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Huang Qi Constitution according to Dr. Huang Huang

ERAN's picture
Posted September 4th, 2008 by ERAN

For the past few months I have been reading Dr. Huang Huang’s 10 Major Formula Families book (中医十大类方) and just can’t get enough of it. Really innovative work!
Since there has been some interest on his work recently, especially on CMT, I thought I would share a very small section on the Huang Qi constitution or body type from his book.
Michael Max in Seattle is currently translating the entire book, which he has said should be available next year and published by Eastland press.

In using Dr. Huangs’ methods in clinic, it is said that you must “treat by the corresponding herb presentation” (药证对应), indicating that by matching a specific herb presentation with a patients presentation, treatment will be effective.

Huang Qi Presentation:

1. Spontaneous sweating or night sweats, aversion to wind, generalized heaviness, numbness in the extremities.

2. Edema, generalized heaviness, inhibited urination

3. Festering sores that fail to heal for a long time, with pus that is clear and watery.

Huang Qi Constitution;

External characteristics: A pale-yellow, dark-yellow or dull reddish yellow, lack-lustre complexion. Soft, relaxed sinews and flesh, with a moist, edematous appearance. Spiritless eyes. Abdominal wall is soft, weak and strength-less and the tongue is pale and enlarged with a moist coating.

These patients usually sweat easily, have a fear of wind, a sensitivity to wind and cold (drafts), a cough with shortness of breath, or nasal congestion and easily contract the common cold. Their bowel movements will be watery and sloppy or their movements will initially be dry and then sloppy. Appetite is devitalized with abdominal distension and fullness. Edema is common especially in the legs, and they will experience numbness in their extremities.

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More on Huang Huang body constitution

L Brown's picture
On September 5th, 2008 L Brown says:

Hi Eran,

I had the opportunity to spend 8 full days with Dr Huang in Amherst Massachusetts. Very interesting. I have put a link to 4 videos that relate to his work. Over the coming months we hope to put up a few more clips too. Plus Sharom Weizenbaum and I are editing the 8 day course and will be offering it as a distance learning seminar.

Huang is returning again in February 2009 to California and October 2009 to New Orleans to teach two more live courses. basically it is a 3 part series so these courses will each be different and build on one another. CMT will be listing details of the courses when they become available. In the meantime... follow the link below to watch some video clips.

http://www.chinesemedicinetools.com/videos/huang

Lorne
www.acubalance.ca
www.prodseminars.com

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Huang Qi Constitution

sweiz's picture
On September 6th, 2008 sweiz says:

Hello All,

Thanks Eran for the great Huang Huang information. Having studied with Dr. Huang in Nan Jing and then here in Amherst, I was at first unclear about the Huang Qi presentation clinically. Slowly I have begun to feel that I understand it in a way that I can use. I would say that of all the body type presentations I have learned from Dr. Huang, the Huang Qi presentation is, right now, the one I am most excited about understanding. I've treated insomnia, sleep apnea (successfully!- something I had not been able to do before) chronic fatigue with edema and severe low-back and knee pain on patients with a Huang Qi body type with very clear and rapid results. I feel that the excellent results were directly related to the fact that I could recognize these patients as Huang Qi body types as well as a clear general diagnosis.

The part of what Eran shared from Huang Huang's book that has been most useful for me clinically is the quality of the flesh, especially of the abdomen and the sweat.

These patients I listed above all have soft spongey flesh. They all could be considered "over weight" though this is really more of a body type phenomena. It's important differentiate rotund patients and be clear that the flesh, especially of the belly, is soft and spongey because many larger patients will have firm muscles which is very different.

In terms of sweat, I ask if they sweat easily. If they sweat normally or easily, that's enough, with the spongey flesh, to confirm the Huang Qi body type. In addition, if their skin feels moist to my touch, that is also enough to confirm this.

For treatment, when there is a Huang Qi body type, I will choose among Huang Qi formulas such as Huang Qi Gui Zhi Wu Wu Tang, Huang Qi Fang Ji Tang, Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang, Bu Yang Huan Wu Tang etc. I will use a fairly high dose of Huang Qi, usually 3 times the amount of the standard dose of the other herbs. If there is more superficial edema, I will use Huang Qi and if not I will use Zhi Huang Qi.

In general, I have found that integrating body type with clear diagnosis adds a level of directness and effectiveness to treatment that is wonderful.

Hope there is more discussion like this!

Sharon

Sharon Weizenbaum
86 Henry Street
Amherst, MA 01002
www.whitepinehealingarts.com

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