Harmonizing lesser yáng (shào yáng)

Also harmonizing the exterior and interior; harmonizing midstage patterns. A method of treatment used to resolve the exterior and harmonize the interior to treat lesser yáng (shào yáng) midstage patterns in externally contracted febrile diseases, which are characterized by alternating heat effusion and [aversion to] cold, oppression and fullness in the chest and rib-side region, bitter taste in the mouth and dry pharynx, and nausea and vomiting.

Medicinal therapy: The main medicinals used to harmonize lesser yáng (shào yáng) are bupleurum (Bupleuri Radix, 柴胡 chái hú) or sweet wormwood (Artemisiae Annuae Herba, 青蒿 qīng hāo), which outthrust exterior evils, combined with scutellaria (Scutellariae Radix, 黄芩 huáng qín), which clears interior heat. These are further combined with center-harmonizing medicinals such as pinellia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, 半夏 bàn xià), fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 生姜 shēng jiāng), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo), and jujube (Jujubae Fructus, 大枣 dà zǎo). Vacuity of right qì may justify the judicious addition of medicinals such as codonopsis (Codonopsis Radix, 党参 dǎng shēn).

Minor Bupleurum Decoction (小柴胡汤 xiǎo chái hú tāng), which in modern clinical practice is usually prescribed without ginseng (Ginseng Radix, 人参 rén shēn), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo), and jujube (Jujubae Fructus, 大枣 dà zǎo), is the standard decoction for clearing lesser yáng (shào yáng) liver-gallbladder heat. Midstage patterns involving abdominal pain and distension and other yáng brightness (yáng míng) bowel repletion signs may be treated with Major Bupleurum Decoction (大柴胡汤 dà chái hú tāng) or other formulas that contain draining-precipitants such as rhubarb (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 大黄 dà huáng), mirabilite (Natrii Sulfas, 芒硝 máng xiāo), and unripe bitter orange (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, 枳实 zhǐ shí).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on GB, TB, LR, and PC. Select GB-20 (Wind Pool, 风池 fēng chí), TB-5 (Outer Pass, 外关 wài guān), TB-4 (Yáng Pool, 阳池 yáng chí), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), GB-40 (Hill Ruins, 丘墟 qiū xū), and LR-5 (Woodworm Canal, 蠡沟 lǐ gōu); needle with even supplementation and drainage.