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Source: Shāng Hán Liù Shū 伤寒六书

Ingredients:

• Huáng qí (黄芪 Astragali Radix, astragalus [root]) 12g
• Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 10g
• Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) 6g
• Sháo yào (芍药 Paeoniae Radix, peony [root]) 6g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) (mix–fried) 3g
• Shú fù zǐ (熟附子 Aconiti Radix Lateralis Conquita, cooked aconite [accessory root]) 6g
• Xì xīn (细辛 Asari Rhizoma et Radix, asarum) 3g
• Qiāng huó (羌活 Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, notopterygium [root]) 6g
• Fáng fēng (防风 Saposhnikoviae Radix, saposhnikovia) 6g
• Chuān xiōng (川芎 Chuanxiong Rhizoma, chuanxiong [rhizome]) 6g
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) (roasted) 5 slices
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 2 pieces

Action: Assists yáng, boosts qì, and resolves the exterior.

Indication: External contraction of wind-cold in yáng qì vacuity patients. Signs: headache, heat effusion, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, stiffness of the nape and back, lassitude of spirit and hypersomnia, somber white facial complexion, and faint low voice. Tongue: Pale with white fur. Pulse: Sunken and forceless or large, floating, and forceless.

Category: Exterior-resolving formulas / Right-supporting exterior-resolving formulas

Method: Decoct twice with water for two doses.

Dosage: Two packs a day.

Rationale: Guì zhī, Qiāng huó, Fáng fēng, Xì xīn, Chuān xiōng, and fresh finger are warm acrid sweat-effusing agents that course the exterior and disperse cold. Because this formula addresses absence of sweating and aversion to cold due to yáng debilitation and qì vacuity, these agents alone are not only insufficient to cause sweating and expel the evil but would only exacerbate the vacuity. Hence Huáng qí and Rén shēn —or Dǎng shēn— boost qì to resolve the exterior. Fù zǐ helps yáng to produce sweat. Since sweat and blood are of the same source, Bái sháo and Dà zǎo are used to nourish the blood to produce sweat. Bái sháo's sour constraining action combined with Huáng qí balances the power of the sweat-effusing agents.

Similar: Má huáng fù zǐ xì xīn tāng (麻黄附子细辛汤 Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction)

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