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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients:

• Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra) 9g
• Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) 6g
• Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel) 9–12g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3g

Action: Promotes sweating and resolves the exterior; diffuses the lung and calms panting.

Indication: External contraction of wind-cold with heat effusion, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, cough and panting, headache and generalized pain. Pulse: Floating and tight. Tongue fur: Thin and white.

Category: Exterior-resolving formulas / Warm acrid exterior-resolving formulas

Method: Decoct in water.

Warnings: This formula is only for wind-cold exterior repletion patterns. It is contraindicated for exterior vacuity with spontaneous sweating, for wind-heat common cold, sores after rupture, or after loss of blood. mahuang has a vasoconstricting action that increases blood pressure and hence should not be used for hypotensive and cardiovascular disease patients. 淋家

Rationale: Má huáng is a warm acrid agent that acts on the defense aspect. It effuses sweat and resolves the exterior, as well as diffusing the lung and calming panting. It is therefore the sovereign agent. Guì zhī is a warm sweet agent that enters the provisioning aspect, resolve the flesh and disperses cold. Importantly, it enhances the sweat-effusing action of Má huáng. The Gān cǎo curbs the acrid, dry properties of Má huáng. The Xìng rén diffuses the lung and downbears qì, thereby helping both the exterior-resolving and panting-calming action of Má huáng.

Variations:

• Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra) and Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) in doses of over 9 gr produce a strong sweat-inducing action is strong. With less Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) than Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra), the sweat-inducing action is weaker.
• Headache and generalized pain: Add Qiāng huó (羌活 Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, notopterygium [root]) and Chuān xiōng (川芎 Chuanxiong Rhizoma, chuanxiong [rhizome]).
• Additional presence of cough with thin phlegm: Add Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger), Xì xīn (细辛 Asari Rhizoma et Radix, asarum), and Zǐ wǎn (紫菀 Asteris Radix, aster [root]).

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