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Treats deficiency consumption (Xu Lao) with fever, or accompanied by asthma (Chuan) or cough (Sou), with a rapid and weak pulse.
Raw Dioscoreae Rhizoma (Shanyao, 1 liang) Raw Rehmanniae Radix (Dishengdi, 5 qian) Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Renshen, 4 qian) Scrophulariae Radix (Xuan Shen, 4 qian) Raw Haematitum (Sheng Zhe Shi, 4 qian, finely ground) Arctii Fructus (Niubangzi, 3 qian, stir-fried and crushed)
Asparagi Radix (Tiandong, 4 qian) Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 2 qian)

Deficiency consumption fever is generally attributed to Yin deficiency. In cases of Lung Yin deficiency, the patient suffers from internal heat steaming in the lungs, causing frequent itching and coughing;
in severe cases where there is damage in the lungs, slight movement triggers asthma and shortness of breath. Treatment should nourish Lung Yin and simultaneously clear heat and resolve phlegm. In cases of Kidney Yin deficiency, the patient experiences rebellious Qi rising due to Kidney failing to grasp Qi, leading to frequent coughing with upward rushing Qi, or even asthma. Treatment should fill the True Yin of the Lower Jiao and use astringent and descending agents. If the pulse is extremely rapid, Chen Xiuyuan suggested nourishing Spleen Yin. This is because the Spleen pulse is naturally harmonious and slow; a rapid pulse indicates injury to Spleen Yin. Therefore, within Yin-nourishing formulas, Gancao should be used to guide the medicinal action to the Spleen, combined with bland-tasting herbs such as Coicis Semen (Yimi) and Dendrobii Caulis (Shihu). However, the body's Yin covers a wide range, including all moist areas of the body.
Thus, in severe Yin deficiency, the blood vessels and body fluids throughout the body become dry and withered. Herbs with abundant juice must be used to nourish the Yin of the Zang-Fu organs and thereby irrigate the body fluids, such as Shanyao and Dihuang in this formula. Nevertheless, a rapid pulse indicates not only Yin deficiency but also Qi deficiency, manifesting as an inability to sustain effort, similar to a person trembling under a heavy load. Therefore, Renshen is used to tonify Qi, used together with cool and moistening herbs like Xuan Shen and Tiandong, which also assist in nourishing Yin. Furthermore, to prevent the ascending and tonifying nature of Renshen from being unsuitable for patients with cough and rebellious Qi, Zhe Shi, possessing strong descending pressure, is added as an assistant. This allows the tonifying power of Renshen to descend directly to Yongquan (KI-1), while rebellious Qi and floating fire in the Upper Jiao flow down with it; additionally, it enables the True Yuan Qi of the Lower Jiao to become vigorous instantly upon receiving the strong tonification of Renshen, thereby naturally attracting the rebellious Qi and floating fire of the Upper Jiao downward. The combination of Niubangzi and Shanyao is particularly effective in stopping cough, and the combination of Gancao and Tiandong is excellent for moistening the Lungs; these have been repeatedly verified as effective.

When this formula was first formulated, it originally did not contain Zhe Shi, but instead used 3 qian of Danshen to facilitate the transformation of Renshen's tonifying power. Later, I treated a young woman whose menstruation had ceased for several months, experiencing alternating chills and fever, continuous dry cough, asthma with rebellious Qi, chest and diaphragm fullness, loss of appetite, and a rapid pulse approaching seven beats per cycle. The original formula containing Danshen was ineffective. I replaced Danshen with Zhe Shi. After one dose, the cough and asthma improved significantly, the chest became open, and she could eat. After a few more doses, her pulse became harmonious. After taking twenty doses in total, all ailments were cured. Since then, whenever treating women with amenorrhea and blood exhaustion progressing to deficiency consumption, or accompanied by cough and fullness, I first administer this decoction to increase their appetite and strengthen their bodies, allowing menstruation to resume naturally. In occasional cases where dark blood stasis obstructs the meridians, or obvious masses are present, I follow up with Lizhong Tang or Lizhong Wan to dissolve them, making there no incurable diseases for women. If the patient usually feels shortness of breath in the chest or has loose stools, one must prevent the sinking of Da Qi (Great Qi) (see Shengxian Tang for details on Da Qi sinking). When using Liquan Yin, reduce Zhe Shi and Niubangzi, as well as all Su Zi, Gualou Ren, Ziwan, and Xingren used for treating cough.
Note: Shortness of breath (Duanqi) and asthma (Chuan) are fundamentally different. Shortness of breath involves difficulty exhaling and Qi failing to reach upwards. Asthma involves difficulty inhaling and Qi failing to descend downwards. Patients who are poor at describing symptoms often describe asthma as "Qi cannot come up." Therefore, in my clinical practice, whenever a patient claims "Qi cannot come up," I carefully inquire to determine whether it is difficult to exhale or inhale before daring to treat.

Furthermore, medical texts refer to cough and asthma as "Ke Ni" and asthma as "Chuan Ni" because these conditions often result from rebellious Qi affecting upwards. However, through clinical experience, I know that cough and asthma caused by Da Qi sinking are also common. The Lung hangs in the chest and relies on Da Qi to envelop and support it to have a foundation; Da Qi inspires it to enable peaceful breathing. When Da Qi sinks, its supporting power weakens, the Lung loses its foundation, and cough easily arises. When the inspiring mechanism stagnates, the Lung must struggle to breathe, and asthma easily occurs. I once treated a youth who recovered from diarrhea after half a year. Later, due to overexertion, he felt discomfort in the throat Qi, coughing every five or six breaths. I treated him with my proposed Shengxian Tang, and he recovered after a few doses.

Additionally, I once treated a man near fifty years old who suffered from chronic asthma. Due to lifting heavy loads, his old condition relapsed. Physicians prescribed medicine without effect. Upon examination, his pulse was rapid, nearing six beats per cycle, with a deep and soft quality. I suspected Yin deficiency failing to grasp Qi, but given the deep and soft pulse, I dared not use descending Qi herbs. Instead, I used large doses of Shudi, Sheng Shanyao, Gouqi, and Xuan Shen to strongly nourish True Yin, decocted as a soup, with 2 qian of small pieces of Renshen taken orally. After three doses, the pulse was no longer rapid but remained deep and soft; asthma lightened but did not cure. I reasoned that this condition resulted from exertion, causing Da Qi in the chest to sink, hence the deep and soft pulse. His aversion to cold in the back and tightness were also signs of Da Qi sinking. I treated him with Shengxian Tang, replacing Shengma, Chaihu, and Jiegeng with 3 qian of Guizhi tip. Because he had a history of failing to grasp Qi, Guizhi can raise Da Qi and also guide Qi back to the Kidney (principle detailed under Shen Zhe Zhenqi Tang). Additionally, I added Yin-nourishing herbs, and he recovered after a few doses (detailed case under Shengxian Tang). Note that the etiology of these two cases is completely different from the disease indicated by Liquan Yin, although the cough and asthma are similar. One must carefully read the postscript after Shengxian Tang and the recorded cases to understand the rationale for treating these two conditions. I attach them here lest clinicians misdiagnose and mistakenly use Liquan Yin.

Lou XX from Shenyang, aged 22, suffered from deficiency consumption cough, emaciated, with a rapid pulse of eight beats per cycle, disappearing upon pressure. Detailed inquiry revealed he had slept on a heated kang, woke up feeling heat in the heart, and since then vomited after meals. Nighttime cough was severe, preventing sleep. After more than twenty days of neglecting food and rest, he felt mental confusion and inability to sustain himself. Hearing this, I knew that although the pulse appearance was critical, it was still a new condition; if it were a long-standing illness to this extent, it would indeed be irrecoverable. I administered Liquan Yin. Due to his vomiting, I increased Zhe Shi to 1 liang (reason for heavy use of Zhe Shi detailed under Shen Zhe Zhenqi Tang). After one dose, vomiting stopped, he could eat, and cough improved. He had not had a bowel movement for five or six days previously; now his bowels moved. With such modifications, after three days, the rapid pulse improved. However, it remained slightly above six beats, and he still felt heat in the heart. I changed Xuan Shen and Sheng Di to 6 qian each. Also, daily at noon, I had him take white cane sugar water to swallow about 7 li of Aspirin (drug properties detailed under Maidong Tang). After a few days, all illnesses resolved, and the pulse returned to normal.

Su XX from Shenyang, aged around 30, suffered from labor-induced cough for two years without recovery, developing asthma upon exertion, and reduced appetite. Over ten physicians treated him with hundreds of doses of medicine with no effect, and his emaciation worsened. He came to the clinic for treatment. His pulse was rapid, six beats per cycle, fine and weak but with a root, indicating it was treatable. He stated he constantly felt heat in the Upper Jiao, and bowel movements occurred every three to four days, sometimes dry. I administered Liquan Yin. Due to his delayed and dry bowel movements, I changed Zhe Shi to 6 qian, and added 2 qian of Ji Neijin (finely crushed), fearing that long-term illness might cause stasis in the Zang-Fu organs and meridians. After a few doses, his appetite increased, he still felt heat occasionally, but his stool was no longer dry, occurring every other day. I removed 2 qian of Zhe Shi and added 2 qian of Zhimu, so that after taking the herbal decoction in the evening, he would take 1/4 grain of Aspirin with white cane sugar water to induce mild sweating. Later, I instructed him to take it during the day to avoid sweating. After a few days, he no longer felt feverish, and his pulse normalized, except the cough was not fully cured. I then prescribed 6 fen of Japanese Quinine, 4 fen of Menthol, mixed with Mung Bean Powder to make pills the size of paulownia seeds. Each dose was three pills, twice daily, while continuing the herbal decoction. After five or six days, the cough also healed, and his health was restored.