As we are in the summer season, it is hot and humid. In such hot weather, modern people inevitably use air conditioning and fans. However, the damp heat and discomfort from the environment, combined with improper lifestyle habits, can lead to various symptoms. Summarizing the causes, they can be divided into two categories:one is damp evil, and the other is cold evil.
While air conditioning brings coolness, it also has a negative impact on the body: that is, the body frequently moves between hot and cold environments, causing our sweat pores to open and close erratically.
Once the sweat pores are blocked, the problem arises:the dampness in the body cannot be expelled through the sweat pores in a timely manner, leading to an accumulation of dampness and cold. If one spends a night in an air-conditioned room, they may find upon waking that not only is their body stiff, but they may also feel nauseous, have a headache, and experience abdominal coldness. Looking in the mirror, one may notice clear teeth marks and a swollen tongue with a white coating. If one also consumes milk or cold porridge in the morning, they may experience diarrhea, vomiting, or symptoms of summer damp-cold.
At this time, using Huo Xiang (Agastache) for treatment is very appropriate.
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Speaking of Huo Xiang, we must mention the famous Huo Xiang Zheng Qi (Huo Xiang Correct Qi).
This is a well-known formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), originating from the Song Dynasty’s Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang. This formula has become widely popular, and ready-made products can be purchased on the market, such as Huo Xiang Zheng Qi water, liquid, and pills. The specific ingredients and dosages are not detailed here, but it generally includes over ten ingredients such as Huo Xiang, Fu Ling (Poria), Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel), Zi Su (Perilla), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel), and Ban Xia (Pinellia).
Huo Xiang
When traveling, experienced elders often suggest bringing some Huo Xiang Zheng Qi liquid. Huo Xiang Zheng Qi disperses exterior pathogens and transforms dampness, regulates Qi and harmonizes the middle, can detoxify seafood poison, alleviate alcohol effects, relieve diarrhea, stomach pain, gastrointestinal discomfort, and help with travel sickness and adapting to different environments; it can also prevent summer colds.
Some skeptics may ask: In ancient times, there was no air conditioning or fans; did people in the past also experience a cold and damp state in summer like modern people?
The answer is: Yes! I grew up in a rural area in northern China, where there was no air conditioning, and at most, we used electric fans. The older generation generally practiced energy conservation, so I remember that during the hottest nights in summer, the adults would take me to sleep on the roof of the flat-roofed house on a straw mat.
Now the question arises: when sleeping on the roof, the first half of the night is quite cool, allowing for quick sleep. However, by the second half of the night, one can clearly feel the cement surface of the roof gradually getting cold, often accompanied by mist, dew, and “deficient evil wind.” Therefore, by the second half of the night, we would need to return indoors to sleep. If one does not return in time and sleeps in such an environment until dawn, those with good health may be fine, but those with weaker constitutions will feel the effects of cold and damp evil.
From this perspective, even without air conditioning or fans in ancient times, people must have had similar experiences, leading to the development of countermeasures, such as formulas like Huo Xiang Zheng Qi.
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One of the principles of the Huo Xiang Zheng Qi formula is simultaneous treatment of the exterior and interior.
The term “exterior” can be understood as the body surface, the external, and the obvious symptoms.In summer, the most common exterior syndrome is summer damp-cold, which can manifest as fever without significant heat, heaviness in the head and body, dizziness, and sometimes cough with phlegm and nasal discharge.
The main herb in the formula, known as the monarch herb, is Huo Xiang, which itself is a remedy for both exterior and interior. It is pungent, slightly warm, and enters the Lung, Stomach, and Spleen meridians. Its pungent warmth can disperse the exterior, and its aromatic properties can transform dampness and awaken the Spleen. It has significant functions and strong effects. Additionally, with the assistance of Zi Su leaves and Bai Zhi, the exterior-dispersing effect of Huo Xiang is enhanced. As it enters the Spleen and Stomach meridians, Huo Xiang can also awaken the Spleen and disperse cold dampness and summer dampness.
The term “interior” refers to symptoms within the body (such as in the digestive system).For example, summer dampness can affect the digestive system, leading to symptoms such as chest and abdominal fullness, disharmony of the Spleen and Stomach, and sometimes diarrhea or vomiting.
By closely examining the composition of Huo Xiang Zheng Qi, we can see that it contains several smaller formulas.
We can break it down: Ban Xia (Pinellia) + Chen Pi (Dried Tangerine Peel) are the “two Chen” in Er Chen Tang (Two Aged Decoction), and when combined with Fu Ling and Gan Cao (Licorice), we can see the influence of Er Chen Tang. Er Chen Tang emphasizes dryness, and damp substances must be countered with drying agents, so it is used to dry dampness, transform phlegm, and regulate Qi and harmonize the middle.
The formula also reflects the influence of Ping Wei San (Calm the Stomach Powder), which has the effects of drying dampness, moving the Spleen, and regulating the Stomach, composed of Cang Zhu (Atractylodes), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), Chen Pi, and Gan Cao, except that in Huo Xiang Zheng Qi, Cang Zhu is replaced with Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes).
Er Chen Tang and Ping Wei San are specifically designed to address the “interior syndrome” of Spleen and Stomach disharmony. The Spleen governs the upward movement of clear Qi, while the Stomach governs the downward movement of turbid Qi. If the Qi mechanism is disrupted, it can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. When dampness obstructs the Qi mechanism, it can cause fullness and discomfort from the chest to the stomach, and even abdominal pain.
Additionally, Da Fu Pi helps to dry dampness and relieve fullness; paired with Jie Geng (Platycodon), it embodies a holistic approach to eliminating abdominal distension and aiding the Spleen and Stomach in their functions.Thus, if a child experiences diarrhea from eating popsicles or cold foods, these ingredients can help dry dampness and warm the Stomach, while also aiding in the recovery of Spleen and Stomach functions.
However, it is important to emphasize: summer is a good season for weight loss, and it is not suitable for heavy meat consumption; a lighter diet is more appropriate. In winter, when the weather is cold, it is reasonable to eat more food to store energy. However, if one consumes rich and greasy foods in summer, it can easily lead to Spleen deficiency and dampness, which is not conducive to the upward movement of Yang Qi. Therefore, one should eat less meat, use less oil, and consume more seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes.
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In summary, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi disperses exterior pathogens with its pungent warmth, while also transforming dampness, drying dampness, regulating Qi, and aiding in the recovery of the middle Jiao’s upward and downward movement.
Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine Duan Yating once said that Huo Xiang Zheng Qi liquid is an ancient formula that is inexpensive and effective, not only used in internal medicine but also applicable in other fields such as surgery and dermatology.
Master Duan once treated a man whose semen was not liquefying, and his wife was unable to conceive. After analyzing the symptoms, Master Duan determined that the man had excessive dampness and needed to strengthen the Spleen and eliminate dampness. The symptoms were very suitable for Huo Xiang Zheng Qi. After a period of use, the dampness was eliminated, the semen liquefied normally, and soon his wife became pregnant. (You can search online for free videos, Master Duan Yating Talks About Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Liquid, to watch and learn.)
This case is not to suggest that all men with infertility or non-liquefying semen should use Huo Xiang Zheng Qi, but rather to illustrate:the essence of TCM lies in syndrome differentiation, which requires comprehensive diagnosis. There are specific symptoms corresponding to specific causes, and the key is to treat the root cause and apply the appropriate remedies, which is the major trend and direction of TCM.
Of course, we can also use Huo Xiang Zheng Qi water externally for children to alleviate many summer “troubles.” For example, if a child has skin itching:apply Huo Xiang Zheng Qi water to the affected area for 3-5 minutes to quickly relieve itching; if a child has heat rash:mix Huo Xiang Zheng Qi water with an appropriate amount of cooled boiled water or saline, with a dilution ratio of: for those under 3 months, the ratio with water is 1:3; for those 4-12 months, the ratio is 1:2; for those over 1 year, the ratio is 1:1. Before applying the medication, wash the area with warm water and dry it, then use a disinfected cotton ball to apply the diluted water to the affected area 2-3 times a day.
If taken internally, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi water is not recommended because it contains a certain amount of alcohol, which can be irritating and is not suitable for very young children; however, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi liquid or oral liquid does not contain alcohol and is suitable for children; Huo Xiang Zheng Qi pills with the same ingredients are also effective.
Finally, one point to remind: Huo Xiang Zheng Qi is used to eliminate summer dampness and is suitable for those with a tendency towards cold and dampness. It is effective for summer diarrhea caused by cold foods, air conditioning illnesses, etc. Of course, it can also be used to prevent and treat summer damp-cold, but summer damp-cold must also be differentiated into cold and heat. Huo Xiang Zheng Qi is aimed at the cold type, as evidenced by a white greasy tongue coating and white phlegm.However, if a child has internal heat, such as a yellow tongue coating, yellow phlegm, or fever caused by herpangina or tonsillitis, it is not suitable for use.
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Massage techniques before and after the major heat to replenish the body’s most abundant Yang Qi throughout the year.
