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A method of treatment that addresses exterior cold patterns marked by marked aversion to cold, pronounced headache and aching bones, high or low fever moist white tongue fur, tight floating pulse, and absence of any heat signs such as red tongue, dry mouth, or red sore swollen tongue.

Medicinal therapy: The main warm acrid exterior-resolving medicinals are listed below.

Warm Acrid Exterior-Resolving Agents

• 麻黄 (má huáng) ephedra (Ephedrae Herba)
• 桂枝 (guì zhī) cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus)
• 紫苏叶 (zǐ sū yè) perilla leaf (Perillae Folium)
• 荆芥 (jīng jiè) schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba)
• 生姜 (shēng jiāng) fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens)
• 防风 (fáng fēng) Saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix)
• 羌活 (qiāng huó) notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix)
• 连须葱白 (lián xū cōng bái) scallion white with root (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus cum Radice)

Of these, schizonepeta (Schizonepetae Herba, 荆芥 jīng jiè) and saposhnikovia (Saposhnikoviae Radix, 防风 fáng fēng) are the most commonly used. Notopterygium (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, 羌活 qiāng huó) possesses a much stronger sweat-effusing heat-abating and pain-relieving effect than either of these and is mainly prescribed for severe joint pain. Fresh ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, 生姜 shēng jiāng) and scallion white (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, 葱白 cōng bái) are often used in combination with other warm acrid exterior-resolving medicinalsbut may also be used alone. Perilla (Perillae Folium, 紫苏叶 zǐ sū yè) warms and dispersesand can also harmonize the center; it is mainly used in exterior cold patterns where gastrointestinal signs are also present. Ephedra (Ephedrae Herba, 麻黄 má huáng) is mainly used in exterior cold patterns where cough, panting, or water swelling are also present. Cinnamon twig (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 桂枝 guì zhī) and white peony (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 白芍药 bái sháo yào) are used in exterior cold patterns involving provisioning-defense disharmony. The main formulas are Ephedra Decoction (麻黄汤 má huáng tāng), Cinnamon Twig Decoction (桂枝汤 guì zhī tāng), and Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Toxin-Vanquishing Powder (荆防败毒散 jīng fáng bài dú sǎn). Ephedra Decoction is for repletion patterns with cough and panting. Cinnamon Twig Decoction is for patterns of provisioning-defense disharmony, exterior vacuity and heat effusion unabated by sweating. Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia Toxin-Vanquishing Powder is used for general colds and influenza caused attributable to wind-cold.

See also exterior-resolving agents; resolving the exterior; wind-cold.

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