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Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi) 1 liang 16 zhu, White Peony Root (Shaoyao) 1 liang, Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang) 1 liang, Licorice Root (Zhi Gancao, roasted) 1 liang, Ephedra Stem (Mahuang, nodes removed) 1 liang, Jujube Fruit (Dazao, split open) 4 pieces, Apricot Seed (Xingren, skin and tip removed) 24 pieces.
The above seven ingredients are decocted with five sheng of water. First, boil Mahuang for one or two boils, remove the foam on the surface, then add the remaining herbs. Decoct until one sheng eight he remains. Strain the dregs, and take six he warm.

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When the pulse is floating and slow, the face is hot and red, and there is trembling and fear, after six or seven days, sweating should occur leading to resolution. If fever persists instead, recovery will be delayed. This delay indicates a lack of Yang Qi, which prevents sweating, resulting in inevitable itching of the body.
[Annotation]
This passage follows the previous one to elucidate the meaning of facial redness and body itching. Deficiency of Yang Qi at the exterior causes the floating and slow pulse. Stagnation of pathogenic factors causes the hot and red face. The struggle between deficient healthy Qi and strong pathogenic factors leads to trembling and fear. By the sixth or seventh day, pathogens should weaken, and sweating should resolve the condition. If fever persists, it indicates that pathogens have not weakened, hence the delay in recovery. "Delay" means healthy Qi cannot overcome pathogens. With weak and stagnant Yang Qi, the body must itch because the lack of Yang Qi prevents its dissemination to induce sweating.
[Collected Notes]
Cheng Zhi states: This discusses the pulse associated with Yang deficiency preventing sweating. Floating indicates pathogens in the muscle layer; slow indicates Yang deficiency. Qi stagnates and cannot vent, causing the face to become hot and red. When healthy Qi struggles with pathogens but cannot exit, the body trembles. By the sixth or seventh day, when the transmission of meridians is complete and sweating should resolve the disease, if sweating does not occur and fever persists, recovery will inevitably be delayed. Generally, Yang deficiency cannot guide sweat outwards; heat pathogens float on the skin and muscles, inevitably causing body itching.

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In Taiyang Disease (diseases caused by pathogenic invasion of the Taiyang meridian), characterized by fever and aversion to cold, with more heat than cold, and a faint pulse, this indicates a lack of Yang (referring to deficiency of exterior Yang or fluids). Sweating methods are contraindicated; Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang (Two Parts Cinnamon Twig Decoction and One Part Yuebi Decoction) is appropriate.
[Annotation]
Taiyang Disease presenting with fever and aversion to cold, where heat exceeds cold, indicates concurrent disorders of Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi), with abundant Wind pathogen and scant Cold pathogen. If the pulse were floating-tight or floating-rapid, it would indicate Yang pathogens steaming at the exterior, constituting an excess pattern of no-sweat and high heat, treatable with Da Qing Long Tang (Major Blue Green Dragon Decoction) to induce sweating. However, a pulse that is faint in the Cun position and weak in the Chi position indicates a deficiency pattern. Even if symptoms of no-sweat and high heat exist, Da Qing Long Tang should not be used to induce further sweating. A faint pulse is not the typical exterior pulse of Taiyang, thus heavy sweating is contraindicated. Nevertheless, given the exterior signs of no-sweat, high heat, and low cold, herbs such as Mahuang, Guizhi, and Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum) are necessary. Therefore, only the mild formula Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang is suitable, inducing slight perspiration to relieve the muscle layer and harmonize Ying and Wei.
[Collected Notes]
Yu Chang states: This is also a pattern of abundant Wind and scant Cold. Zhang Zhongjing frequently uses the term "lack of Yang," which generally refers to the absence of exterior manifestation or fluids, hence the warning against further sweating. However, without sweating, Wind-Cold cannot be resolved. Taking two parts of Guizhi Tang to treat Wind and one part of Yuebi Tang to treat Cold is the correct approach.
Wang Hu states: "Do not induce further sweating" implies avoiding vigorous diaphoresis due to the patient's faint pulse and lack of Yang. This formula is milder than the previous mild diaphoretic formula.
Wu Renju states: The "faint" here refers to mildness, not fine/thin. It simply means not excessive. If heat is abundant, how can the pulse be faint? "Lack of Yang" means the exterior Yang pathogen is mild, so vigorous sweating is contraindicated. "Abundant heat" means heat pathogens in the muscles are severe, hence Gypsum is added. "Yuebi" refers to the power of venting pathogens being like the duty of a maid—small in scale, not as expansive as Da Qing Long Tang.