The origin of Yupingfeng Powder is from "Shiyi Dexiao Fang"
Not many people know about the prescription Yupingfeng Powder. In Chinese medicine clinics, it is mainly used to prevent colds . Traditionally, it is believed that the function of this prescription is to "replenish Qi, strengthen the exterior and stop sweating" . It is mainly used to treat symptoms of weak Wei Qi and inability to strengthen the exterior.
The Wei Qi is weak, the body's pores are not tight, and it is unable to resist the external wind and cold evils, so one is afraid of wind and cold and easily catches a cold . It is mainly used to treat superficial deficiency, easy sweating, fear of wind, pale complexion, easy colds, pale tongue with thin white coating, and floating and weak pulse.
To explore Yupingfeng Powder, we must first explore "Wei Qi". "Wei" means "protection". Wei Qi originates from the chest, runs outside the veins, and is distributed on the body surface. It warms the skin and pores, regulates the opening and closing of sweat pores, and defends against the invasion of external evil.
The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, Lingshu, mentions: "Wei Qi warms the flesh, fills the skin, nourishes the pores, and controls the opening and closing of the body." Wei Qi can protect the whole body, just like the immunity mentioned in modern medicine, which can prevent the invasion of external evil. "Wei Qi" is closely related to the lungs. Wei Qi depends entirely on the proper function of lung Qi. If the lung Qi is weak, the pores will be loose, the skin and fur will be loose, and the body fluid will leak out, causing constant sweating.
The skin pores are open, and the wind and cold evil enter through the gap, so it is easy to catch a cold, and feel uncomfortable when the wind blows (fear of wind). People with weak lung qi tend to have a pale complexion. Based on the five elements, the lung belongs to gold, and the spleen and stomach belong to earth. Therefore, if the spleen and stomach qi and blood are insufficient, the lung qi will also be insufficient. Therefore, nourishing the spleen and stomach qi is also nourishing the lung qi. This is the so-called " cultivating earth to produce gold " method.
The syndrome of this prescription is caused by the deficiency of lung Wei Qi and the looseness of the pores, so it is necessary to make the Wei Qi sufficient, consolidate the exterior and stop sweating. The Astragalus in the prescription is sweet and warm, which can greatly replenish the Qi of the spleen and lungs internally and consolidate the exterior and stop sweating externally. Atractylodes can strengthen the spleen and replenish Qi, and assist Astragalus to strengthen the power of replenishing Qi and consolidating the exterior. The combination of the two medicines can be said to nourish the earth to produce gold, and the effect of consolidating the exterior and stopping sweating is remarkable.
The Shennong Bencaojing mentioned that Atractylodes macrocephala has the effect of "stopping sweat". The combination of Astragalus and Atractylodes macrocephala can not only nourish the spleen and stomach and help digestion, but also nourish the lung qi and strengthen the skin surface, preventing excessive sweating and making it difficult for external evil to invade the body. The name of the recipe is Jade Screen, which means that its function is like a windproof barrier, but it is as precious as jade.
Fangfeng moves to the surface and dispels wind and resists pathogens, and is the "moisturizing agent in wind-clearing medicines". When Huangqi is combined with Fangfeng, it can strengthen the surface and not retain pathogens; when Fangfeng is combined with Huangqi, it can dispel wind without damaging the body. For those who suffer from spontaneous sweating due to deficiency in the surface, or those who are prone to colds due to deficiency in the body, it can invigorate qi, strengthen the surface, strengthen the body and dispel pathogens. Because this prescription can invigorate qi, strengthen the surface, stop sweating and resist wind, it is like a screen, as precious as jade, and it is a powder, so the ancients named it "Yupingfeng Powder".
This prescription and " Guizhi Decoction " can both be used to treat "spontaneous sweating due to deficiency of the exterior", which is caused by weak Wei Qi and loose pores. The spontaneous sweating of Guizhi Decoction syndrome is caused by exogenous wind and cold , and disharmony between the Ying and Wei. "Yupingfeng Powder" mainly strengthens the exterior and stops sweating, and also dispels wind, which is caused by weak Wei Qi and loose pores .
Addition and subtraction method: For patients with excessive sweating, add floating wheat, oyster, ephedra root, etc. to strengthen the effect of strengthening the exterior and stopping sweating. For patients with superficial deficiency, external wind-cold, headache, nasal congestion, sweating, bad wind, and slow pulse, it can be used together with Guizhi Decoction to replenish qi, strengthen the exterior, and harmonize the Ying and Wei.
This prescription is commonly used today to treat or prevent recurrent upper respiratory tract infections in children and adults, glomerulonephritis that is easily induced by colds and flu, allergic rhinitis , chronic urticaria , bronchial asthma and other allergic diseases that are caused by external wind evil, as well as spontaneous sweating caused by superficial deficiency and inadequate skin after surgery, postpartum care, and in children.
The prescription of Yupingfeng Powder: 15g of Astragalus, 5g of Saposhnikovia, 5g of Atractylodes macrocephala, 3g of ginger, 2g of jujube (30g per day). The traditional preparation does not contain ginger or jujube.
The efficacy of Yupingfeng Powder: replenishing qi, strengthening the exterior and stopping sweating
Indications of Yupingfeng Powder: This prescription enhances immune function, enhances the function of sweat glands, and regulates skin function. It is used to prevent colds, recuperate after illness, treat allergic rhinitis, urticaria, and chronic diseases with superficial deficiency constitution.
Usage and dosage of Yupingfeng Powder: 2 to 3 servings per day, taken with warm water
Contraindications/Warnings of Yupingfeng Powder: It should not be used by those suffering from spontaneous sweating due to exogenous factors or yin deficiency and sweating.
Pregnancy/Breastfeeding precautions for Yupingfeng Powder: Use according to doctor's instructions
The roles of the prescription composition (main ingredient, minister ingredient, assistant ingredient, and envoy ingredient): Astragalus is sweet and warm, and can greatly replenish the spleen and lung qi internally, and can also strengthen the exterior and stop sweating externally; Atractylodes macrocephala strengthens the spleen and replenishes qi, and helps Astragalus to strengthen the qi and strengthen the exterior; Saposhnikovia divaricata moves to the exterior and disperses wind to resist evil.
King: Astragalus
Minister: Atractylodes macrocephala
Assist: Windproof
Yupingfeng Powder's effects on human systems: respiratory system, skin, epidermal system, immune system