Library

Treats the combined disease of Taiyang (Greater Yang) and Shaoyang (Lesser Yang), presenting with spontaneous diarrhea.
If vomiting occurs, add Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens). Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), and Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) are each used in amounts of three liang; Dazao (Jujubae Fructus), twelve pieces (torn open). The above four herbs are decocted in ten dou of water until three sheng remain; the dregs are removed, and one sheng is taken warm, twice during the day and once at night. If vomiting occurs, add Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) half a sheng and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) three liang.

[Collected Annotations] Cheng Yingmao states: In this type of combined disease, symptoms include headache, chest fullness, bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, and vertigo, or alternating chills and fever, or a pulse that is large and wiry. This represents pathogenic factors at the half-exterior level, which combine with Shaoyang without waiting for transmission from Taiyang. When the interior qi of Shaoyang loses its stability, dysentery results; as yang-heat gradually increases, vomiting ensues. Therefore, Huangqin Tang (Scutellaria Decoction) is used to clear heat and nourish yin; once the half-interior is cleared, the half-exterior resolves spontaneously. Ke Qin states: Combined disease of Taiyang and Shaoyang indicates that heat pathogens have entered the interior of Shaoyang. Gallbladder fire attacks downward on the spleen, causing spontaneous dysentery; it rebels upward against the stomach, causing concomitant vomiting. Huangqin Tang is administered, where sour and bitter flavors complement each other to harmonize the middle jiao and preserve yin. Since the heat is not at the half-exterior, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix) is not used; since the heat has entered the half-interior, Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) serves as the principal herb. Although there is no excess heat in the stomach, nor is there deficiency cold, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) is not required to tonify the middle. For concomitant vomiting, Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) are added to direct rebellious qi downward.

Treats Shanghan (Cold Damage) where there is heat in the chest, pathogenic factors in the stomach, abdominal pain, and a desire to vomit.
Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) three liang, Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) three liang, Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) three liang, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) two liang, Guizhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus) three liang, Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) half a sheng, Dazao (Jujubae Fructus) twelve pieces. The above seven herbs are decocted in ten dou of water until six sheng remain; the dregs are removed, and one sheng is taken warm, three times during the day and twice at night.

[Collected Annotations] Cheng Yingmao states: Heat in the chest implies symptoms of restlessness and depression. The presence of pathogenic factors in the stomach is due to cold pathogens being repelled to the lower part. This condition presents both cold and heat, representing a deeper penetration into the interior compared to the cold-heat pattern of Da Qinglong Tang (Major Green Dragon Decoction); thus, symptoms manifest between the upper and lower parts rather than between exterior and interior. Abdominal pain occurs because yin-cold pathogens reside in the stomach, with cold dominating the lower aspect. The desire to vomit arises because yang-heat pathogens reside in the chest, with heat dominating the upper aspect. This treatment addresses the mutual obstruction between upper and lower, employing simultaneous regulation of cold and heat: replacing acrid-cold with bitter-cold, and adding bitter-warm to acrid-warm. Furthermore, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) and Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) are used to tonify and unblock middle qi, regulating the ascending and descending of yin and yang. From this clause, one can infer the methods of various Xiexin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoctions); all share this principle. Cheng Wuji states: After inappropriate purgation in a patient with dampness, if the tongue coating resembles a membrane, it indicates heat in the dantian (lower abdomen) and cold in the chest, representing pathogenic factors entering the interior resulting in lower heat and upper cold. This clause describes cold damage transmitting to the interior, resulting in lower cold and upper heat. Yu Chang states: Reversal of yin and yang should be treated with harmonizing methods.