Wind can overcome dampness

From Plain Questions (素问 sù wèn, yìng yáng yìng xiàng dà lùn): wind overcomes dampness. In the natural environment, wind can dispel dampness; when the wind blows, things dry. In Chinese medicine, this analogy is used to explain the ability of wind-dispelling medicinals to treat dampness. Although in this context, wind refers to wind-dispelling medicinals (medicinals opposed to wind), rather than wind itself, it is observed that many wind medicinals are dry. Medicinals such as saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风 fáng fēng), notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, 羌活 qiāng huó), pubescent angelica (Angelicae Pubescentis Radix, 独活 dú huó), chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 川芎 chuān xiōng), Chinese lovage (Ligustici Rhizoma, 藁本 gǎo běn), and vitex (Viticis Fructus, 蔓荆子 màn jīng zǐ) are commonly used to overcome dampness. The ability of wind medicinals to overcome dampness is reflected in formula names such as Notopterygium Dampness-Overcoming Decoction (羌活胜湿汤 qiāng huó shèng shī tāng) and Bupleurum Dampness-Overcoming Decoction (柴胡胜湿汤 chái hú shèng shī tāng).