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Colds are something almost everyone has experienced. The main cause of colds is wind evil, and to dispel wind, pungent and dispersing herbs are used. Due to the varying climates throughout the seasons, the invasion of wind evil often carries different seasonal characteristics, generally manifesting as wind-heat or wind-cold. Therefore, many friends with a basic understanding of TCM will first assess whether they have a wind-cold or wind-heat cold after experiencing cold symptoms, which helps in choosing the appropriate Chinese medicine for treatment.
In the vast world of Chinese herbs, is there a remedy that can treat both wind-cold and wind-heat colds? Indeed, such herbs do exist, and Jing Jie (Schizonepeta) and Fang Feng (Siler) form a classic “herbal pair”.
Jing Jie and Fang Feng both belong to the category of exterior-releasing herbs, and both have strong wind-dispelling properties. Therefore, whether it is a wind-cold or wind-heat cold, as long as the symptoms are mild, Jing Jie and Fang Feng can effectively perform their exterior-releasing functions.
What is exterior-releasing? Simply put, it means inducing sweating to expel wind. At this stage, the pathogenic factors are still residing on the skin and have not penetrated deeply into the meridians.
This means that for any externally contracted disease, the initial response is crucial. If one takes immediate action upon noticing cold symptoms, the illness can be quickly contained. It is like a small fire; if you pour a cup of water on it or smother it with clothing right away, it will be extinguished. However, if you wait until the whole house is on fire, don’t hesitate, just run; no one but the fire department can put it out.
Usage: Jing Jie and Fang Feng each 10 grams, steep in boiling water and drink as tea.
Although Jing Jie and Fang Feng have slightly warm properties, in practice, their warming nature is not very pronounced, and they tend to be more balanced. “Using Fang Feng must include Jing Jie because it can enter the skin and disperse the wind,” and “if it is an external contraction, using Ma Huang is too hot and strong; using Yin Qiao is too cold; thus, Jing Jie and Fang Feng are most suitable,” indicating that the combination of Jing Jie and Fang Feng has the effect of opening the pores and inducing sweating to disperse pathogens, with both herbs complementing each other.
In spring and summer, Jing Jie is abundant in the fields, swaying green all around, “I know it is not grass, for it has a hidden fragrance.” Jing Jie has a unique refreshing aroma, similar to mint, and somewhat like perilla, hence its old name “false perilla.” Later, people thought its stem resembled a thorny branch, and its seeds looked like mustard seeds, which is how it got its name.
Fang Feng, known in ancient times as “Ping Feng,” symbolizes a barrier against wind. Its taste is pungent and sweet, and it is slightly warm and moist. It is classified as a superior herb in the “Shennong Bencao Jing.” Li Shizhen stated: “Fang means to guard; its function is to treat wind, hence it is called Fang Feng.”Fang Feng is a remarkable herb, unlike other plants, it remains still in the wind, which is why it was used by ancient people to treat wind.Fang Feng is pungent and warm, and its most important characteristic is to dispel wind. The term “Fang Feng” means to prevent the invasion of wind and to expel any wind that has entered the body.When wind evil is trapped in the skin, it can also cause skin itching and pruritic skin diseases; itching is a symptom of wind in the body. Both Jing Jie and Fang Feng can be taken internally or used in decoctions for external washing, both having wind-dispelling effects. Moreover, Jing Jie can also disperse rashes and treat various rash-related diseases.The combination of Jing Jie and Fang Feng is the best partner for dispersing mild wind evils. When Jing Jie and Fang Feng are paired, it is like covering a window with a layer of paper; the evil wind cannot enter. Do not underestimate these two herbs; although they seem mild and not very powerful, just like a thin piece of paper that can be easily torn, when applied to a window, the wind cannot blow in. Thus, these two herbs act like a protective barrier around the body.