Macrocephalae can enhance the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system of the organism. Cinnamon, Xianmao and Cuscuta have the effect of promoting the early formation of antibodies, and Xuan Shen, Tian Dong, Mai Dong and Sha Shen have the effect of prolonging the existence of antibodies.
(E) Scavenging free radicals
Ginseng, Schisandra chinensis, Radix et Rhizoma Polygonati and Ganoderma lucidum have antioxidant effects, as shown by their ability to increase SOD levels, reduce LPO levels and the accumulation of lipofuscin in cells, and reduce the damage caused by free radicals; some other experiments have also shown that kidney tonic herbs such as Radix et Rhizoma chasteensis, Semen Cuscutae and Fructus Lycii have the effect of scavenging harmful free radicals, which can reduce the triggering factors of cancer.
(F) enhance the regulation of endocrine function
The use of cinnamon, bacopa monniera, Xianmao, Xianling spleen and other kidney warming medicines can promote the secretion of adrenal cortex, bacopa monniera, Cistanches, lockjaw, Eucommia, and serpentine have the function of promoting gonadal function, similar to the role of sex hormones, deer antler, Xianling spleen can also promote the growth and secretion of semen, nourish kidney yin medicine such as raw earth, chasteberry, cuscuta, bone marrow, etc. can correct the imbalance of neuroendocrine metabolism and produce weight loss and ovulation promotion. Experiments have shown that kidney tonics work through the regulation of the gonadal axis, adrenal glands and other multi-level and multi-target organs.
(vii) Adjustment of central nervous function
Chinese herbs such as Shou Wu, Ginseng, Astragalus, Angelica and Zhi Mu have good regulation on the excitation and inhibition of the central nervous system of the brain, which can improve intelligence and strengthen thinking ability, delay hearing loss and recognition of skin sensation.
(H) Promoting substance metabolism
Many herbal medicines for deficiency have the function of promoting material metabolism, such as ginseng, Epimedium, Cistanches, Ganoderma, Astragalus, Cuscuta, Cuscuta, Radix et Rhizoma, etc. have the function of improving protein and ribose metabolism to varying degrees; Radix et Rhizoma, Rhizoma, Yam, Pollen, Ginseng, Zhi Mu, Atractylodes, etc. have the function of regulating sugar metabolism; Ginseng, Radix et Rhizoma, Radix et Rhizoma, Phellodendron, Yu Jin, Radix et Rhizoma can be used to prevent and control fat metabolism disorders It can be used to prevent and control obesity and atherosclerosis.
(ix) Improve blood circulation
Numerous blood-activating herbs, such as Danshen, Chuanxiong, Paeonia lactiflora, Puhuang and Angelicae, can reduce blood viscosity, reduce platelet aggregation, improve microcirculation, change the hyperviscosity state and improve the body’s hyperviscosity. Hyperviscosity can lead to microcirculatory disorders and contribute to disease and aging in the human body.
(J) Prevention of genetic mutation
As the adaptive capacity and immunity of the elderly decrease, the stress response decreases, which easily causes gene mutation and eventually leads to the occurrence of cancer or the decline of the organism, while the Chinese herbal medicines Ginseng, Acanthopanax, Atractylodes, Radix et Rhizoma, Rhizoma Polygonati and Epimedium have the effect of anti-gene mutation, thus delaying the generation of aging.
In addition, the commonly used herbs in poultices also have the functions of lowering blood lipids and blood pressure, strengthening heart and diuretic, analgesic and sedative, adjusting the stomach and intestines, and promoting fracture healing, etc. Thus, it can be seen that poultices are multifaceted in their effects on the human body and have significant potential and advantages in preventing diseases and delaying aging.