Aversion to wind according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Aversion to wind can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like aversion to wind here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here aversion to wind is often associated with aversion to cold, headaches and fatigue in the pattern “Exterior-Empty”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause aversion to wind.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of aversion to wind we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat aversion to wind.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause aversion to wind
In Chinese Medicine aversion to wind is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi) is the king ingredient for Gui Zhi Tang, a formula used for Exterior-Empty
Exterior-Empty
Pulse type(s): Slow (Chi), Floating (Fu)
In addition to aversion to wind, other symptoms associated with Exterior-Empty include aversion to cold, headaches and fatigue.
Exterior-Empty is often treated with Gui Zhi Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Cinnamon Twigs - Gui Zhi - as a key herb). Gui Zhi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear wind-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Releases pathogens from the muscle layer".
Stephania Roots (Fang Ji) is the king ingredient for Xuan Bi Tang, a formula used for Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles
Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
In addition to aversion to wind, other symptoms associated with Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles include fever, anxiety and swollen joints.
Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles is often treated with Xuan Bi Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Stephania Roots - Fang Ji - as a key herb). Xuan Bi Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dispel wind-damp", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears and resolves Damp-Heat".
Read more about Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles here
Saposhnikovia Roots (Fang Feng) is the king ingredient for Da Fang Feng Tang, a formula used for Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles
Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles
Pulse type(s): Floating (Fu)
In addition to aversion to wind, other symptoms associated with Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles include fever.
Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles is often treated with Da Fang Feng Tang, a herbal formula made of 14 herbs (including Saposhnikovia Roots - Fang Feng - as a key herb). Da Fang Feng Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dispel wind-damp", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Expel Wind Damp".
Read more about Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles here
Three herbal formulas that might help with aversion to 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.
Why might Gui Zhi Tang help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Exterior-Empty' of which aversion to wind is a symptom.
Xuan Bi Tang
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears and resolves Damp-Heat. Unblocks the meridians. Disbands painful obstruction.
Why might Xuan Bi Tang help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which aversion to wind is a symptom.
Da Fang Feng Tang
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 14 herbs
Key actions: Expel Wind Damp. Relieve pain. Tonify the Liver and the Kidneys. Tonify the Blood and Qi.
Why might Da Fang Feng Tang help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles' of which aversion to wind is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for aversion to wind
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat aversion to wind
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with aversion to wind?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat aversion to wind as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Tang or Da Fang Feng Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might White Peony Root (Bai Shao) help with aversion to wind?
Because White Peony Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat aversion to wind as a symptom, like Gui Zhi Tang or Da Fang Feng Tang for instance.
White Peony Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Sour. It targets the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood and preserves the Yin. Nourishes the Liver and assists in the smooth flow of Qi. Regulates the meridians and eases the pain.
Why might Stephania Root (Fang Ji) help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a key herb in Xuan Bi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Heat invading the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with aversion to wind as a symptom)
Stephania Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Bladder and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination. Allays pain and dispels Wind-Damp painful obstruction (Bi Pain).
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a key herb in Gui Zhi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Exterior-Empty' (a pattern with aversion to wind as a symptom)
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Why might Saposhnikovia Root (Fang Feng) help with aversion to wind?
Because it is a key herb in Da Fang Feng Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Wind invading the Channels joints and muscles' (a pattern with aversion to wind as a symptom)
Saposhnikovia Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Bladder, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Relieves Wind-Damp-Cold painful obstruction. Disperses Wind.
Other symptoms often associated with aversion to wind
Fever Stiff neck Aversion to cold Headaches Sneezing Facial paralysis Neck pain Heavy body Joint pain Runny nose