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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Alternate Chinese names: 葛根芩连汤

Ingredients:

• Gé gēn (葛根 Puerariae Radix, pueraria [root]) 9–15g
• Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) 6–9g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 3–6g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3–6g

Action: Resolves the exterior and clears the interior.

Indication: Early-stage febrile disease in which the exterior fails to resolve, and evil heat enters the interior, giving rise to heat effusion, diarrhea, foul-smelling stool, burning sensation in the anus on defecation, bitter taste in the mouth, yellow tongue fur, and rapid pulse or skipping pulse. This arises usually occurs when inappropriate precipitation is applied, causing the evil heat to enter the yáng brightness. Given the exterior-interior relationship between the large intestine and lung, yáng brightness heat in the intestines can steam into the lung to cause panting and into the fleshy exterior to cause sweating.

Category: Dual exterior-interior resolution formulas / Exterior-resolving heat-clearing formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Warnings: Do not use this formula for diarrhea with signs of vacuity cold such as sunken, faint, or weak pulse, and absence of heat effusion.

Rationale: Gé gēn clears heat and resolve the exterior. It can also upbear the clear yáng of the spleen and stomach, thereby helping to check diarrhea. For this reason, it is the sovereign agent. The minister agents are Huáng lián and Huáng qín, which are cold and bitter. By their coldness, they clear gastrointestinal heat, and by their bitterness they dry gastrointestinal dampness. Zhì gān cǎo, the assistant, relieves tension and harmonizes the center, preventing the Huáng lián and Huáng qín from damaging stomach.

Variations:

• Vomiting: Add Fǎ bàn xià (法半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum, pro formula pinellia [rhizome]) and Zhú rú (竹茹 Bambusae Caulis in Taenia, bamboo shavings).
• Food stagnation complication: Add Shān zhā (山楂 Crataegi Fructus, crataegus [fruit]) and Shén qū (神曲 Massa Medicata Fermentata , medicated leaven).
• Abdominal pain: Add Mù xiāng (木香 Aucklandiae Radix, costusroot) and Bái sháo (白芍 Paeoniae Radix Alba, white peony [root]).
• Acute enteritis: Add Jīn yín huā (金银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]), Chē qián zǐ (车前子 Plantaginis Semen, plantago seed), and Zé xiè (泽泻 Alismatis Rhizoma, alisma [tuber]).
• Acute bacillary dysentery: Add Bái tóu wēng (白头翁 Pulsatillae Radix, pulsatilla [root]), Mù xiāng (木香 Aucklandiae Radix, costusroot), and Qín pí (秦皮 Fraxini Cortex, ash [bark]).

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