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Source: Wài Tái Mì Yào 外台秘要

Alternate Chinese names: Shí gāo tāng (石膏汤 Gypsum Decoction)

Ingredients

• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 10g
• Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]) 10g
• Huáng bǎi (黄柏 Phellodendri Cortex, phellodendron [bark]) 10g
• Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]) 10g
• Shí gāo (石膏 Gypsum Fibrosum, gypsum) (predecocted) 30g
• Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra) 3g
• Dàn dòu chǐ (淡豆豉 Sojae Semen Praeparatum, fermented soybean¹) 10g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 3 slices
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 2 pieces
• Chá yè (茶叶 Theae Folium, tea [leaf]) 6g

Actions: Effuses the exterior and clears the interior; drains fire and resolves toxin.

Indications: Exuberant interior heat with unresolved exterior pattern in externally contracted febrile disease. Signs: vigorous heat effusion with absence of sweating, vexation and agitation, thirst, and red face and eyes. Tongue: Red with yellow fur. Pulse: Surging and rapid. Also effective when signs include yellowing of the skin and eyes, nosebleed, macular eruption, and clouded spirit, mania, and delirious speech.

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Shí gāo, being very cold, clears and drains internal heat. It is therefore the sovereign agent. Má huáng and Dàn dòu chǐ are acrid and dispersing, and therefore effuse sweating, thereby thrusting the heat out. Huáng qín clears upper burner heat toxin. Huáng lián clears center burner heat toxin. Huáng bǎi clears lower burner heat toxin. Zhī zǐ and Chá yè drain heat toxin from all three burners conducting the heat out in the urine. Ginger and Dà zǎo harmonize defense and provisioning.

Similar: Huáng lián jiě dú tāng¹ (黄连解毒汤¹ Coptis Toxin-Resolving Decoction¹)

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