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Source: Tài Píng Shèng Huì Fāng 太平圣惠方

Ingredients

• Dàn dòu chǐ (淡豆豉 Sojae Semen Praeparatum, fermented soybean¹) 15–20g
• Jīng jiè (荆芥 Schizonepetae Herba, schizonepeta) 3–6g
• Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra) 1–2g
• Gé gēn (葛根 Puerariae Radix, pueraria [root]) 20–30g
• Zhī zǐ (栀子 Gardeniae Fructus, gardenia [fruit]) 3g
• Shēng shí gāo (生石膏 Gypsum Crudum, crude gypsum) 60–90g
• Cōng bái (葱白 Allii Fistulosi Bulbus, scallion white) 2 stalks
• Jīng mǐ (粳米 Oryzae Semen, non-glutinous rice) 60g

Actions: Promotes sweating and clears heat.

Indications: Common cold and influenza with persistent high fever with rapid panting due to lung heat, headache, absence of sweating, vexation and agitation, insomnia, dry pharynx, and thirst. In modern clinical practice, this formula is considered suitable for any heat effusion with absence of sweating, due to viral infection.

Method: Boil all the medicinal agents together for 5–10 minutes only, and then boil the rice in the strained decoction.

Rationale: Dàn dòu chǐ resolves externally contracted evils in the body's exterior. Combined with Zhī zǐ, it treats vexation due to external contraction. Jīng jiè suì dispels wind and resolves the exterior and can be used for either wind-cold or wind-heat in the exterior. Modern research shows it to have a mild sweat-inducing action. Má huáng promotes sweating and abates heat effusion, its action being greatly enhanced by the addition of Shí gāo. Gé gēn is sweet, moist, and balanced to cool. It abates heat effusion and allays thirst. It is effective for common cold and influenza with persistent heat effusion whether or not there is thirst or sweating. Modern research shows that it is an effective antipyretic, and that it can also be used for headache and neck pain due to hypertension, as well as angina pectoris.

Similar: Zhī zǐ chǐ tāng (栀子豉汤 Gardenia and Fermented Soybean Decoction)

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