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Source: Wēn Bìng Tiáo Biàn 温病条辨

Ingredients:

• Xī jiǎo (犀角 Rhinocerotis Cornu, rhinoceros horn) 1–3g
• Shēng dì huáng (生地黄 Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens, dried/fresh rehmannia [root]) 15–30g
• Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]) 6–12g
• Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]) 6–12g
• Yín huā (银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]) 10–15g
• Lián qiào (连翘 Forsythiae Fructus, forsythia [fruit]) 6–15g
• Dān shēn (丹参 Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, salvia [root]) 6–15g
• Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]) 3–6g
• Zhú yè xīn (竹叶心 Lophatheri Folium Immaturum, tender lophatherum leaf) 3–6g

Action: Clear provisioning and resolves toxin; discharges heat and nourishes yīn.

Indication: Evil heat entering provisioning-blood in warm heat disease. Signs: high fever, vexation and agitation, periodic delirious speech, thirst (may be absent), and dry lips and bleeding gums. Tongue: Red or crimson, either smooth or prickly. There may also be faint maculopapular eruptions. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

Category: Heat-clearing formulas / Provisioning-clearing blood-cooling formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Xī jiǎo is a cold salty agent that clears and resolves provisioning-aspect heat toxin. Xuán shēn, Shēng dì huáng, and Mài dōng help the Xī jiǎo in this function; they can also clear and nourish yīn blood, preventing excessive damage to yīn. Huáng lián, Jīn yín huā, Lián qiào, and Zhú yè xīn clear provisioning and resolve toxin, and thrust the evil out through the qì aspect and prevent it from falling inwards into the pericardium or from stirring the blood. Dān shēn not only clears heat and cools the blood, but also quickens the blood and disperses stasis, thus preventing the heat from causing blood amassment.

Variations:

• If heat is more exuberant in the qì aspect than the provisioning aspect, increase the Jīn yín huā (金银花 Lonicerae Flos, lonicera [flower]), Lián qiào (连翘 Forsythiae Fructus, forsythia [fruit]), Huáng lián (黄连 Coptidis Rhizoma, coptis [root]), and Dàn zhú yè (淡竹叶 Lophatheri Herba, lophatherum), and reduce the Xī jiǎo (犀角 Rhinocerotis Cornu, rhinoceros horn), Shú dì huáng (熟地黄 Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata, cooked rehmannia [root]), and Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]), and add Shí gāo (石膏 Gypsum Fibrosum, gypsum), Bǎn lán gēn (板蓝根 Isatidis Radix, isatis root), Lú gēn (芦根 Phragmitis Rhizoma, phragmites [root]), and Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint).
• Clouded spirit and delirious speech (heat entering the pericardium): Take angongniuhuangwan or zhibaodan with this formula.
• Convulsions: Add Dì lóng (地龙 Pheretima , earthworm) and Gōu téng (钩藤 Uncariae Ramulus cum Uncis, uncaria [stem and thorn]) or zixue.

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