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Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) four liang, Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁) fifty seeds, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma Praeparata cum Melle (Zhi Gancao, 炙甘草) two liang.
Take the above three herbs, add seven sheng of water, first decoct Ephedrae Herba until the volume decreases by two sheng, remove the foam on the surface, then add the remaining herbs and decoct to obtain three sheng of liquid. Strain off the dregs, take one sheng warm. If sweating occurs after administration, stop taking it.

Question: Regarding Huanghan disease (a disease characterized by yellow sweat), the symptoms include body swelling, fever, sweating with thirst, resembling Fengshui disease (a syndrome characterized by edema of the head and face and aversion to wind). The sweat stains clothes and is purely yellow like the juice of Phellodendri Cortex (Nuozhi). The pulse is naturally deep. How is this disease contracted? The Master said: It is contracted because one bathes in water while sweating, allowing water qi to enter through the sweat pores. It should be primarily treated with Huangqi Shaoyao Guizhi Kujiu Tang.

[Annotation]
This section follows up on the discussion of Huanghan to detail its manifestations and clarify its treatment. Huanghan belongs to Dampness pathology, hence the body swelling; it involves Wind pathology, hence the fever, sweating, and thirst. "Resembling Fengshui" refers to the edema of the face and eyes. "Sweat staining clothes, color purely yellow like Nuozhi" refers to sticky yellow sweat. "Pulse naturally deep" indicates the etiology is related to Water. Investigating the cause, bathing in cold water while sweating causes chilling cold to enter internally, obstructing and stagnating sweat fluid within the muscle-cou li (interstitial spaces). As it is steamed out by the transformation of Earth qi, it becomes yellow. It is appropriate to use Huangqi and Guizhi to resolve exterior pathogens and consolidate Wei Qi (defensive qi); Baishao and Kujiu (vinegar) to stop sweating and secure Ying Qi (nutritive qi). When Ying and Wei are harmonized, the disease will be resolved.

[Collected Notes]
Cheng Lin stated: When sweating, the Yuan Fu (sweat pores) open. Bathing in water brings chilling cold, which remains trapped within the cou li and skin, leading to body swelling and fever. Sweat staining clothes like cypress sap indicates that body fluids are depleted internally, resulting in thirst despite sweating. Although body swelling resembles Fengshui disease, Fengshui presents with a non-deep pulse, non-yellow sweat, and no thirst, which distinguishes it.

Li Shengxi stated: According to my understanding, bathing in water while sweating is merely cited as one occasional example. Generally, Huanghan arises from long-standing Dampness in the Spleen and Stomach generating Heat. Accumulated Heat turns yellow, and the steaming interaction of Damp-Heat leads to sweating.

Wei Litong stated: In Huanghan disease, the sweat is yellow but the body is not yellow, which differs from Fa Huang (jaundice-like syndromes).

You Yi stated: Huanghan disease is similar to Fengshui disease. However, Fengshui presents with a floating pulse, whereas Huanghan presents with a deep pulse; Fengshui involves aversion to wind, whereas Huanghan does not. The feature of sweat staining clothes with a color purely like Nuozhi is unique to Huanghan. Fengshui is caused by Wind combining externally with Water Qi; Huanghan is caused by Water Qi combining externally with Heat Qi. Heat is constrained by Water, leading to mutual stagnation and steaming, causing the sweat to turn yellow. Using Huangqi, Guizhi, and Baishao facilitates Yang to benefit Yin, harmonizing Ying Qi and ensuring the circulation of Wei Qi. The intention is to vigorously promote the movement of Ying and Wei so that pathogenic factors may be completely expelled.