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Source: Shāng Hán Liù Shū 伤寒六书

Ingredients

• Qīng dài (青黛 Indigo Naturalis , indigo) (drenched) 5g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 12g
• Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]) 9g
• Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]) 12g
• Zhī mǔ (知母 Anemarrhenae Rhizoma, anemarrhena [root]) 9g
• Xī jiǎo (犀角 Rhinocerotis Cornu, rhinoceros horn) 9g
• Shí gāo (石膏 Gypsum Fibrosum, gypsum) 30g
• Chái hú (柴胡 Bupleuri Radix, bupleurum [root]) 6g
• Sān qī (三七 Notoginseng Radix, notoginseng [root]) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 3g
• 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) 2 pieces
• Cù (醋 Acetum , vinegar) 1 spoonful

Actions: Drains fire and resolves toxin; cools the blood and transforms macules.

Indications: Yáng toxin macules arising when qì-provisioning blaze (heat in both qì and provisioning) causes frenetic movement of hot blood. The papules are red, and accompanied by high fever, vexation and agitation, thirst and desire for fluids. Tongue: Red with dry yellow fur. Pulse: Large, slippery, rapid, and surging.

Rationale: Qīng dài is a salty and cold that clears the blood and resolves toxin; it is effective for macules due to heat toxin. Xī jiǎo and Xuán shēn cool the blood and resolve toxin, as well as nourishing yīn and restraining yáng. These agents together clear the heat toxin from the blood aspect. Shí gāo, Zhī mǔ, Huáng lián, and Zhī zǐ clear heat from the qì aspect. Rén shēn —or Dǎng shēn—, Gān cǎo, and Dà zǎo boost qì and engender liquid, preventing the heat evil from damaging liquid and preventing the cold agents from damaging the stomach. Chái hú thrusts the qì heat out through the defense aspect, but is used with caution because of its blood-moving action. Vinegar transforms blood stasis.

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