It Is Used For People Without Digestive Troubles
By Daniel Cho, L.Ac. (email: [email protected])
*Xing Ren: Symptom Indicator Score+, Frequency of Use++
Main Symptoms ①cough, shortness of breath (w/o nasal discharge and phlegm) ☞ Xing Ren is usually used with Ma Huang and/or Xi Xin. In such cases, Xing Ren’s symptoms of cough and shortness of breath (w/o nasal discharge and phlegm) become obscured.
Possible symptoms ②chest fullness ③pain ④mild edema ⑤constipation (due to lack of intestinal fluid).
▲ Pharmacological Hypothesis of Xing Ren
①Decrease in gas exchange from lack of surfactant in alveoli → increase in blood carbon dioxide level → stimulating the respiratory center → Hyperventilation.
Coughs and/or shortness of breath w/o nasal discharge or phlegm. → Cough and shortness of breath causing chest fullness.
Thoracic expansion → hypertonicity of pectoris muscles → chest pain (near sternum). → Chest fullness and pain.
Mild edema due to type 1 allergic reaction (anaphylaxis type). → Type 1 allergic reactions: asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, rash, anaphylaxis, food allergy.
②Lack of intestinal fluid → Constipation due to dryness of the large intestine.
Xing Ren’s symptoms are caused by decreased gas exchange from lack of surfactant in alveoli, which leads to increased blood carbon dioxide levels, stimulation of the respiratory center and ultimately, hyperventilation.
▲ Clinical Signs of Xing Ren
▷Main Symptoms: Cough, shortness of breath (w/o nasal discharge and phlegm) ☞Xing Ren is usually used with Ma Huang and/or Xi Xin. In such cases, Xing Ren’s symptoms of coughs and shortness of breath (w/o nasal discharge and phlegm) become obscured.
▷Clinical Expressions
①Cough or shortness of breath that does not accompany nasal discharge or phlegm.
②Sometimes, a small amount of phlegm may cause discomfort in the throat. Even if patients try to spit out phlegm, it won’t spit out well.
▷Possible Symptoms
① Chest fullness, pain, mild edema, constipation (due to lack of intestinal fluid)
Clinical Expressions
② Chest fullness, with pain around CV17.
③ Cough and/or shortness of breath are often accompanied. Sometimes, there is only chest discomfort without cough or shortness of breath.
④ The area around CV17 is always painful, producing more pain upon pressure. Some patients say it hurts when they try to lift something using both arms.
⑤ Some patients will complain of shortness of breath and pain after a chest bruise.
⑥ Patients usually tend to swell. The degree of edema is not severe. Edema is usually limited to facial edema with a puffy face.
⑦ Patients are usually constipated, without daily bowel movements.
⑧ Stools are dry and hardened. They resemble rabbit or goat poops and are hard to let out.
⑨ Xing Ren is sometimes used with dry constipation in older people (as in Ma Zi Ren Wan). → Suppose symptoms of Ling Gan Jiang Wei Xin Tang are accompanied by mild shortness of breath, mild edema, and/or dry constipation. Ling Gan Jiang Wei Xin Xia Ren Tang is used (adding Xing Ren).
⑩ When constipation worsens after taking a Ma Huang + Xing Ren formula, or if dry constipation is severe, the amount of Xing Ren is sometimes increased.
▲ Cautions
It would be best to use Xing Ren for people with indigestion carefully. Xing Ren is used for people without digestive issues.
It would help to carefully use Xing Ren for people with frequent soft/loose stools or diarrhea. Xing Ren is used for people with normal stools or constipation.
