Greater Yang Attack of Wind
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The concept of The six stages theory The concept of Wind
Key attributes
Chinese name: 太阳 中风 Pinyin name: Tài Yáng Zhòng Fēng
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Precursor patterns: Bright Yang Stomach Heat Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
Common causes: External pathogenic factor
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Sneezing Stiff neck Slight fever Slight sweating Aversion to wind and two other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Floating (Fu)
Treatment
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, expel Wind and Cold, restore the diffusing of Lung-Qi, harmonize Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
Common formulas: Gui Zhi Tang
Pathology
This is one of the four patterns of the Greater Yang stage, the first stage of the Six Stages theory.
As opposed to Attack of Cold, another pattern of the Greater Yang stage, there is an emphasis on Wind rather than Cold.
As far as symptoms are concerned, the aversion to cold is due to the obstruction of the space between the skin and muscles by Wind: this impairs the circulation of Defensive Qi which cannot fulfill its function of warming the muscles.
The same obstruction in the space between skin and muscles leads to the symptom of mild sweating as the deficient Nutritive Qi fails to hold sweat in place.
The slight fever is not necessarily an actual fever but more the hot feeling of the patient’s skin on palpation, what the Chinese call "heat emission" of the skin.
Lastly the occipital headache and stiff neck are caused by the obstruction of Qi in the Greater Yang channels of Small Intestine and Gallbladder. These channels pass through the neck and head, hence the symptoms.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Greater Yang Attack of Wind can derive from Bright Yang Stomach Heat Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
External pathogenic factor: The main cause of this pattern is when an external pathogen, typically Wind-Cold, has invaded the Exterior
Diagnosing Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi) or floating (Fu)
Main symptoms: Sneezing Stiff neck Slight fever Slight sweating Aversion to wind Occipital headaches Slight aversion to cold
Treating Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Treatment principle
Release the Exterior, expel Wind and Cold, restore the diffusing of Lung-Qi, harmonize Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
Herbal formulas used to treat Greater Yang Attack of Wind
Gui Zhi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 5 herbs
Key actions: Releases pathogens from the muscle layer. Regulates the Nutritive and Protective Qi.
Formula summary
Gui Zhi Tang is a 5-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Cold.
Besides Greater Yang Attack of Wind, Gui Zhi Tang is also used to treat Exterior-Cold or Exterior-Empty.
Consequence patterns
If left untreated Greater Yang Attack of Wind can lead to Bright Yang Stomach Heat
Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines
If left untreated Greater Yang Attack of Wind can lead to Bright Yang Fire in Stomach and Intestines