Expels Cold (Traditional Chinese Medicine therapeutic principle)

"Expels Cold" (San Han or Qu Han) is a fundamental therapeutic principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rather than a specific molecular target such as a protein, enzyme, or receptor [9, 15]. It refers to the physiological action of removing "pathogenic cold" from the body's meridians, organs, and tissues to restore the balance of Yang energy and alleviate symptoms like chills, abdominal pain, and hypoperfusion [8, 12]. This therapeutic effect is typically achieved using "warming" medicinal substances like Zingiber officinale (Ginger), Cinnamomum cassia (Cinnamon), and Aconitum carmichaelii (Aconite), or through physical treatments like moxibustion [14, 15]. Modern pharmacological studies suggest that the effects of "Expelling Cold" are mediated by the modulation of thermoreceptors (such as TRPM8 and TRPV1), the stimulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis, and the activation of brown adipose tissue thermogenesis [2, 13, 15]. Furthermore, research into classical formulas like the Sishen Pill indicates that this action involves restoring intestinal ATPase activity and modulating microbiota to improve energy homeostasis [5, 6]. Because the term describes a broad functional outcome within a holistic medical system rather than a discrete biological entity or molecular structure, it is categorized as an incorrect entry for a modern pharmacological target registry [2, 7].

Other names

San Han (散寒)Qu Han (驱寒)Dispelling ColdWarming and Expelling ColdWarming the Interior and Expelling Cold

Mediation of thermogenesis and vasodilation through the modulation of Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) channels (such as TRPM8 and TRPV1), activation of the sympathetic nervous system, and restoration of mitochondrial ATPase activity to enhance cellular energy metabolism [2, 5, 6, 13].