Introduction:
Why do people get sick? Western medicine believes it is related to a decrease in immunity. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) considers it related to the strength of the body’s Zheng Qi (正气, vital energy). As stated in the “Huangdi Neijing (黄帝内经)”: “When Zheng Qi is present, evil cannot invade,” and “Where evil gathers, its Qi must be deficient,” highlighting the importance of Zheng Qi from both positive and negative perspectives.In nature, the changes in the six Qi (气) affect the growth and changes of all things, such as Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness, Dryness, and Fire, collectively known as the “Six Excesses (六淫).” The characteristics of diseases caused by the Six Excesses are that they enter from the outside in, mostly related to climate and seasons.For example, in spring, there are many wind-related diseases. The “Suwen (素问) – Theory of Vital Qi” states: “Due to dew and wind, cold and heat arise.” Wind is the dominant Qi of spring, known for its ability to flow and disperse, hence it is called the leader of all diseases. Common clinical manifestations include external wind-cold, wind-heat, wind-dampness, wind-bi, and wind-rash. Particularly, those with weak bodies and unstable Wei Qi (卫气, defensive Qi) and low immunity are most susceptible to wind evil.From the perspective of TCM, the prevention of any epidemic disease should focus on strengthening the body, as maintaining strong Yang Qi is key. Strengthening the body is to expel evil, and expelling evil is to strengthen the body; when evil is removed, the body is safe, and the body overcomes evil.People are easily affected by external evils due to a deficiency in the exterior, which means insufficient Wei Qi. Wei Qi has a protective function, defending against external evils.If a person’s Zheng Qi is insufficient, their constitution is weak, and the Wei Qi on the surface is not strong, their ability to resist external evils will weaken, making them more susceptible to disease.Insufficient external defense can also be understood as a decrease in resistance in Western medicine.If we compare this relationship to national defense, we can say: because the border defense is weak, it leads to external invasion.
Enough of the small talk, let’s get to the point.The Yuan dynasty physician Wei Yilin (危亦林) created a formula called “Yu Ping Feng San (玉屏风散)”, which means “to disperse wind evil, one must rely on a screen, as precious as jade.” This phrase comes from the “Supplemented Famous Physician’s Formula Discussion,” referring to Yu Ping Feng San. Modern pharmacological studies have proven that Yu Ping Feng San has the effect of regulating the body’s immunity.Formula AnalysisYu Ping Feng San is a representative formula for strengthening the body and expelling evil, with two main characteristics:
First, the name is very appropriate. “Jade” signifies something precious and strong, indicating that the ancients valued this formula highly; its uses are extensive. A screen is a piece of furniture that blocks wind at the entrance of a room, also an antique art piece.
“Yu Ping Feng” is like a solid and dense wind-blocking wall, preventing wind evil from invading.
Second, Yu Ping Feng San is specifically designed for those with weak bodies, unstable skin, and those prone to colds.
Yu Ping Feng San can strengthen Zheng Qi, enhance constitution, and improve the body’s ability to resist evil.
Detailed Explanation of the Formula
Ingredients: Fang Feng (防风, Siler), Huang Qi (黄芪, Astragalus), Bai Zhu (白术, Atractylodes)
Functions: Tonify Qi, stabilize the exterior, stop sweating.
Indications: Exterior deficiency, spontaneous sweating, aversion to wind, pale complexion, or those with weak constitution prone to wind evil.
The rhyme for the formula is as follows:Yu Ping combination is few but refined, Qi, Bai Zhu, and Fang Feng form a tripod, Exterior deficiency with excessive sweating is prone to colds, Strengthening the defense and stopping sweat is particularly effective.The herbs in “Yu Ping Feng San” are quite simple, consisting of only Huang Qi, Fang Feng, and Bai Zhu. The first two herbs primarily strengthen the body, while Fang Feng focuses on expelling evil.1. Fang Feng: Expels wind and releases the exterior, dispels dampness and alleviates pain, stops spasms. It excels at releasing the exterior and dispersing wind, suitable for both wind-cold and wind-heat colds. Fang Feng circulates throughout the body, clears the head and facial orifices, and alleviates joint pain and spasms, known as the immortal herb for treating wind.2. Huang Qi: Tonifies Qi and raises Yang, benefits Qi and stabilizes the exterior, and also has diuretic, kidney function improvement, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and liver-protective effects. Huang Qi is a representative herb for tonifying the spleen and Qi; internally, it greatly tonifies the Qi of the spleen and lungs, and externally, it stabilizes the exterior and stops sweating, particularly suitable for treating spontaneous sweating due to weak Wei Qi. It is the main herb in the formula; pharmacological studies have found that Huang Qi can enhance non-specific immune function, thus inhibiting viral replication to some extent. Huang Qi mainly contains polysaccharides and saponins, which are the main effective components that promote immune function.3. Bai Zhu: Tonifies the spleen and benefits Qi, dries dampness and promotes urination, stops sweating, and calms the fetus. Bai Zhu can tonify the spleen and benefit Qi, assisting Huang Qi in enhancing the function of tonifying Qi and stabilizing the exterior, serving as an auxiliary herb; pharmacological research has found that Bai Zhu can improve cellular immune function and increase the content of immunoglobulins in serum, also enhancing humoral immune function.Overall, Huang Qi is sweet and warm, adept at tonifying the Qi of the spleen and lungs, allowing the spleen Qi to flourish, thus generating metal, and with sufficient lung Qi, the exterior is solid and the defense is strong. Bai Zhu is sweet and bitter and warm, specifically entering the spleen and stomach meridians, being a key herb for tonifying the spleen and Qi, working with Huang Qi to cultivate earth and generate metal, significantly enhancing the function of stabilizing the exterior and stopping sweating. The combination of these two herbs ensures that with strong Qi, the exterior is solid, preventing sweat from leaking out and making it difficult for wind evil to invade.With a small amount of Fang Feng, which is sweet and warm but not drying, the properties are mild, dispersing wind and expelling evil, and when paired with Huang Qi and Bai Zhu, it tonifies while dispersing, ensuring that Huang Qi secures the exterior without retaining evil; Fang Feng benefits from Huang Qi, expelling evil without harming the Zheng Qi.All the herbs in the formula are primarily focused on tonifying Qi and stabilizing the exterior, with a small amount of herbs for releasing the exterior and expelling wind, balancing tonification and dispersal, complementing each other, achieving the effects of tonifying Qi, stabilizing the exterior, stopping sweating, and strengthening the body while expelling evil. For those with exterior deficiency and spontaneous sweating, taking this formula can benefit Qi and stabilize the exterior to stop sweating; for those with weak constitution prone to wind evil, taking this formula can benefit Qi and stabilize the exterior to resist external evils.Related CombinationsFor patients with low immunity who frequently catch colds, it is advisable to add nutritional supplements such as protein powder and vitamin C to enhance nutritional intake and improve disease resistance.Medication Precautions1. Avoid greasy foods.2. This product should be taken before meals.3. Follow the prescribed dosage; children, pregnant women, patients with hypertension, and diabetes should take it under the guidance of a physician.4. If symptoms do not improve significantly after two weeks of taking the medication, or if symptoms worsen, discontinue use immediately and seek medical attention.5. Those allergic to this product should avoid it; those with allergic constitutions should use it cautiously.(This article is for professional reference only)
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