https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/A4PeQB2Vq1CW8xtc-5KQOA
Welcome everyone to share your own experiences with medicinal trials in the replies, making it easier for others to search and learn.
1. Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Chewing it directly tastes bitter and astringent. Brewing it in water yields a nice color but still tastes bitter and astringent, with a slight hint of sweetness afterward.
Confirmed effects: invigorates Wei Qi (drives Wei Qi to the surface, with the side effect of opening pores and causing vulnerability in the skin). This comes from various forms of ephedrine alkaloids. Secondary effects include inducing sweating, releasing the exterior and dispersing cold (requires combination with warm herbs), dispersing lung Qi, and promoting urination to reduce swelling (requires guidance through other herbs).
2. Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi)
Eating it directly or brewing it in water tastes sweet to the point of cloying, irritates the throat, with a slight pungency and numbness.
Confirmed effects: warms and unblocks Yang Qi (cinnamaldehyde dilates blood vessels, relieves heat and pain). Secondary effects include warming the muscles and skin, unblocking the meridians, transforming Qi, and promoting water metabolism.
There is a school of thought that the tips of the cinnamon twig are superior, but whether from clinical observation, taste, or effective content testing, there is no practical advantage compared to the whole twig—I personally think it’s not worth the trouble. The cinnamon twigs provided include both the tips and the main body; you can pick and compare them yourself.
3. Perilla Leaf (Zi Su Ye)
Like mint, it also belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has a somewhat similar aroma. Adding some ingredients, it can be directly made into a drink.
Confirmed effects: harmonizes the stomach and resolves turbidity. Secondary effects include relaxing the middle burner and descending Yang Ming Qi.
It itself does not have much effect in releasing the exterior or dispersing cold but can address digestive symptoms during external syndromes, so it is often included in formulas that release the exterior (when external symptoms are just beginning, only drinking Xiang Su San is ineffective and may delay recovery).