Library

[Can Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction)]
Indicated for cold-dampness invasion presenting with headache, fever, aversion to cold, cough, thick and sticky nasal discharge and sputum, chest and diaphragm fullness and oppression, weak pulse, and absence of sweating.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) 8 fen, Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf) 8 fen, Gan Ge (Kudzu Root) 8 fen, Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) 8 fen, Chen Pi (Citrus Reticulatae Pericarpium) 8 fen, Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus) 8 fen, Fu Ling (Poria) 8 fen, Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) 8 fen, Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) 5 fen, Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) 5 fen, Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 5 fen, Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) 5 slices, Da Zao (Jujube Fruit) 1 piece.
Decoct these ingredients in water, take hot, and induce sweating.

[Annotation] When affected by wind-cold, if the pathogen transmits to the Taiyang channel, since Taiyang governs the exterior, Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) are used to induce sweating from Ying and Wei. If the pathogen affects the Taiyin channel, it does not transmit, because Taiyin governs the Lung; thus, this decoction is used to disperse wind-cold from the skin and hair externally and to ventilate Lung Qi internally. Generally, where pathogenic factors gather, Zheng Qi (Vital Qi) must be deficient; therefore, Ren Shen (Ginseng) is used as the sovereign herb to tonify deficiency. The skin and hair are the external correspondence of the Lung; when the Lung is invaded by wind-cold, the skin and hair are affected first, resulting in exterior symptoms such as headache, anhidrosis, fever, and aversion to cold. Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf), Ge Gen (Kudzu Root), and Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) are used as minister herbs to disperse the pathogen. Once the Lung is invaded, turbid qi forms in the chest; therefore, Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), and Er Chen Tang (Two-Cured Decoction) are used to clear turbidity, thereby eliminating symptoms such as cough, thick sticky discharge, and chest fullness. Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix) is added to circulate Qi in the interior. Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Da Zao (Jujube Fruit) are added to harmonize Qi in the exterior. Thus, the Qi of the interior and exterior is harmonized, and harmony leads to resolution. Removing Ren Shen (Ginseng) and adding Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Rhizoma), and replacing Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) with Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix) creates Xiong Su Yin (Ligusticum and Perilla Decoction). It treats cases with excess Qi and fire, and can also be added for severe headaches. For wheezing and cough, add Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) to descend Qi, and Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex) to drain Lung heat. Combined with Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction), it becomes Fu Ling Bu Xin Tang (Poria Heart-Tonifying Decoction), suitable for treating dual deficiency of Qi and Blood, postpartum deficiency with hematemesis due to exhaustion, and cough from wind-cold invasion.

[Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San (Patchouli Powder to Rectify the Qi)]
Indicated for external invasion of abnormal Qi of the four seasons combined with internal retention of food, presenting with headache, alternating chills and fever, or cholera-like vomiting and diarrhea, or malaria.
Huo Xiang (Agastaches Herba), Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix), Zi Su (Perilla Herb), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Hou Po (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Da Fu Pi (Arecae Pericarpium), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Chen Pi (Citrus Reticulatae Pericarpium), Gan Cao (Licorice Root).
These ten ingredients, plus Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Da Zao (Jujube Fruit), are decocted in water and taken hot.

[Collected Annotations] Wu Kun stated: Abnormal Qi of the four seasons enters through the nose, residing in the interior rather than the exterior; therefore, heavy sweating to release the exterior is not used. Instead, aromatic herbs that promote Qi circulation are used to rectify the interior. Zi Su (Perilla), Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica), Chen Pi (Tangerine Peel), Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel), Hou Po (Magnolia Bark), and Jie Geng (Platycodon) are all potent in aroma and Qi-moving properties, thus capable of rectifying abnormal Qi. Fu Ling (Poria), Ban Xia (Pinellia), and Gan Cao (Licorice) are sweet and neutral herbs used to cultivate Middle Qi. If the disease is in the Taiyang channel, this decoction has no relevance. In cases of Shang Han (Cold Damage) with a deep pulse and fever, or in individuals with original Qi deficiency, or those with heat due to yin collapse, caution is advised. Additionally, Jin Bu Huan Zheng Qi San (Golden Imperishable Qi-Rectifying Powder) consists of Ping Wei San (Peaceful Stomach Powder) plus Ban Xia (Pinellia) and Huo Xiang (Patchouli). It is indicated for mountain miasma, acclimatization issues upon travel, vomiting, diarrhea, and dysentery. Ping Wei San (Peaceful Stomach Powder) can calm damp-earth and eliminate miasma; the drying nature of Ban Xia (Pinellia) awakens the Spleen, and the fragrance of Huo Xiang (Patchouli) opens the stomach. It is named "Zheng Qi" (Rectifying Qi) because it corrects abnormal Qi.

62. Shen Shu Tang (Divine Atractylodes Decoction)
Mainly treats external cold invasion and internal injury from raw/cold food during the three seasons (spring, summer, autumn) leading to fever, as well as Spleen-type diarrhea and intestinal wind bleeding.
Bai Zhu (Atractodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 3 qian, Fang Feng (Saposhnikoviae Radix) 2 qian, Gan Cao (Licorice Root) 1 qian.
These three ingredients: for absence of sweating, use Cang Zhu (Atractodis Rhizoma) plus Cong Bai (Scallion White) and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger); for presence of sweating, use Bai Zhu (Atractodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) and Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger).

[Collected Annotations] Ke Qin stated: This is Wang Haogu's favored prescription, modeled after Zhang Zhongjing's Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) and Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction), but formulated as a mild agent. However, this is a Taiyin channel formula; it can regulate wind-dampness in the Spleen and Stomach but cannot treat wind-cold in the Taiyang channel, exterior syndromes in the Yangming channel, or half-exterior/half-interior conditions in the Shaoyang channel. As stated in Nei Jing (Inner Canon): Wind injury in spring with lingering pathogen causing profuse diarrhea, which manifests as incomplete digestion diarrhea (Sun Xie) or bloody dysentery (Chang Pi) in summer, is suitable for this. If cold injury occurs in winter and transforms into warm disease in spring, this formula is inappropriate. Modern practitioners, unaware of Zhang Zhongjing's principles, fear that Ma Huang (Ephedra) and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) harm the body, relying on this mild formula for safety. They do not realize that disharmony of Ying and Wei cannot be substituted by herbs that harmonize the Spleen and Stomach; excess patterns in the Stomach cannot be treated with tonifying herbs; and conditions involving fluctuating Minister Fire of the Liver/Gallbladder or mutual conflict of Water/Fire in the Shaoyin cannot be managed merely by drying agents. One must first understand the principles of herbs to grasp the application of formulas; understanding formulas allows one to use them flexibly without being rigid. If the disease is in the Taiyang channel, inducing sweating via the Yangming channel is like inviting thieves to destroy the house; did Zhang Jieguc only speak for Ge Gen (Kudzu Root)?