It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.

As such Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang is mostly used to treat the pattern "Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency" which we describe below.

But before we delve into Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency here is an overview of the Western conditions it is commonly associated with:

Common cold Bronchial asthma Allergic rhinitis Chronic bronchitis Pertussis Measles Pneumonia Viral pneumonia Trigeminal neuralgia Migraine Sciatica Renal colic Sick sinus syndrome Erectile dysfunction Myasthenia gravis Chronic fatigue syndrome

Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang treats common cold" for instance. Rather, Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang is used to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency, which is sometimes the root cause behind common cold.

Now let's look at Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency, a pattern that TCM practitioners commonly treat with Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang.

'Deficient' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Deficiency / Empty in Chinese Medicine

Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency

Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Weak (Ruo)

Tongue coating: Thick white coating

Tongue color: Pale

Symptoms: Headaches Exhaustion Weak voice No sweating Slight fever Severe chills Desire to sleep Lower back pain Cold extremities General cold feeling Soreness of the lower back Feeling of cold in the lower back

Ma Huang Xi Xin Fu Zi Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency. This pattern leads to symptoms such as slight fever, severe chills, exhaustion and desire to sleep. Patients with Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency typically exhibit deep (Chen) or weak (Ruo) pulses as well as A pale and puffy tongue.

This pattern is characterized by the invasion of external Wind-Cold in a person who already has an underlying Yang Deficiency. Yang in TCM is the body's warming and active principle. When Yang is Deficient, the body struggles to maintain warmth and adequate metabolic activity.

Patients with this... read more about Wind-Cold invading with Yang Deficiency