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Source: Wēn Bìng Tiáo Biàn 温病条辨

Ingredients:

• Xī jiǎo (犀角 Rhinocerotis Cornu, rhinoceros horn) 1.5g
• Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]) 3g
• Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]) 3g
• Lián qiào xīn (连翘心 Forsythiae Semen, forsythia seed) 2g
• Zhú yè xīn (竹叶心 Lophatheri Folium Immaturum, tender lophatherum leaf) 2g
• Lián zǐ xīn (莲子心 Nelumbinis Plumula, lotus plumule) 1g

Action: Clears the heart and resolves toxin; nourishes yīn and engender liquid.

Indication: Excessive sweating in warm heat disease that causes damage to fluids and allows the evil to enter the pericardium, causing clouded spirit and delirious speech. Tongue: Red or crimson. Pulse: Fine and rapid.

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

Method: Decoct with water.

Rationale: Note that the original formula, in addition to specifying Lián qiào seed (连翘心, literally Lián qiào heart), Zhú yè xīn (竹叶心, literally bamboo leaf heart), and lotus embryo (莲子心 literally lotus seed heart), also specified Mài dōng with heart (连心麦冬, ophiopogon with heart) and Xuán shēn core (玄参心, literally Xuán shēn heart). These specifications all highlight the formula's action on the heart (心). The traditional practice of removing the central core of Mài dōng to prevent vexation has been demonstrated to be ineffectual, since the core and the outer part have more or less the same chemical constitution. This is an example of notion prevalent in Chinese medicine that a body part can be treated by the corresponding part of an animal or plant, similar to the Western idea of the doctrine of signatures.

Notes: The palace in the formula name refers to the heart and pericardium.

Similar: Qīng yíng tāng (清营汤 Provisioning-Clearing Decoction)

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