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(Zhang Zhongjing)
Treats Taiyang disease (Disease of the Taiyang channel) where the Yang pulse is choppy and the Yin pulse is string-taut, accompanied by acute pain in the abdomen. (Note: When pathogenic factors enter the interior and contend with healthy Qi, abdominal pain occurs; a choppy pulse indicates blood deficiency; a string-taut pulse indicates Wood overacting on Earth; Taiyang disease is at the exterior and does not present with abdominal pain; Shaoyang disease is at the half-exterior half-interior, presenting with chest and hypochondriac pain but no abdominal pain; Yangming disease presents with abdominal fullness and acute pain due to interior excess, which should be treated with purgation using Da Chaihu Tang or Xiao Chengqi Tang; diseases of the Three Yin channels presenting with diarrhea and abdominal pain are due to interior cold, which should be treated with warming using Sini Tang or Fuzi Lizhong Tang; borborygmus, diarrhea, and pain indicate interior deficiency with cold, which should be treated with Xiaojianzhong Tang to warm the middle and dissipate cold). Treats Taiyang disease occurring two to three days after onset, presenting with palpitations and irritability. (Note: Palpitations are due to Yang Qi deficiency; irritability is due to Yin Blood deficiency; internal deficiency of Qi and Blood necessitates this decoction to first establish the interior. Doubling the dosage of Shaoyao is because its sour flavor astringes Yin; when Yin is gathered, Yang returns and attaches; adding Yitang is because its sweet flavor moistens the Spleen Earth; when Earth is moistened, all things grow; retaining Shengjiang and Guizhi is to disperse pathogenic factors). It is generally used to treat Xu Lao (Deficiency-Consumption) presenting with palpitations, epistaxis, abdominal urgency and pain, nocturnal emission, soreness and pain of the four limbs, heat sensation in the hands and feet, dry throat and mouth, and Xu Lao Huangdan (Deficiency-Consumption Jaundice). (Note: In Huangdan, if urination is free and the urine color is white, it indicates absence of heat; one must not clear heat, but rather treat it as deficiency-cold. Yu Jiayan stated: When Xu Lao progresses to loss of blood and essence, with exhaustion of Jing and Blood, it is difficult to effect a cure; urgently one must build up the Middle Zang organs so that food intake increases and Yin Blood flourishes. Therefore, only flavors associated with "Sowing and Reaping" making Sweetness are used to generate Essence and Blood; combining Sour, Pungent, Bitter, and Sweet flavors).

Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) (each 3 liang), Shaoyao (White Peony Root) (6 liang), Gancao (Licorice Root) (1 liang, honey-fried), Dazao (Jujube) (12 pieces), add Yitang (Maltose) 1 sheng, dissolve over low heat and take. (Note: Patients with vomiting cannot use Jianzhong Tang because sweetness promotes vomiting. This formula is essentially Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang, differing only in the thickness/quantity of Cinnamon. Wang Ang's note: This decoction uses Yitang as the Sovereign herb, hence it is named Jianzhong Tang rather than Guizhi Shaoyao Tang. Modern practitioners often omit Yitang entirely, losing Zhang Zhongjing's original intent. Wu Hegao stated: Guizhi should actually be Rougui [Cinnamon Bark], Guizhi...)

This acts on the Foot-Taiyin Spleen and Foot-Yangming Stomach channels. *Zhunsheng* states: The Spleen resides among the Four Zang organs, generating Ying and Wei Qi, and circulating Body Fluids. If it becomes dysfunctional...

Gancao... fluids do not... *Classic*... When the Spleen and Stomach are robust, Ying and Wei Qi flow smoothly; thus, Jiang (Ginger) and Zao (Jujube) are used as Guides (Li Dongyuan stated: *Shanghan Lun* says, Yang pulse choppy, Yin pulse string-taut, legally there should be acute abdominal pain... meat... resolve... take, Shaoyao treats abdominal pain from... Upper Jiao Lower Jiao...).

Adding Huangqi (Astragalus Root) 2.5 liang to this base formula creates Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (*Jingui Yaolue*): Treats various deficiencies in Xu Lao (*Zhunsheng* states: For blood deficiency, use Huangqi. Huangqi is sweet; combined with Gancao, it greatly generates blood, a subtle method of Zhang Zhongjing. Since Sowing and Reaping make Sweetness, and Sweetness tonifies the Stomach, and the Stomach is the Sea of Qi and Blood, from which Qi and Blood arise. The Classic states: Without Yang, Yin cannot be generated; using Sweetness to benefit the Stomach and generate blood is profound! Modern people only know Renshen and Huangqi as Qi-tonifying herbs, so I specifically highlight this. Wang Ang's note: In Buchu Tang, Huangqi is used five times the amount of Danggui, yet it is called for blood supplementation; this illustrates that principle); It also treats body pain after sweating from Taiyang disease, exterior deficiency with aversion to cold, and slow, weak pulses. (Note: Body pain is a symptom common to all Six Channels, involving exterior, interior, cold, heat, wind, and dampness. Yang-pattern body pain involves stiffness and inability to turn the body; Yin-cold pattern body pain involves heaviness, feeling as if beaten with a stick, distinguishing them. This condition arises from excessive sweating damaging Yin Qi; blood deficiency fails to nourish sinews and bones, causing pain; Yang deficiency causes a slow pulse; post-sweating causes a weak pulse; using the sweetness of Huangqi and Gancao tonifies Middle Qi, the sourness of Shaoyao gathers Yin Qi, and the pungent-hot nature of Guizhi benefits Wei Qi externally to secure the exterior, and harmonizes Ying Qi internally to tonify deficiency. Establishing Middle Qi allows it to generate Ying and Wei Qi, unblocking...)