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Source: Shāng Hán Liù Shū 伤寒六书

Alternate Chinese names: 干葛解肌汤 (original name)

Ingredients:

• Chái hú (柴胡 Bupleuri Radix, bupleurum [root]) 10g
• Gé gēn (葛根 Puerariae Radix, pueraria [root]) 10g
• Qiāng huó (羌活 Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, notopterygium [root]) 6g
• Bái zhǐ (白芷 Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Dahurian angelica) 6g
• Jié gěng (桔梗 Platycodonis Radix, platycodon [root]) 3g
• Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) 6g
• Shēng shí gāo (生石膏 Gypsum Crudum, crude gypsum) 10g
• Sháo yào (芍药 Paeoniae Radix, peony [root]) 6g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 3g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 3 slices
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 3 pieces

Action: Resolves the exterior and clears heat.

Indication: Abating externally contracted wind-cold exterior patterns with heat growing exuberant in the interior. The signs are pain in the limbs, pain in the eye sockets, dry nose, vexation and agitation, and insomnia. Tongue: Red with dry white or thin yellow fur. Pulse: Floating and slightly surging.

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

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Chái hú and Gé gēn resolve the flesh and abate heat. Qiāng huó dispels wind and resolves the exterior. Huáng qín and Shí gāo clear and drain interior heat. Bái sháo combined with Chái hú harmonizes provisioning and drains heat. Jié gěng helps the Chái hú to course evil qì. Shēng jiāng, Dà zǎo, and Gān cǎo harmonize provisioning and defense, as well as harmonizing the center. Although this formula incorporates both cold and warm agents, its cold agents have greater strength than its warm agents, so that it remains an effective cool acrid formula for effusing wind-heat.

Variations:

• Aversion to cold, and headache: Omit Qiāng huó (羌活 Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, notopterygium [root]) and Bái zhǐ (白芷 Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Dahurian angelica).
• Severe heat with damage to liquid with thirst and dry tongue fur: Add Tiān huā fěn (天花粉 Trichosanthis Radix, trichosanthes root), fresh Lú gēn (芦根 Phragmitis Rhizoma, phragmites [root]), and Zhī mǔ (知母 Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, anemarrhena [root]).
• Painful, red, swollen eyes: Omit Qiāng huó (羌活 Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, notopterygium [root]) and Bái zhǐ (白芷 Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Dahurian angelica) and add Jú huā (菊花 Chrysanthemi Flos, chrysanthemum [flower]), Sāng yè (桑叶 Mori Folium, mulberry leaf), and Pú gōng yīng (蒲公英 Taraxaci Herba, dandelion).
• Cough with sticky phlegm: Add Guā lóu pí (瓜蒌皮 Trichosanthis Pericarpium, trichosanthes rind) and Zhè bèi mǔ (浙贝母 Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus, Zhèjiāng fritillaria [bulb]).

Notes: Flesh in the formula name refers to the exterior.

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