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(Zhang Zhongjing)
Treats Taiyang Wind-Strike syndrome (Taiyang Wind-Strike), where the pulse is floating and forceful on superficial pressure but weak on deep pressure, presenting with fever, headache, spontaneous sweating, aversion to wind and cold, nasal congestion with roaring sound, and dry retching. (The position before the cun is Yang; Wei Qi also belongs to Yang. Yang becomes strong due to wind pathogen invasion, belonging to exterior syndrome. If wind-cold obstructs the exterior causing Taiyang Cold Damage syndrome not yet resolved, diaphoresis can be used. However, if the pulse is slow and sweating is profuse, it belongs to Yangming syndrome; if there is still slight aversion to cold, it indicates concurrent Taiyang exterior syndrome, so one should continue to resolve the muscle layer from the exterior to cut off the path of the pathogen entering the stomach fu.)

Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Shaoyao (White Peony Root), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, 3 liang), Gancao (Licorice Root, 2 liang, honey-fried), Dazao (Jujube, 12 pieces). Take hot. Shortly after taking the medicine, drink some thin, hot porridge to assist the medicinal effect. If symptoms do not relieve, administer again according to the original method.

This is a formula for the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. Zhang Zhongjing considered diaphoresis as heavy and resolving the muscle layer as light. In Wind-Strike syndrome, excessive sweating must be avoided; if sweating is too much, it will disturb Ying Blood. Even if there are exterior pathogens, the astringent nature may hinder dispersion. Warm nature can disperse cold and stop vomiting; Jujube's sweet and warm nature can harmonize the spleen. This formula does not specialize in dispersion but moves Spleen fluids to harmonize Ying and Wei. Mahuang Tang specializes in dispersion, thus it does not use Ginger and Jujube, which may lead to obstruction of fluids. (Pang Anshi said: If there is no sweating, frequent urination, or cold extremities, cold body, aversion to heat rather than cold, it must not be used. Furthermore, those with spontaneous sweating and frequent urination cannot take it. Spontaneous sweating indicates Yang deficiency; frequent urination indicates lower jiao cold-deficiency. In early disease with both exterior and interior deficiency, when the pathology is not in the exterior, using this formula to induce heavy sweating exhausts fluids, which is making deficiency more deficient. The Classics state: For those with floating-tight pulse, fever, and no sweating, Guizhi Tang cannot be given. Tight pulse indicates Cold Damage; giving Guizhi Tang makes the exterior more solid and sweating harder to achieve. "Shanghan Example" states: If Guizhi Tang enters the throat and Yang is excess, death ensues; if Chengqi Tang enters the stomach and Yin is excess, death ensues. Zhou Yangjun said: Wind damages Wei Qi, making Wei Qi loose and unable to protect Ying internally, leading to spontaneous sweating. Sweat is the fluid of blood. If blood-nourishing herbs are not used, with Guizhi to harmonize Ying and disperse pathogens, and Shaoyao to protect Ying and secure the interior, not only will exterior pathogens not exit, but they will enter and cause interior disorders. Thus, harmonizing Ying causes exterior pathogens to exit; once pathogens exit, Wei naturally becomes dense, eliminating the need for surface-stabilizing herbs, and sweating stops spontaneously. Zhang Zhongjing said: Patients who often have spontaneous sweating have harmonious Ying Qi. Harmonious Ying Qi means external disharmony because Wei Qi does not harmonize with Ying Qi. Since Ying moves within the vessels and Wei moves outside, inducing sweat again restores harmony, suitable for Guizhi Tang. Wang Haogu said: Someone asked if Guizhi can stop vexation and induce sweating. Zhang Zhongjing uses Guizhi Tang in many places for sweating in Cold Damage, yet says no-sweating cases cannot use Guizhi, and for profuse sweating, Guizhi-Gancao Decoction is used, which can close sweating. Are these two meanings compatible? Answer: Zhang Zhongjing said, Taiyang syndrome with fever and sweating indicates weak Ying and strong Wei. Yin deficiency allows Yang to encroach, so Guizhi is used to induce sweating. This regulates Ying Qi, so Wei Qi naturally harmonizes, leaving no room for wind pathogens, resulting in spontaneous sweating and resolution. It is not like Mahuang opening pores to forcibly induce sweat. For profuse sweating, Guizhi is used to harmonize Ying and Wei, so pathogens exit with sweat and sweating stops spontaneously; it is not that Guizhi closes pore openings.

Li Dongyuan said: Zhang Zhongjing formulated this decoction for exterior deficiency, using Guizhi as the sovereign herb. Guizhi is pungent and hot, dispersing, with light texture aiding Yang; Shaoyao and Gancao act as ministers. If there is abdominal urgency and pain, Xiaojianzhong Tang is formulated with Shaoyao as sovereign. Shaoyao is sour and cold, governing astringency and middle-jiao tonification; Guizhi and Gancao act as ministers. One treats exterior deficiency, the other interior deficiency. He also stated: Replace Guizhi with Rougui (Cinnamon Bark); it is a divine medicine for cold-induced abdominal pain. For heat-induced abdominal pain, remove Guizhi and add Huangqin (Scutellaria Root). Xu Shuwei said: Among Zhang Zhongjing's 113 formulas, Guizhi Tang ranks first, yet modern people do not use it at all, why? Ang notes: Zhang Zhongjing treated Cold Damage using Mahuang and Guizhi, completely avoiding Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome) and Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), indicating ancient methods were incomplete. Therefore, Jieguzi formulated Qianghuo Tang, Huangqi Tang, and Chuanxiong Tang; Haicang formulated Shenzhu San and Baizhu Tang, all using Qianghuo and Fangfeng as substitutes. Huangqi Tang and Chuanxiong Tang are attached to the Tonification Section. Shenzhu San and Baizhu Tang are seen later.)

Adding Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome), Chuanxiong (Ligusticum Chuanxiong Rhizome), Qianghuo (Notopterygium Rhizome), Fangfeng (Saposhnikovia Root), and Yitang (Maltose) to this formula creates Shuxu Shibiao Tang (Jie'an): Treats the same condition (Tao Shi formulated this, using Baizhu as sovereign to replace Guizhi Tang. Yu Jiayan said: This conflates exterior contraction and interior injury in treatment. Ang notes: Jie'an using Baizhu as sovereign imitates Jieguzi's Huangqi Tang and Haicang's Baizhu Tang. Also: Jie'an's "Six Books of Cold Damage" entirely replaces Zhang Zhongjing's original formulas, integrating later masters' methods to substitute Guizhi, Mahuang, Gegen, Qinglong, etc. While convenient for later generations, leading many to prefer Jie'an over Zhang Zhongjing, viewing Jie'an as a shortcut and Zhang as a daunting path, causing Jie'an's books to prevail while Zhang's become obscure. Such figures as Jie'an are indeed meritorious to Jieguzi and Haicang, but represent usurpation in the context of Changsha (Zhang Zhongjing). This collection adopts much of Jie'an's theory, though criticism remains necessary, as his merits and faults should be visible to the world.)

Removing Shaoyao and Shengjiang from this formula creates Guizhi Gancao Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats excessive sweating leading to crossing hands over the heart, palpitations desiring pressure (Profuse sweating causes Yang loss and blood consumption, leading to heart deficiency, palpitations, and self-protection by crossing hands. Guizhi benefits Qi and secures the exterior; Gancao tonifies the middle and aids Yang.)

Adding Fuzi (Prepared Aconite Lateral Root) to this formula creates Guizhi Jia Fuzi Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang syndrome after sweating, resulting in continuous leakage of sweat, aversion to wind, difficulty urinating, and slight stiffness of the four limbs (Profuse sweating causes Yang loss, failing to guard the exterior, hence aversion to wind; sweating reduces urine volume, and with Bladder lacking Yang to transform Qi, urination is difficult; sweating depletes fluids nourishing sinews, combined with wind invading increasing tension, causing slight limb stiffness. Give Guizhi Tang to harmonize Ying and Wei, add Fuzi to assist Yuan Yang.)

Removing Shaoyao and adding Fuzi to this formula creates Guizhi Fuzi Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Cold Damage (After eight or nine days, wind-dampness intertwines, causing body pain and irritability, inability to turn over, no vomiting, no thirst, pulse floating, deficient, and choppy. Eight or nine days marks the second circulation; pathogens are mostly interior. Body pain and irritability indicate wind-dampness intertwining. Irritability stems from wind; pain from dampness. No vomiting/thirst indicates no interior pathogens, confirming wind-dampness intertwining. Floating pulse indicates wind; choppy indicates dampness. Floating and choppy suggest cold-dampness remains in the meridians. Give Guizhi Tang to resolve exterior wind; add Fuzi to dispel cold-dampness.)

Adding Shaoyao and Shengjiang (1 liang each) and Renshen (Ginseng Root, 3 liang) to this formula creates Guizhi Xinjia Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats body pain after Cold Damage sweating, with sinking and slow pulse (Sinking and slow indicate blood deficiency post-sweating; righteous Qi is deficient, preventing exterior pathogens from exiting. Give Guizhi Tang to resolve remaining pathogens; add Shaoyao and Renshen to astringe Yin and benefit Ying Blood.)

Reducing Gancao by half and doubling Shaoyao in this formula creates Guizhi Jia Shaoyao Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats abdominal pain after erroneous purgation in Taiyang syndrome, belonging to Taiyin syndrome. Exterior syndrome unresisted leads to erroneous purgation; exterior pathogens enter the interior via deficiency. If it were Jiezhong (Constraint Accumulation), it would remain in Taiyang channel. Now, instead of chest fullness, there is abdominal fullness, indicating pathogens entered Taiyin channel. However, intermittent abdominal pain is not severe excess pain. Thus, use Guizhi to pacify Taiyang and double Shaoyao to harmonize Taiyin.

Adding Dahuang (Rhubarb Root and Rhizome) to this formula creates Guizhi Jia Dahuang Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats severe excess pain after erroneous purgation of exterior syndrome. See Exterior-Interior Section separately.

Removing Guizhi and adding Fuling (Poria) and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) to this formula creates Guizhi Qu Gui Jia Fuling Baizhu Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats persistent head/neck stiffness, anhidrosis, mild epigastric fullness/pain, and dysuria after taking Guizhi Tang or erroneous purgation (Exterior syndrome persists, adding fullness/pain/constipation indicates pathogen sinking inward. Remove Guizhi (exterior-resolving herb); use Shaoyao and Gancao to relieve pain, Shengjiang to disperse fullness and dispel cold, Baizhu and Fuling to generate fluids and guide water, combined with Jiang/Zao to harmonize Stomach. Securing the interior serves to repel the exterior.)

Adding Houpo (Magnolia Bark) and Xingren (Apricot Seed) to this formula creates Guizhi Jia Houpo Xingren Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats slight wheezing after erroneous purgation in Taiyang syndrome, with unresolved exterior (Guizhi Tang resolves exterior; Xingren and Houpo direct rebellious Qi downward.)

Removing Shaoyao and Shengjiang, adding Fuling (Poria) to this formula creates Fuling Guizhi Gancao Dazao Tang, decocted with Ganlan Water (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats sub-umbilical palpitations and impending Ben Tun (Running Piglet) after sweating (Sub-umbilical palpitations post-sweating indicate Heart deficiency and Kidney Qi activation. Kidney accumulation named Ben Tun. Rebellious Kidney Qi threatens to ascend to the Heart. Use Fuling to suppress Kidney pathogen, Guizhi to treat Ben Tun, Gancao and Dazao to aid Spleen and calm Kidney, benefiting Earth to control Water. Ganlan Water is made by scooping and throwing water thousands of times; water is salty and heavy, becoming sweet and light after tossing, taken to avoid aiding Kidney Qi.)

Combining this formula with Mahuang Tang creates Guima Ge Ban Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang syndrome resembling malaria, with more heat than chills (Chills predominance indicates disease progression; heat predominance indicates disease regression, Yang overcoming Yin.)

Two parts of this formula combined with one part Mahuang Tang creates Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang syndrome after heavy sweating, resembling malaria, occurring twice daily (Twice-daily occurrence indicates milder severity.)

Two parts of this formula combined with one part Yuebi Tang creates Guizhi Er Yuebi Yi Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang syndrome with fever, aversion to cold, more heat than chills, and weak pulse, indicating "No Yang," contraindicating diaphoresis (Yu Jiayan said: This is a pattern with more wind than cold. "No Yang" appears frequently in Zhang Zhongjing's texts; later scholars left it as a doubt, not knowing it is a general term for fluid exhaustion, thus warning against sweating. However, without sweating, wind-cold cannot resolve. Thus, taking two parts Guizhi to treat wind and one part Yuebi to treat cold is lawful. Fang Zhongxing said: This is a combination of Guizhi and Mahuang, a variation of Da Qing Long Tang replacing Xingren with Shaoyao.)

Doubling Shaoyao and adding Yitang (Maltose) to this formula creates Xiaojianzhong Tang (Zhang Zhongjing); adding Huangqi (Astragalus Root) creates Huangqi Jianzhong Tang (Jinkui Yaolue, see Cold Section); removing Yitang creates Guizhi Jia Huangqi Tang (Jinkui Yaolue). Ang notes: Xiaojianzhong Tang uses Yitang as sovereign; removing Yitang negates the name Jianzhong. Modern practitioners rarely use Yitang in Jianzhong formulas, why? Treating Huang Han (Yellow Sweat) with fever, cold calves, body pain/heaviness, sweating above waist but none below, and dysuria indicates Yang通畅 but Yin blocked, upper/lower stagnation. Use Huangqi to secure Yang, Guizhi to unblock Yin. Once Yin-Yang are connected and Ying-Wei harmonized, normal sweating occurs, urination improves, and symptoms resolve.)

Xiaojianzhong Tang plus Danggui (Angelica Sinensis Root) creates Danggui Jianzhong Tang (Qianjin Fang): Treats postpartum women with deficiency, emaciation, insufficiency, abdominal pain radiating to back/waist, and lower abdominal tension (Cold damaging Blood aspect). If metrorrhagia/hemorrhage persists, add Dihuang (Rehmannia Root) and Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin).

Removing Gancao and adding Huangqi (3 liang) to this formula creates Guizhi Wuwu Tang (Jinkui Yaolue): Treats Xue Bi (Blood Bi) (Body numbness and insensitivity, resembling Feng Bi.)

Adding Gualougen (Trichosanthes Root) to this formula creates Gualou Guizhi Tang (Jinkui Yaolue): Treats complete Taiyang syndrome, stiff body, pulse sinking and slow, indicating Jing (Spasm) syndrome (Pang Anshi said: Gualougen does not primarily treat neck stiffness; its intent is to clear Lung heat to prevent transmission to Kidney. Added to Guizhi Tang, it clears heat, nourishes sinews, and harmonizes Ying-Wei. "KT" character has no hook, pronounced 'shu', depicting short wings unable to fly.)

Adding Longgu (Fossilized Bones) and Muli (Oyster Shell) to this formula creates Guizhi Jia Longgu Muli Tang (Jinkui Yaolue): Treats seminal emission in men and dream intercourse in women (Guizhi and Shengjiang's pungency moistens; Gancao and Dazao's sweetness tonifies; Shaoyao's sourness astringes; Longgu and Muli's astringency secures.)