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Qinglong (Azure Dragon) is the spirit of Jia and Yi Wood in the East. It corresponds to Spring and governs the Liver. It exclusively issues the command of growth and is the master of spreading prosperity. When all things emerge from "Jia" (the first heavenly stem, symbolizing sprouting) and break open, they often have two branches. The liver has two lobes, corresponding to the shape of wood leaves. Therefore, it is called Qinglong because it can disperse pathogens that injure both Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi), which aligns with the nature of Liver Wood. Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) treats Zhongfeng (Wind Strike/Exterior Deficiency Syndrome), and Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) treats Shanghan (Cold Damage/Exterior Excess Syndrome); these two are pure exterior-dispersing formulas. However, Daqinglong Tang (Major Azure Dragon Decoction) is different. Although it is a sweating agent, its indications are not singular. It must be applied when a Zhongfeng syndrome presents with a floating and tight pulse, indicating Wind pathogen combined with Cold pathogen (Feng Han Liang Shang); or when a Shanghan syndrome presents with a floating and slow pulse, indicating Cold pathogen combined with Wind pathogen, also constituting Feng Han Liang Shang. Wind accompanied by Cold, and Cold accompanied by Wind, are precisely what Daqinglong Tang specializes in treating. Upon observing such pulses and symptoms, if one were to use only Guizhi Tang to release the muscle layer and dispel Wind, it could not eliminate the Cold, so the disease would not resolve. If one were to use only Mahuang Tang to induce sweating and scatter Cold, it could not remove the Wind, so the disease would remain. This is why Zhang Zhongjing specifically established Daqinglong Tang to resolve both simultaneously.

Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is sweet and warm; Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) is acrid and hot. Cold injures Ying (Nutritive Qi), so it must be moderated with sweet herbs. Wind injures Wei (Defensive Qi), so it must be dispersed with acrid herbs. This is because Wind and Cold have jointly injured, causing both Ying and Wei to be diseased. Therefore, sweet and acrid herbs are combined to form a dispersing agent. For patients with exterior deficiency and loose skin, Guizhi is the principal herb. Here, due to exterior excess and dense interstices (Couli), Mahuang is the principal herb. Thus, Mahuang is used first, followed by Guizhi; Mahuang serves as the Jun (Monarch) herb, and Guizhi as the Chen (Minister) herb. Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) is sweet and neutral; Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) is sweet and bitter. Bitter and sweet assist each other, helping Mahuang to release the exterior. Dazao (Ziziphi Jujubae Fructus) is sweet and warm; Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) is acrid. Warm, acrid, and sweet combine to help Guizhi release the muscle layer. Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is sweet, acrid, and slightly cold. Wind is a Yang pathogen; Cold is a Yin pathogen. Wind injures Yang; Cold injures Yin. Since Ying, Wei, Yin, and Yang are injured by both Wind and Cold, light agents alone cannot disperse them. Heavy and light agents must be used together to disperse them, so that both Yin and Yang pathogens are eliminated, and Ying and Wei Qi are harmonized. Therefore, Shigao is used as the Shi (Envoy) herb. Shigao is a heavy agent and specifically reaches the muscle and surface. Daqinglong Tang is a heavy sweating agent, distinct from Guizhi Tang. If used excessively, it may lead to Wang Yang (Loss of Yang Qi). The Classic states: "If the pulse is faint and weak, with sweating and aversion to wind, do not administer it. If administered, it will cause Jue Ni (cold extremities) and Jin Ti Rou Tiao (twitching of tendons and muscles). This is an adverse reaction." It further states: "After one dose, if sweating occurs, stop taking the remaining medicine. If taken again, excessive sweating will lead to loss of Yang Qi, resulting in deficiency, aversion to wind, irritability, and inability to sleep." From this, the weightiness or lightness of the dosage can be seen. When using decoctions, one should examine carefully.

Mahuang (Jun, 6 liang, remove nodes) Guizhi (Chen, 2 liang, remove bark) Gancao (Zuo, 1 liang, honey-fried) Xingren (Zuo, 40 seeds, remove skin and tips) Shengjiang (Zuo, 3 liang, sliced) Dazao (Zuo, 10 seeds, split) Shigao (Shi, size of a chicken egg, crushed)

The above seven ingredients. Use 9 sheng of water. First boil Mahuang, reduce by 2 sheng, remove the foam on the surface. Add the remaining herbs. Boil until 3 sheng remains. Strain. Take 1 sheng warm. Aim for slight perspiration. If sweating is excessive, use Wen Fen (Warm Powder) to stop it. After one dose, if sweating occurs, stop subsequent doses. If taken again, excessive sweating leads to loss of Yang Qi, resulting in deficiency (or reversal), aversion to wind, irritability, and insomnia.

Additionally, the Wen Fen Formula:
Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) Ben Cao (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma, here referring to Ligusticum sinense or similar aromatic root, often identified as Gaoben in context of external powder) Chuanxiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) Baizhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix) (equal parts)

Grind and sieve into fine powder. For every 1 liang of powder, mix with 3 liang of rice flour evenly. Dust over the whole body to stop sweating. Absence of Ben Cao is acceptable.