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Source: Shāng Hán Lùn 伤寒论

Ingredients:

• Yīn chén (茵陈 Artemisiae Scopariae Herba, virgate wormwood) 15–30g
• Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]) 9–15g
• Dà huáng (大黄 Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, rhubarb) 6–12g

Action: Clears heat and disinhibits dampness; abates jaundice.

Indication: Damp-heat jaundice characterized by an orangey yellow coloring of eyes (the color of mandarins), face and whole body, as well as by thirst, mild abdominal fullness, dark yellow urine, inhibited stool or constipation. Tongue: Red with yellow fur. Pulse: Slippery and rapid or sunken and replete. Contraindicated in cold-damp jaundice.

Category: Dampness-dispelling formulas / Heat-clearing dampness-dispelling formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Yīn chén bitter draining and downbearing agent; it clears heat and disinhibits damp affecting the liver and gallbladder, and courses liver and gallbladder depression. Being especially effective in eliminating dampness and abating jaundice, it is the sovereign agent in this formula. Zhī zǐ clears and drains triple burner damp-heat. These two agents together allow the damp-heat to pass out in the urine. Dà huáng, boiled for the full length of time (not added near the end) clears heat and dispels stasis, thereby treating another aspect of the pattern. The formula thus abates jaundice by eliminating the evils causing it.

Variations:

• Heat more pronounced than dampness: Add Huáng bǎi (黄柏 Phellodendri Cortex, phellodendron [bark]) and Lóng dǎn (龙胆 Gentianae Radix, gentian [root]).
• Dampness more pronounced than heat: Add Fú líng (茯苓 Poria , poria), Zé xiè (泽泻 Alismatis Rhizoma, alisma [tuber]), and Zhū líng (猪苓 Polyporus , polyporus).
• Unresolved exterior pattern with aversion to cold, heat effusion, and headache: Add Chái hú (柴胡 Bupleuri Radix, bupleurum [root]) and Huáng qín (黄芩 Scutellariae Radix, scutellaria [root]).
• Constipation: Increase the Dà huáng (大黄 Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, rhubarb) and add Zhǐ shí (枳实 Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, unripe bitter orange).
• Scant yellow urine: Add Jīn qián cǎo (金钱草 Lysimachiae Herba, moneywort) and Zé xiè (泽泻 Alismatis Rhizoma, alisma [tuber]).
• Pronounced jaundice: Add cuspidate polygonum and Pú gōng yīng (蒲公英 Taraxaci Herba, dandelion).
• Rib-side pain and abdominal distension: Add Yù jīn (郁金 Curcumae Radix, curcuma [root]), zhike, and Chuān liàn zǐ (川楝子 Toosendan Fructus, toosendan [fruit]).
• Abdominal distension and reduced eating: Add Shān zhā (山楂 Crataegi Fructus, crataegus [fruit]) and Mài yá (麦芽 Hordei Fructus Germinatus, barley sprout).

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