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Source: Wēn Bìng Tiáo Biàn 温病条辨

Ingredients:

• Yín huā (银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]) 9–15g
• Lián qiào (连翘 Forsythiae Fructus, forsythia [fruit]) 9–15g
• Dòu chǐ (豆豉 Sojae Semen Fermentatum, fermented soybean[2]) 9–12g
• Niú bàng zǐ (牛蒡子 Arctii Fructus, arctium [seed]) 9–12g
• Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint) 3–5g
• Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta) 6–9g
• Jié gěng (桔梗 Platycodonis Radix, platycodon [root]) 3–5g
• Shēng gān cǎo (生甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix Cruda, raw licorice [root]) 3–5g
• Dàn zhú yè (淡竹叶 Lophatheri Herba, lophatherum) 9–12g
• Xiān lú gēn (鲜芦根 Phragmitis Rhizoma Recens, fresh phragmites [root]) 15–30g

Action: Resolves the exterior with coolness and acridity; clears heat and resolves toxin.

Indication: Initial-stage febrile disease. Signs: heat effusion, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, or inhibited sweating, headache, and sore throat. Tongue: Slightly red at the edges with a white or yellow fur. Pulse: Floating and rapid.

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

Method: Now usually prepared in decoction form but should not be boiled too long.

Rationale: Jīn yín huā and Lián qiào are clear light diffusing agents that outthrust evils. They clear heat and resolve toxin and prevent the passage of evils to the interior. For this reason, they are the sovereign agents. Jīng jiè suì, Bò hé, and Dàn dòu chǐ are acrid and disperse exterior evils. Niú bàng zǐ, Jié gěng, and Gān cǎo clear heat and resolve toxin, and help to disinhibit the throat. Dàn zhú yè and Lú gēn clear heat and engender liquid, thereby allaying thirst. The agents form an acrid cool exterior-resolving formula that has been used for generations. Many modern formulas for common cold and influenza are based on it.

Variations:

• Pronounced aversion to cold and absence of sweating, headache: Increase Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta) and Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint); if there is also headache, add Jí lí (蒺藜 Tribuli Fructus, tribulus [fruit]) and Màn jīng zǐ (蔓荆子 Viticis Fructus, vitex [fruit]).
• High fever with sweating: Increase Jīn yín huā (金银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]) and Lián qiào (连翘 Forsythiae Fructus, forsythia [fruit]) and reduce Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta) and Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint), and add Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) and Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]).
• Dampness with oppression in the chest, nausea, and vomiting: Add Xiāng rú (香薷 Moslae Herba, mosla) and Pèi lán (佩兰 Eupatorii Herba, eupatorium).
• Cough with thick phlegm: Add Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel), Zhè bèi mǔ (浙贝母 Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Zhèjiāng fritillaria [bulb]), and Guā lóu (瓜蒌 Trichosanthis Fructus, trichosanthes [fruit]).

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