Atractylodes and Cinnamon Twig Decoction

Source: Lán Shì Mì Fāng 兰室秘方

Ingredients

Actions: Disperses cold and eliminates dampness; warms and moves the spleen and stomach.

Indications: Damp in the stomach and spleen and additional contraction of cold with signs such as aversion to cold, absence of sweating, generalized heaviness, abdominal distension and pain, nausea and vomiting, bland taste in the mouth, torpid intake, withered-yellow facial complexion, and thin sloppy stool. Tongue fur: White and slimy. Pulse: Tight and floating.

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Cāng zhú and Guì zhī disperse cold and eliminate dampness; they also warm and move spleen yáng. Combined with Má huáng, Xìng rén, and Zhì gān cǎo, this (but for the use of Cāng zhú as opposed to Bái zhú) makes Má huáng jiā zhú tāng (麻黄加朮汤 Ephedra Decoction Plus White Atractylodes), which eliminates exterior cold-damp. Cāng zhú and Guì zhī with Fú líng, Zhū líng, and Zé xiè makes Wǔ líng sǎn (五苓散 Poria Five Powder), which disinhibits water in the interior. Bàn xià, Shén qū, Chén pí, raw ginger, and cardamom warm and disperse center-burner cold-damp, as well as moving qì and harmonizing the stomach. Huáng qí with the Cāng zhú and cinnamon secures the exterior and upbears yáng.

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