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Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction): Treats conditions where wind-cold pathogens are at the exterior, with a floating and weak pulse, spontaneous sweating, headache, fever, aversion to wind and cold, nasal congestion with humming sound, and dry retching. It is also applicable for miscellaneous diseases involving spontaneous sweating, night sweats, deficiency exhaustion, and deficient malaria. It is contraindicated if the pulse is floating and tight with no sweat, or in habitual drinkers who have wind-cold with sweating.

Ingredients: Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (3 liang), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (3 liang), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (3 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (2 liang), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (12 pieces).

Process: Take the above five herbs, add seven sheng of water, decoct to obtain three sheng of liquid. Take one sheng per dose. After taking the medicine, cover with blankets to induce slight perspiration. Do not allow profuse sweating like flowing water, otherwise the disease will not be resolved. If after taking one sheng, sweating occurs and the disease resolves, there is no need to finish the remaining decoction. After taking the medicine, drink a bowl of thin porridge to assist the medicinal power.

[Commentary]: Whenever wind-cold is at the exterior with a floating-weak pulse and spontaneous sweating, it belongs to Exterior Deficiency syndrome, and Guizhi Tang is indicated. Named Guizhi Tang because Guizhi is the Sovereign herb. Guizhi is acrid and warm; acridity disperses pathogens, and warmth supports Wei Qi (Defensive Qi) from the Yang aspect. Shaoyao is sour and cold; sourness consolidates sweat, and cold nourishes Ying Qi (Nutritive Blood) in the Yin aspect. Guizhi as Sovereign and Shaoyao as Minister implies containing the intent of consolidating sweat within dispersion; Shaoyao assisting Guizhi implies leaving a pathway for slight sweating within surface consolidation. The acridity of Shengjiang assists Guizhi in resolving the muscle and exterior; the sweetness of Dazao assists Shaoyao in harmonizing Ying Qi and the interior. Gancao is sweet and neutral, possessing the ability to stabilize the interior and repel the exterior; it is used to harmonize Middle Jiao Qi, thereby harmonizing the exterior and interior, and harmonizing all herbs. Relying on the mutual assistance of Guizhi and Shaoyao, and the harmony of Shengjiang and Dazao, aided by Gancao’s harmonizing action to coordinate Yang-exterior and Yin-interior, Qi-Wei and Blood-Ying, proceeding together without conflict, this achieves harmony through the combination of rigid and soft. The essence lies in drinking hot thin porridge shortly after administration to boost medicinal power. Since grain Qi fills the interior, it not only facilitates the brewing of sweat but also prevents pathogens already entered from lingering slightly and future pathogens from re-entering. Another subtlety lies in taking the medicine warm and maintaining this for about an hour, resulting in slight apparent sweating; this teaches the method of inducing slight sweating. Profuse sweating like flowing water is prohibited, warning against excessive sweating. This formula is the crown among Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas, being the primary formula for resolving the muscle layer, inducing sweating, and harmonizing Ying and Wei. For Wind Strike or Cold Damage with floating-weak pulse and spontaneous sweating where the exterior is not resolved, it serves as the main treatment. In other cases, seeing one or two symptoms is sufficient; all symptoms need not be present. Therefore, sweating agents like Mahuang Tang, Gegen Tang, and Da Qinglong Tang often incorporate it. If there is no sweat, it is a Mahuang Tang pattern; a floating-tight pulse indicates Mahuang’s indication, so Guizhi Tang is naturally contraindicated. However, in early stages with no sweat, Mahuang Tang should be used for sweating; if restlessness recurs after sweating with a floating-rapid pulse; or if the pulse remains floating and Qi rushes upward after purgation; or if diarrhea stops after purgation but body pain persists, this formula is used to resolve the exterior. Why? Although the exterior is unresolved, the couli (pores) are loose, pathogens are in the muscle layer rather than the skin/hair, and fluids are damaged due to prior sweating and purging. Thus, although the pulse and symptoms resemble Mahuang Tang, the treatment belongs to Guizhi Tang. Unskilled doctors erroneously claim Guizhi Tang treats only Wind Strike and not Cold Damage, causing hesitation; or that it only disperses the muscle layer and treats no other diseases. They do not know that doubling Shaoyao and Shengjiang and adding Renshen creates Guizhi Xinjia Tang (Newly Added Cinnamon Twig Decoction) for Ying-Exterior deficiency-cold with limb pain; doubling Shaoyao and adding Yitang creates Xiaojianzhong Tang (Minor Construct the Middle Decoction) for Interior deficiency palpitations and abdominal urgency/pain; adding Huangqi creates Huangqi Jianzhong Tang for deficiency exhaustion, deficient heat, spontaneous and night sweats. Thus, Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas can treat hundred diseases.

Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction): Treats Taiyang wind-cold at the exterior, with stiffness and pain in the head and neck, fever, body ache, lower back pain, bone and joint pain, aversion to wind and cold, no sweat, chest fullness, facial redness, and wheezing. The pulse may be floating-tight or floating-rapid. Use this to induce sweating. However, even with these symptoms, if the pulse is floating-weak with spontaneous sweating, or if the Chi position pulse is faint and slow, it is contraindicated. It is most suitable for Bi syndrome caused by wind-cold-dampness, lung meridian obstruction with confusion and muteness, and cold-wind asthma.

Ingredients: Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 3 liang), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (2 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 1 liang), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) (skin and tip removed, 60 pieces).

Process: Take the above four herbs, add nine sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang, reducing by two sheng, remove the foam on top. Add the other herbs, decoct to obtain two and a half sheng. Strain and take eight ge warm. Cover warmly to induce slight sweating; no porridge is needed. If sweating occurs after one dose, stop subsequent doses. If sweating is excessive, apply warm powder to the body.

[Commentary]: Whenever wind-cold is at the exterior with a floating-tight-rapid pulse and no sweat, it belongs to Exterior Excess syndrome, and Mahuang Tang is indicated. Named Mahuang Tang because Mahuang is the Sovereign herb. Mahuang is warm, acrid and bitter, its action being rapid ascent. Guizhi is warm, acrid and sweet, its capacity being surface consolidation. Since the syndrome is Excess, Mahuang is used as the decisive strategy. Guizhi acts as a monitor to regulate it. Xingren’s bitter-warmness assists Mahuang in expelling pathogens and descending rebellious Qi; Gancao’s sweet-neutrality assists Guizhi in harmonizing the interior and resisting the exterior. Upon entering the stomach, Qi moves in the Yuan Fu (Qi Gates), essence is transported to the skin and hair. Thus, hair and vessel essence combine, and sweat pours forth. Pathogens at the exterior are completely expelled, pain ceases, wheezing flattens, and cold/heat resolve instantly. No porridge is needed as sweat relies on grain Qi. Ginger and Jujube are omitted because Shengjiang’s nature spreads horizontally in the muscle, hindering Mahuang’s rapid ascent; Dazao’s nature is sticky in the diaphragm, hindering Xingren’s rapid descent. This aims for direct and swift action; any delay hinders speed, horizontal spreading hinders ascent. As a pure Yang formula, it is overly dispersing, like a general charging straight in. Used correctly, victory is won in one battle; incorrectly, failure brings disaster. Thus, it can be used once but not twice. If unresolved after sweating, substitute with Guizhi Tang. This is Zhang Zhongjing’s first harsh/decocting formula for opening the exterior and expelling pathogens. Ignorant practitioners do not know its harshness depends on warming covers to induce sweat; without this, it is not harsh. The world says Mahuang only releases the exterior and treats no other diseases. They do not know combining this with Guizhi Tang creates Magui Ge Ban Tang (Half-Half Cinnamon and Ephedra Decoction) to harmonize lingering cold-heat in Taiyang. Removing Xingren and adding Shigao combined with Guizhi Tang creates Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang (Two Parts Cinnamon Twig, One Part Yuebi Decoction) to resolve Taiyang heat-dominant/cold-minor cold-heat. If Yang is excess internally with no sweat, there is Mahuang Xingren Gancao Shigao Tang to disperse Taiyin Lung pathogens. If Yin is excess internally with no sweat, there is Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Gancao Tang to warm-disperse Shaoyin Kidney cold. *Jingui Yaolue* removes Guizhi from this formula; *Qianjin Fang* replaces Guizhi with Guixin, both named Huanhun Tang (Return Soul Decoction) for Taiyin pathogens causing sudden syncope, jaw lock, and breath cessation, effective upon swallowing, without requiring warm covers for sweating. Thus, the harshness of Mahuang Tang depends on warm covers. This is Zhang Zhongjing’s secret method of using formulas, inaccessible to ordinary people!

Da Qinglong Tang (Great Blue Dragon Decoction): Treats Taiyang suffering from both wind and cold, with simultaneous Ying and Wei pathology. A Taiyin Cold-Damage pulse showing Wind-Strike symptoms, or a Wind-Strike pulse showing Cold-Damage symptoms, where neither presents with sweat but both show irritability, use this to resolve both via sweating. Contraindicated if the pulse is faint-weak with spontaneous sweating; ingestion will cause Yang collapse.

Ingredients: Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 6 liang), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (2 liang), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) (skin and tip removed, 40 pieces), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 2 liang), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (sliced, 3 liang), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (split, 12 pieces), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) (crushed, wrapped in silk bag, size of a chicken egg).

Process: Take the above seven herbs, add nine sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang, reducing by two sheng, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain three sheng. Strain and take one sheng warm to induce slight sweating. If sweating is excessive, apply warm powder. If one dose induces sweating, stop subsequent doses. Excessive sweating causes Yang collapse, leading to deficiency, aversion to wind, irritability, and inability to sleep.

[Commentary]: How do we know it is wind-cold dual injury and Ying-Wei simultaneous pathology, with Cold-Damage pulse showing Wind-Strike symptoms, etc.? Named Da Qinglong Tang, taking the meaning of dragon raising clouds and rain. Treating wind relies on Guizhi; treating cold relies on Mahuang. Combining Guizhi Tang and Mahuang Tang forms this agent, hence it is the main treatment for combined wind-cold injury. Both syndromes lack sweat, so Shaoyao is reduced to avoid astringency. Both syndromes show irritability, so Shigao is added to clear heat. If no irritability, one should resort to Magui Ge Ban Tang. Zhang Zhongjing adds large-cold, acrid-sweet herbs to exterior formulas, indicating Mahuang syndrome fever is entirely at the exterior; Da Qinglong syndrome irritability involves the muscle interior. Using Shigao early in Taiyang illness works because it is acrid to resolve muscle heat, cold to clear Stomach fire, and sweet to generate fluids—this is the preemptive move to protect Yang and preserve fluids. Unskilled doctors doubt and fear it, failing to use it when needed, inevitably leading to Heat binding in Yangming, macules, jaundice, mania, and various transformations. From this, we see Shigao is a key herb for Wind Strike and Cold Damage; with Mahuang and Guizhi it earns the name Qinglong; with Gancao it earns the name Baihu. Post-administration requires slight sweating; excessive sweating is treated with warm powder. One dose inducing sweat means stopping further doses, warning that even appropriate sweating cases must not be over-treated. Hence, Zhang Zhongjing omits Mahuang in Guizhi Tang to avoid excessive sweating; he includes Guizhi in Mahuang Tang to prevent uncontrolled sweating. Failure to observe these methods leads to excessive sweating and Yang collapse, generating reverse syndromes. The exterior becomes empty and unable to withstand wind; Yin excess repels Yang, causing worse irritability and insomnia.

Xiao Qinglong Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction): Treats Cold-Damage exterior unresolved, with fluid retention in the epigastrium, dry retching, fever, and cough. Or thirst, or diarrhea, or throat obstruction, or urinary difficulty with lower abdominal fullness, or wheezing. Also applicable for miscellaneous diseases presenting with skin distension and edema, using this to induce sweating and promote urination.

Ingredients: Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 3 liang), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (3 liang), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) (half sheng), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 3 liang), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) (2 liang), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum) (washed, half sheng), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (3 liang), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) (3 liang).

Process: Take the above eight herbs, add ten sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang, reducing by two sheng, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain three sheng. Strain and take one sheng warm. Modifications: If thirsty, remove Banxia and add Gualougen (Trichosanthis Radix) 3 liang. If throat obstruction, remove Mahuang and add Pao Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) 1 piece. If urinary difficulty/lower abdominal fullness, remove Mahuang and add Fuling (Poria) 4 liang. If wheezing, remove Mahuang and add Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) (skin/tip removed) half sheng. If mild diarrhea, remove Mahuang and add Raohua (Edwardsiae Radix) size of a chicken egg (roasted until red).

[Note]: "Add Raohua size of a chicken egg, roasted until red" is likely a transcription error. Bencao states Wuhua is similar to Yuanhua (Genkwa Flos), which is very harsh for draining water; 5 fen can cause dozens of bowel movements. It is unlikely that for mild diarrhea from fluid retention, one would use a chicken-egg-sized dose of Raohua. It should be changed to adding Fuling 4 liang.

[Commentary]: There are two types of fluid retention in Taiyang: one is Wind-Strike, exterior deficiency with sweat, indicated by Wuling San; the other is Cold-Damage, exterior excess without sweat, indicated by Xiao Qinglong Tang. Exterior excess without sweat necessitates combining Mahuang and Guizhi formulas to resolve the exterior. Dazao is removed due to its stickiness. Xingren is removed because there is no wheezing (add if present). Shengjiang is removed because Ganjiang is present (use Shengjiang if vomiting occurs). Assisted by Ganjiang and Xixin, extremely warm and dispersing, allowing cold and water to resolve via sweat. Banxia assists in driving out phlegm-fluids to clear residual fluid. Wuweizi assists in收敛 (astringing) Lung Qi to conserve consumed Qi. If thirsty, remove Banxia and add Huafen (Trichosanthis Radix) to avoid dryness and generate fluids. For mild diarrhea, throat obstruction, urinary difficulty, and lower abdominal fullness, remove Mahuang to move from exterior to interior. Add Fuzi to stop obstruction and dispel cold. Add Fuling to promote urination, resolving mild diarrhea and lower abdominal fullness. This formula, along with Yuebi Tang, treats water-fluid overflowing to the exterior causing skin distension and edema, suitable for resolution via sweating. Yuebi Tang treats heat, using Shigao as Sovereign to disperse Yang-water. Xiao Qinglong Tang treats cold, assisted by Jiang and Gui to dissipate Yin-water.

Gegen Tang (Kudzu Decoction): Treats concurrent disease of Taiyang and Yangming meridians, with stiffness and pain in the head and neck, pulling stiffness in the back, floating pulse, no sweat, and aversion to wind. Also applicable when the exterior is unresolved accompanied by diarrhea and vomiting. Indicated for inducing sweating.

Ingredients: Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) (4 liang), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 3 liang), Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (2 liang), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (2 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 2 liang), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (sliced, 2 liang), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (split, 12 pieces).

Process: Take the above seven herbs, add ten sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang and Gegen, reducing by two sheng, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain three sheng. Take one sheng warm. Cover to induce slight apparent sweating; no porridge is needed. Rest follow Guizhi Tang care instructions and contraindications.

[Commentary]: This formula is Guizhi Tang plus Mahuang and Gegen. Mahuang assists Guizhi to sweat Taiyang Ying-Wei; Gegen assists Guizhi to resolve Yangming muscle-exterior pathogens. It is not named Guizhi Tang plus Mahuang/Gegen, but Gegen Tang, emphasizing Yangming, as vomiting and diarrhea belong more to Yangming. When both Yang meridians’ exterior is urgent, without warm intake and covering to induce sweat, the exterior is hard to resolve. Vomiting or diarrhea indicates Interior disharmony; even with porridge, the Stomach cannot transport essence to skin/hair, hence no porridge is needed. Ke Qin said: This syndrome lacks body/back/joint pain and aversion to cold, indicating bones are not affected by cold. Head/neck stiffness extending to the back with restless pulling indicates tendons injured by wind. No wheezing, irritability, or dry retching indicates the Interior is unaffected. No sweat and aversion to wind indicate the disease is solely at the Exterior. If Exterior disease accompanies diarrhea, it is Exterior Excess and Interior Deficiency. It is milder than Mahuang and Qinglong patterns, but neck/back stiffness is more severe than simple neck stiffness without sweat, still retaining Exterior characteristics. However, the pulse is floating not tight, so it does not follow Mahuang Tang. Instead, it modifies Guizhi Tang by adding Mahuang and doubling Gegen to remove Excess, slightly altering the Mahuang-Guizhi method. Gegen is the Sovereign herb of Yangming. Whenever Taiyang involves Yangming, it is added to Taiyang herbs; whenever Shaoyang involves Yangming, it is added to Shaoyang herbs—there is no case where it cannot be used. Li Gao designated it as a Yangming Meridian herb. Zhang Jiegu said: Do not administer if pathogens have not entered Yangming. Did these two not read Zhang Zhongjing’s books? One must know Gegen and Guizhi are both muscle-resolving and Interior-harmonizing herbs. Thus, they are usable with or without sweat, with or without diarrhea, differing from Mahuang which specializes in releasing the Exterior. *Jingui Yaolue* treats Taiyang disease with no sweat, urine unexpectedly scant, Qi rushing to the chest, jaw lock and inability to speak, impending Gang Jing (Stiff Spasm).

[Collected Commentary]: Yu Chang said: For Cold-Damage with stiff neck/back, no sweat, and aversion to wind, Gegen Tang is used. This syndrome uses it too, because the pathogen is at the boundary of Taiyang and Yangming. Heat from both meridians converges in the chest, damaging Lung Metal’s clearing/descending Qi, causing water pathways to fail, scant urine, fluid distribution failure, and no sweat. Yangming tendons knot internally at the stomach gate, run externally through the chest, pass Yingling and around the mouth. Heat merging into Yangming causes tendon/muscle traction, jaw lock, and inability to speak. However, Gang Jing with no sweat must resolve via sweating. Moreover, damp-heat constrained internally must cease when sweat returns to normal. Thus, this decoction resolves damp-heat in both meridians and wind-cold at the exterior; the method has no harm in similarity.

Guizhi Mahuang Ge Ban Tang (Half-Half Cinnamon Twig and Ephedra Decoction): Taiyang disease, after eight or nine days, resembling malaria with fever and aversion to cold, heat dominant over cold, patient does not vomit, stool and urine are relatively normal, occurring two or three times a day. If the pulse is faint and slow, recovery is imminent. If the pulse is faint with aversion to cold, this indicates simultaneous Yin and Yang deficiency; do not use sweating, purging, or vomiting again. If the face shows abnormal redness, the disease is not resolved because small amounts of sweat cannot be released, causing body itching. Use Guizhi Mahuang Ge Ban Tang.

Ingredients: Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (1 liang 6 zhu), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (1 liang), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 1 liang), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (1 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 1 liang), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (split, 4 pieces), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) (skin/tip removed, 24 pieces).

Process: Take the above seven herbs, add five sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang for one or two boils, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain one sheng eight he. Strain and take six ge warm.

[Commentary]: Taiyang disease after eight or nine days presents with malaria-like chills and fever. Heat dominant over cold, no vomiting, clear urine/stool indicates Interior harmony and resistance to pathogens; although self-healing is possible, one must examine if the malaria-like chills/fever occur lightly two or three times daily. If the pulse is faint and slow, it indicates pathogen decline and Zheng Qi recovery, suggesting Exterior-Interior harmony and imminent recovery. If the pulse is faint but not slow, Zheng Qi has not recovered; with increased aversion to cold, the pathogen has not declined. Although self-healing is impossible, previous sweating/vomiting/purging has weakened the Exterior-Interior, so do not use sweating/vomiting/purging again. Faint pulse and aversion to cold indicate Exterior-Interior deficiency; the face should be pale, but now it is red, indicating lingering Exterior pathogen constraint preventing slight sweat release to vent Yang Qi. Thus, red face and body itch indicate unresolved disease. Use Guizhi Mahuang Ge Ban Tang to induce slight sweating and harmonize Ying-Wei, ensuring recovery.

Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang (Two Parts Cinnamon Twig, One Part Ephedra Decoction): After taking Guizhi Tang, profuse sweating occurs with a洪大 (Surging-Large) pulse. Give Guizhi Tang as before. If the condition resembles malaria, occurring twice a day, sweating will resolve it. Use Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang.

Ingredients: Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (1 liang 16 zhu), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (1 liang 6 zhu), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (de-stemmed, 16 zhu), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (1 liang 2 zhu), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) (skin/tip removed, 16 pieces), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (1 liang 6 zhu), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (split, 5 pieces).

Process: Take the above seven herbs, add five sheng of water. First decoct Mahuang for one or two boils, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain two sheng. Strain and take one sheng warm, twice daily.

[Commentary]: After Guizhi Tang, profuse sweating with Surging-Large pulse without resolution: if accompanied by irritability and thirst, the Exterior pathogen has entered Yangming, indicating Baihu Tang syndrome. Now, although the pulse is Surging-Large, there is no irritability/thirst, so the pathogen remains in Taiyang. Give Guizhi Tang as before. If the pulse is not Surging-Large, high fever subsides, leaving only malaria-like chills/fever occurring twice daily: although this is a light pathogen, it is held by minor cold and will not resolve without sweating. Use Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang to slightly sweat Ying-Wei. Magui Ge Ban Tang is not used because profuse sweating has already occurred; we do not want to excessively sweat Ying-Wei, but rather harmonize Ying-Wei sweat.

Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang (Two Parts Cinnamon Twig, One Part Yuebi Decoction): Taiyang disease with fever, aversion to cold, heat dominant over cold. If the pulse is faint-weak, this indicates "No Yang"; do not sweat again. Use Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang.

Ingredients: Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) (1 liang 6 zhu), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (1 liang), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle) (roasted, 1 liang 3 zhu), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) (24 zhu), Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (16 zhu), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) (split, 5 pieces), Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) (sliced, 1 liang 6 zhu).

Process: Take the above seven herbs, add five sheng of water. Boil Mahuang for one or two boils, remove foam. Add other herbs, decoct to obtain two sheng. Strain and take one sheng warm, twice daily. This formula should ideally be prepared as separate Yuebi Tang and Guizhi Tang, each drinking one sheng. Now combined into one formula, named Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang.