(I) Principles
The herbal regimen in autumn focuses on solving a series of phenomena or diseases caused by autumn dryness. Therefore, the general principle of herbal tonics should be based on clearing and moistening. It is appropriate to choose herbs that are more nourishing and have the function of promoting lung and resolving phlegm, nourishing yin and benefiting qi for health care, while products that are pungent and warm and dry should be used with caution or avoided.
1. Clear the dryness and benefit the qi and produce the fluids
In autumn, the yang energy is declining and the yin energy is getting stronger, the climate is dry, windy and dusty, and the weather is changing drastically, while the autumn dryness is prone to injure the Jin and consume the Qi, and the body’s Wei Qi is susceptible to the attack of disease and evil, leading to the occurrence of diseases. Therefore, the medication in autumn should focus on clearing dryness and benefitting Qi and generating fluid. Such as the use of mulberry leaf, mulberry bark, Su leaf, prunus ginseng, western ginseng and other drugs for the formulation of treatment.
2.Nourish Yin, moisten the lung and moisten the intestines
The lung is a delicate organ, and it is connected with the dryness of autumn, so it is easy to feel the evil of autumn dryness. Early autumn is more warm and dry, and late autumn is more cool and dry. Many chronic respiratory diseases often start in autumn, or relapse or gradually aggravate, often because of feeling the wind-dry, dry-heat or cool-dry evil, triggering the internal volatile phlegm drink and induced. Or see the dryness of the evil of injury, appear dry, cracked and rough skin, intestinal dryness and constipation difficult to pass, and even bleeding hemorrhoids. Therefore, it is advisable to use drugs with nourishing Yin to moisten the lungs and intestines for formulation and treatment in autumn. Such as lily of the valley, loquat, honey, saxifrage, maitake, fenugreek, aconite, yucca, raw earth, xuan ginseng, white peony, gua hua ren, smallpox powder, licorice, etc. If the lungs are dry and the intestines are constipated, the cough and asthma will be caused by the failure of the lung qi to descend, so it should be combined with herbs that moisten and relieve phlegm and cough, such as almonds, loquat leaves, aster, dong quai flower, half asia, guadua peel, chen peel, zhebei mum, szechuan mum, white mustard seed, lycopodium, suzi, etc.
3.Take into account the spleen and kidney
According to Chinese medicine, the lung is classified as gold in the five elements. According to the theory of the five elements, the spleen (earth) produces gold, and the lung (gold) produces water (kidney). Therefore, it is important to take into account the spleen and kidneys while regulating the function of the lungs in autumn. The normal function of the spleen and kidneys is the guarantee that the lungs are able to protect the external surface and to promote the circulation of the lungs. The spleen benefits the lungs with astragalus, ginseng, ginseng, atractylodes, lotus seeds, jujubes, etc.; the kidneys and kidneys are supplemented with walnuts, white fruits, etc., to calm the lungs and asthma. In autumn, these herbs can be used selectively in appropriate combinations to make herbal recipes and meals.
(II) Commonly used drugs
1.Nourish lung yin
(1) Mai Dong: sweet, slightly bitter, slightly cold, enters the lung, heart and stomach meridian, has the function of nourishing yin and generating fluid, moistening the lung to stop cough, clearing the heart and eliminating annoyance. It can be used to prevent summer heat in early autumn or autumn dryness that injures yin, such as dry mouth and throat, coughing and hemoptysis, thirst and constipation, heartburn and panic. The “Materia Medica HuiYin” “: Maimendong, clearing the heart and moistening the lung medicine lung heat and lung dryness, cough even hair, lung impotence leaf anxiety, short gas deficiency asthma, fire ambush in the lung, hemoptysis coughing blood …… or spleen and stomach dryness and moistening, deficiency constipation and constipation.” The “New Compilation of Materia Medica” also says “: Maimendong, diarrhea in the lungs of the volatile fire …… quench annoyance and quench thirst, beautiful color, pleasing to the skin, reduce deficiency heat, solve lung dryness, fixed cough.” As you can see, this product is a good product for autumn regimen. Generally into the decoction, 10-15 grams each time, can also be taken with boiling water bubble in lieu of tea, each time.
(2) asparagus: sweet, slightly cold, into the lung, kidney meridian, has the role of nourishing yin and clearing heat, moistening dryness and stopping cough, nourishing kidney yin and so on. It can be used to prevent and treat dry lung injury in autumn, dry cough without sputum, or little sputum and sticky, or even blood in the sputum, or false heat and night sweating, thirst and dry throat. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” says “: asparagus, moisten dryness and nourish Yin, reduce fire and clear the lungs of medicine.” The herbal medicine of the Sun Hua Zi also contains “: moisten the five organs, benefit the skin, pleasing color, replenish the five labors and seven injuries, cure lung gas disease cough.” Therefore, this product is also the top product for autumn season.
(3) Dendrobium: sweet and light salty, slightly cold, entering the lung, stomach and kidney meridian, has the effect of nourishing Yin and clearing heat, and generating fluid and brightening the eyes. It can be used in autumn to prevent dry mouth and tongue, dry throat and eyes, constipation and so on, which are caused by dryness and heat. It is stated in the Medicine and Chemistry that Dendrobium “is mainly used for the treatment of lung heat and long-standing deficiency and cough.” Modern research points out that appropriate amount of Dendrobium decoction can promote the secretion of gastric juice to help digestion, and to the intestine to make its peristalsis hyperactive and laxative.
(4) Xuan ginseng: bitter, salty and slightly cold in nature, enters both lung and kidney meridians. It has the effect of nourishing Yin and lowering fire, removing annoyance and detoxifying. According to the book of “The Famous Medical Doctor”, Xuan Shen “for a long time to nourish the deficiency and brighten the eyes, strengthen Yin and benefit the essence.” For the dryness of autumn, it has a good nourishing effect.
(5) raw earth: cool taste sweet, bitter, cold, human heart, liver, kidney, lung meridian, has the effect of clearing heat and nourishing Yin, generating fluid and cooling blood. It can prevent dry mouth and thirst, hot flashes and night sweats, sleeplessness, premature graying of the hair, dryness and constipation of the intestines, etc., which occur in autumn when dry heat hurts yin or liver and kidney yin deficiency. It is written in “Ben Jing Feng Yuan” that “: dried Di Huang, specializing in cooling the blood and nourishing Yin inside, and moistening the skin glory outside, patients with deficiency and heat should add the use of the …… best to pass its secret knot, because it has the function of moistening dryness, but no nourishing and greasy problems.”
(6) Sha Shen: sweet, slightly bitter cold, into the lung, stomach meridian. It has the function of nourishing Yin and generating fluid, clearing the lung and dispelling phlegm. It can prevent and control coughs caused by lung dryness or lung heat in autumn, coughs caused by yin deficiency or thirst, dry throat and constipation caused by fluid injury. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” says “: clear lung fire, cure long cough lung impotence.”
(7) Jade bamboo: sweet and flat in nature, enters the lung and stomach meridians, has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening the lung and nourishing the stomach. It has good preventive and therapeutic effects on dry cough in autumn, coughs caused by yin deficiency or external sensation of yin deficiency. Sun Hua Zi Materia Medica says “: remove boredom, stop thirst, moisten the heart and lungs, replenish the five strains and seven injuries, replenish the deficiency.”
(8) lily: sweet taste, slightly cold, into the lung, heart meridian. It has the function of tonifying the middle and benefiting the qi, moistening the lung and relieving cough. It can be used as a regular product to nourish the lung and moisten the lung and produce body fluid in autumn. Modern research has confirmed that this product has cough and against histamine-induced asthma and other effects.
(9) smallpox powder: bitter, slightly sweet and cold, has the effect of clearing heat, moistening lung dryness. It can prevent and control lung heat and dry cough, thirst and other diseases in autumn. This herb Huiyan” records “: smallpox powder to return the five viscera depression heat …… lung fire and pharyngeal swelling throat paralysis …… is to cure thirst of the important medicine.”
(10) yellow essence: sweet and flat in nature, into the lung, spleen, kidney meridian. It has the effect of nourishing Yin and moistening the lungs, nourishing the spleen and kidneys, benefiting the essence and strengthening the bones, wu shu hair and anti-aging. It is useful for the prevention and treatment of Yin deficiency cough and dry lung cough in autumn. Modern research shows that yellow essence can improve the immunity of the body, promote hematopoietic function, lower blood sugar; can enhance myocardial contractility, increase coronary artery flow, improve myocardial nutrition, prevent atherosclerosis and fatty liver infiltration.
(11) Colla Corii Asini: Sweet and flat in nature, entering the lung, liver and kidney meridians. The “Compendium of Materia Medica” says “: and blood nourishing Yin, remove wind and dryness, resolve phlegm and clear the lungs.” The use of Colla Corii Asini in autumn can nourish blood, nourish Yin and moisten the lungs. Modern research also proves that Colla Corii Asini contains many amino acids and other minerals. It can accelerate the production of red blood cells and hemoglobin in human blood and improve the immune function of the body. It is usually taken with boiling water or yellow wine, or melted and then flushed in soup.
2.Laxative and laxative
(1) honey: sweet taste, into the lung, spleen, large intestine meridian. It has the effect of moistening the lungs to stop cough, laxative, tonic and slow detoxification. For the autumn lung deficiency dry cough, or Jin wound dry, intestinal dry constipation and other diseases have a good regulating effect. It has the effect of tonifying and strengthening the body and prolonging life. It is a common health product in autumn. It can be taken in 15-30 grams each time.
(2) Gua Pou Ren: Sweet and cold in nature, enters the lung and large intestine meridian. It has the function of moistening the lung and resolving phlegm, laxative and laxative. It can prevent and treat dryness of the lung and constipation of the intestines in autumn. Generally into the decoction.
(3) Fire marijuana seed: sweet and flat in nature, entering the spleen, stomach and large intestine meridian. It has the function of moistening dryness, laxative and laxative. It can prevent constipation in autumn, and can also be used for constipation in the elderly, women after childbirth or weakness of fluid deficiency.
(4) Yu Li Ren: Pungent, bitter, sweet and flat in nature, enters the spleen, large intestine and small intestine meridians. It has the effect of laxative and laxative. For constipation in autumn, it is often used with laxatives such as fire marijuana and almond. Modern research has proved that Yu Li Ren has a lubricating slow diarrhea effect.
(5) fat sea: taste sweet, cold, into the lung, large intestine meridian. It has the effect of clearing and promoting lung qi, laxative and laxative. Is commonly used in autumn. Can prevent and control autumn dryness and fluid injury, hoarseness, or even loss of voice, intestinal dry constipation and other diseases. Generally with boiling water to drink, or into the decoction.
(6) black sesame: sweet and flat in nature, into the liver, kidney meridian. Black sesame has the function of nourishing the liver and kidney, nourishing the five organs. Autumn consumption has nourishing blood nourishment, laxative effect. For autumn intestinal dry constipation or dry skin, premature graying of hair, or the elderly liver and kidney deficiency, but also women’s postpartum milk and other diseases, can be served.
(7) angelica: sweet taste hard warm, into the liver, heart, spleen meridian. It has the effect of nourishing the blood and invigorating the blood, moistening the intestines and opening the bowels. The “Materia Medica Preparation” says “: blood deficiency can be tonic, blood wither can be moistened.” For the autumn of the yin and blood deficiency see dry skin, intestinal dry constipation has a good nourishing and moistening lack of symptoms and role.
(8) He Shou Wu: sweet, bitter and astringent, slightly warm, into the liver and kidney meridians. Raw use laxative, the system used to nourish the liver and kidney, benefit the essence of blood, benefit longevity. Modern research has confirmed that He Shou Wu has the effect of enhancing the immune function of the body, and light diarrhea pharmacological effects, but also promote red blood cell production, lower cholesterol, anti-atherosclerosis, cardiac strength, etc., is an important gram, can also be made with flour, one of the anti-aging drugs.
(5) mulberry: sweet and cold in nature, into the heart, liver, kidney meridian. It has the effect of nourishing Yin, blood and fluid, nourishing the liver and kidneys, wooing the hair and moistening the intestines. It is suitable for those who suffer from thirst or constipation in autumn, especially for middle-aged and elderly people who suffer from deficiency of liver and kidney yin and blood, such as dizziness, tinnitus and constipation. Can be decocted in water or boiled into a paste.
3, moisten dryness and resolve phlegm
(1) hundred parts: sweet, bitter, flat, into the lung meridian. With moisten the lung to stop cough, kill insects. Can prevent dry cough in autumn, lung consumption, cough, blood in the sputum, or whooping cough and other diseases. Modern pharmacological research shows that Peperomia can reduce the excitability of the respiratory center in animals and inhibit the cough reflex, and can counteract the spasmogenic effect of histamine and have an antitussive effect, and the effect is slow and long-lasting. It has an inhibitory effect on a variety of pathogenic bacteria.
(2) Loquat leaf: bitter and flat in nature, entering the lung and stomach meridians. It has the function of moistening the lung and resolving phlegm, relieving cough and lowering rebellion.
(3) Aristolochia: Bitter, slightly pungent and cold in nature, entering the lung and large intestine meridians. It has the functions of moistening the lung and resolving phlegm, relieving cough and asthma, and clearing the intestines. It can be used in autumn for cough with lung heat, cough with lung deficiency or bleeding hemorrhoids with intestinal heat.
(4) Chuan Bai Mu: Sweet and cool in nature, enters the lung meridian. It has the effect of moistening the lung, resolving phlegm and relieving cough. It can be used for dry cough in autumn or cough with lung deficiency, dry phlegm, or blood in phlegm. Modern research shows that Chuanbei has significant cough suppression and expectorant effect.
(5) Luo Han Guo: sweet and cool in nature, enters the lung and large intestine meridian. It has the effect of moistening the lung, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, generating fluid and laxative. For autumn dry cough, dry throat and tongue, intestinal dry constipation and other diseases have a good preventive effect.
4.Nourish lung energy
(1) American ginseng: bitter, slightly sweet and cold, enters the lung, heart and kidney meridian. It has the function of clearing lung fire, generating fluid and nourishing blood. It is a good product for the treatment of thirst and tiredness, dry mouth and constipation due to the deficiency of Qi and Yin caused by dryness in autumn. It is also commonly used for those who suffer from the above symptoms after a fever or in the elderly who suffer from deficiency of qi and yin. This medicine is cool in nature, so it is not easy to help Yang to turn fire, and it is a common Qi tonic in autumn. This herb is commonly used in autumn to tonify the lung and lower fire, to produce fluid, and to remove tiredness.” It is said in the “Update on Pseudo Medicinal Article” that “Western ginseng nourishes yin and reduces fire …… for people with yin deficiency and coughing, whenever real western ginseng is used, it calms the fire and calms the cough.” Modern research also proves that western ginseng has significant anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia ability as well as sedative, antipyretic, antispasmodic and analgesic effects, which is one of the important drugs for strengthening health.
(2) Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae: sweet and flat in nature, entering the spleen and lung meridians. It has the function of tonifying the middle and benefiting the qi, nourishing blood and generating fluids. This product enters the lung without dryness, is good at tonifying lung qi, relieving cough and asthma, and can produce fluid to quench thirst. It can prevent coughing and shortness of breath, low voice or hoarseness in autumn due to deficiency of lung qi or deficiency of both lung qi and yin. Modern medical research shows that codonopsis can enhance the immune function of the body and has a good strengthening effect on the body.
(3) Prince’s ginseng: sweet, slightly bitter and flat, enters the spleen and lung meridians. It specializes in nourishing qi, generating fluid and moistening dryness. In autumn, it is often used together with sage, lily, maitake, and bai mu to treat lung injury caused by dryness or heat, resulting in deficiency of both qi and yin, cough with shortage of breath and phlegm, or dry mouth and tongue.
(4) Huang Qi: sweet and warm in nature, enters the spleen and lung meridians. It has a good effect of benefitting the Wei Qi and fixing the table, tonifying the five organs, etc. It is a common health care product for people with Qi deficiency in autumn, which can solidify the Wei Qi and fix the table to resist the invasion of external evil. Modern research points out that astragalus can enhance the body’s immune function, promote the body’s metabolism, has a good prevention of respiratory tract infections, prevention of asthma and other effects.
(5) Walnut kernel: sweet and warm in nature, enters the lung, kidney and large intestine meridian. It has the effect of tonifying the lung, warming the lung and fixing asthma, laxative, tonifying the kidney and helping Yang, and prolonging life. It is suitable for conditioning in autumn, especially for the body in the late autumn season. Modern research and clinical practice has confirmed that walnut kernel is rich in a variety of nutrients, has a good tonic effect on the human body, is the prevention of disease, prolonging the life of health care medicine, is also an important anti-aging drugs.
(6) Cordyceps: sweet and warm, enters the lung and kidney meridian. It has the effect of benefiting the lung, calming asthma, tonifying the kidney and consolidating the essence. It is a good remedy for lung deficiency in autumn, as it tones down yin and yang and is warm but not dry. It is also used for chronic cough, asthma, vomiting of blood, night sweating and spontaneous sweating in tuberculosis and the elderly.” Therefore, it is a commonly used tonifying medicine in autumn.
(7) Yam: sweet and flat in nature, enters the spleen, lung and kidney meridians, can not only nourish the qi, but also nourish the yin, as a flat tonic for the spleen and lung, consolidate the kidney and benefit the essence. It can be used in autumn to nourish lung qi and benefit lung yin, preventing deficiency of lung qi and yin, deficiency of fatigue, cough and wheezing, no phlegm or little and sticky phlegm. In addition, yam is originally a food that can be eaten instead of grain and can strengthen the body. Therefore, it is also a common tonic health product in autumn.