Korean Herbal Formulation [Part 14] When Cold Enters the Body – Cold Evil (寒邪) Symptoms and Key Herbs

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Korean Herbal Formulation [Part 14]

When Cold Enters the Body – Cold Evil (寒邪) Symptoms and Key Herbs

Part 2: External Invaders – The Assault and Defense of the Six Climatic Factors
Sub-Part 2.2: The Cold Natured Force, Cold Evil (寒邪)
Lesson 12: When Cold Enters the Body – Cold Evil Symptoms and Herbal Medicines

In Sub-Part 2.1, we examined Wind Evil (風邪)—its changeable nature in externally contracted disorders and the principles used to address it.

From this lesson onward, we turn our focus to Cold Evil (寒邪), one of the Yin-type pathogenic influences among the Six Climatic Factors. Cold Evil constricts, solidifies, and stagnates the body, leading to pain and cold extremities.

Unlike Wind Evil, which moves and transforms easily, Cold Evil tends to remain, congeal, and bind, producing distinct clinical patterns and requiring a fundamentally different therapeutic approach.

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1. Nature and Characteristics of Cold Evil (寒邪)

Cold Evil belongs to the category of Yin pathogens (陰邪). When this cold influence invades the body, it presents with several defining features.

1) Damage to Physical Form (形體)

Pathogenic influences differ according to Yin and Yang.
As a Yin pathogen, Cold primarily damages the physical form—muscles, joints, and movement—rather than mental or dynamic functions.

2) Constriction and Stagnation

Cold has a nature of contraction and coagulation, slowing the circulation of blood and energy flow.
This stagnation is a primary cause of pain, stiffness, and rigidity.

3) Association with Deficiency

Classical texts describe Cold as belonging to Yin, and Yin conditions are often associated with deficiency.
Therefore, Cold Evil frequently appears alongside deficient states, requiring not only expulsion of cold but also support of Yang energy.

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2. Key Symptoms of Cold Evil Invasion

(Checklist of Cold Patterns)

When Cold Evil invades the exterior or the channels, the following symptoms commonly appear:

• Aversion to cold (惡寒)

• Pain worsened by cold (寒則痛甚)

• Symptoms aggravated in cold weather (遇天寒發)

• Contraction and cramping (拘攣) of muscles or joints

These manifestations arise because cold obstructs the channels, impairs circulation, and causes stagnation of blood and energy flow.

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3. The Critical Difference Between Cold Damage (傷寒) and Wind Damage (傷風)

Both Cold Damage (傷寒) and Wind Damage (傷風) produce exterior patterns, but they are clearly distinguished by two key diagnostic criteria.

Category	Wind Damage (傷風)	Cold Damage (傷寒)
Primary aversion	Aversion to wind (惡風)	Aversion to cold (惡寒)
Sweating	Shiny complexion, spontaneous sweating (面光有汗)	Dull complexion, no sweating (面慘無汗)
Treatment principle	Exterior deficiency → harmonize the exterior (解肌)	Exterior excess → induce sweating (發汗)

Exterior Cold patterns are characterized by fever, chills, body aches, floating pulse, and strong aversion to cold.
Because aversion to cold reflects involvement of the Taiyang channel, sweating is required to release the pathogen.

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4. Key Herbal Medicines for Treating Cold Evil (寒邪)

Cold Evil should generally be treated with warming and heating methods, expanding Yang energy and dispersing cold.

Classification of Herbs for Cold Patterns

Pattern Type	Herbs	Primary Function
Exterior Cold	Cinnamon Twig (桂枝), Perilla Leaf (蘇葉)	Disperse wind-cold from the exterior
Interior Cold-Damp	Dried Ginger (乾薑), Cinnamon Bark (肉桂)	Warm the middle and lower regions
Exterior/Interior	Ephedra (麻黃), Aconite (附子)	Strong dispersion / Yang restoration

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4.1 Core Herbs for Warming the Center and Restoring Yang

1) Dried Ginger (乾薑)

• Nature & Flavor: Pungent, bitter, intensely hot

• Functions:

  • In raw form, disperses cold and releases the exterior

  • When processed, powerfully warms the middle and eliminates internal cold

2) Aconite (附子)

• Nature & Flavor: Pungent, sweet, toxic; intensely hot, pure Yang

• Functions:

  • Restores depleted original Yang

  • Expels exterior wind-cold and interior cold-damp

  • Especially effective for severe Cold disorders requiring decisive warming

3) Cinnamon Bark (肉桂)

• Functions:

  • Used when wind-cold penetrates into interior patterns

  • Warms the Life Gate fire and dispels deep-seated cold

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5. Preview: The Formulaic Approach to Exterior Cold Patterns

In this lesson, we examined the nature of Cold Evil, its key symptoms, and the core herbs used to treat cold patterns.

In the next installment, we will apply these principles to clinical formulas—
specifically Ephedra Decoction (麻黃湯) and Cinnamon Twig Decoction (桂枝湯)—to establish a clear therapeutic framework for treating exterior Cold patterns.

Next Episode Preview

Lesson 13: Warming the Exterior and Interior – Treating Exterior Cold Patterns
(Practical application of formulas such as Ma Huang Tang and Gui Zhi Tang)

 📌 [Previous Episode]: Korean Herbal Formulation [Part 13] Wind-Heat–Induced Headaches and Inflammation

👉 Next Post: Korean Herbal Formulation [Part 15] Warming Both Exterior and Interior – Treating Cold-Induced Exterior Patterns

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