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(Zhang Zhongjing)
Treats Taiyang disease (Disease of the Taiyang channel) where water qi invades the heart, presenting with cold extremities (Jue) and palpitations in the epigastrium. One must first treat the water retention, then treat the cold extremities; otherwise, if water soaks into the stomach, diarrhea will certainly occur. (This is because in Taiyang syndrome, excessive drinking leads to water stagnation below the heart, inevitably causing palpitations; Fire fears Water, thus the heart trembles and feels uneasy.) It also treats cases of Taiyang disease with sweating but no thirst. The Classics state:

Fuling (Poria), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig, 2 liang), Gancao (Licorice Root, 1 liang), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, 3 liang).

These are herbs for the Foot-Taiyang bladder channel. The bland taste can leach out water, and the sweet taste can calm the heart and assist Yang, hence Fuling is used; the pungent taste can disperse fluid retention, and the warm nature can induce sweating and release the muscle layer, hence Shengjiang and Guizhi are used; Strengthening Earth can control Water, and the sweet-neutral nature can tonify Qi and harmonize the Middle Jiao, hence Gancao is used. (Note: Palpitations may result from excessive sweating, from vomiting/purging, or from Qi deficiency. However, palpitations caused by fluid retention are more severe than those caused by other pathogens, as water stagnating below the heart has nowhere it cannot go. Invading the Lung causes cough; transmitting to the Stomach causes vomiting; overflowing into the skin causes edema; soaking into the intestines causes diarrhea. Thus the Classics say: First treat the water, then treat the Jue. Jue indicates deep pathogenic invasion, similar to needing to treat water first.)

Removing Shengjiang from this formula and adding Baizhu creates the Linggui Zhugan Tang (Poria, Cinnamon Twig, Atractylodes Macrocephala, and Licorice Decoction) (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang disease after vomiting or purging, presenting with fullness and rebellious sensation in the epigastrium, Qi rushing up to the chest, dizziness upon standing, a deep-tight pulse. If sweating is induced at this stage, it disturbs the channels, causing body tremors and shaking. (Rebellious fullness and Qi rushing upward are due to cold pathogenic fluid retention fighting upward against the diaphragm, causing dizziness; Deep pulse indicates interior condition. Since vomiting/purging have already occurred, inducing sweat further depletes Yang and consumes fluids, causing tremors; This decoction guides out fluid retention, harmonizes the middle, and benefits Yang.)

(From *Jin Gui Yao Lue*. Named Banxia Houpo Tang in *San Yin Fang*? Note: Text says "Da Banxia Tang" in San Yin, but standard attribution varies. Translating as stated.)
Treats sudden vomiting, epigastric stuffiness (Pi), water between the diaphragm, dizziness, and palpitations. (Water qi rebelling upward causes vomiting; water stagnating between the diaphragm causes stuffiness; disturbing the head causes dizziness; overwhelming the heart causes palpitations.)

Banxia (Pinellia Tuber, 1 sheng), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger, 0.5 jin), Fuling (Poria, 3 liang).

These are herbs for the Foot-Taiyang bladder and Foot-Yangming stomach channels. Banxia and Shengjiang move water qi and scatter rebellious Qi, stopping vomiting; Fuling calms the Heart Qi and drains Kidney evil, promoting urination; Fire descends with Water, thus palpitations and dizziness cease, and stuffiness dissipates.

Removing Fuling from this formula creates the Xiao Banxia Tang (Minor Pinellia Decoction) (*Jin Gui Yao Lue*): Treats Zhi Yin (Branching Fluid Retention) with vomiting but no thirst; also treats Jaundice. (*Jin Gui Yao Lue* states: Patients who vomit should naturally feel thirsty; if thirsty, the disease is resolving. Now that they are not thirsty, it is because there is Zhi Yin in the stomach. Xiao Banxia Tang is the primary treatment. Vomiting loses fluids, leading to thirst; do not hastily attribute thirst to Heat.) Removing Fuling and Shengjiang from this formula and adding Renshen (Ginseng Root) and Baimi (White Honey) creates the Da Banxia Tang (Major Pinellia Decoction) (*Jin Gui Yao Lue*): Treats Fan Wei (Regurgitation/Reverse Stomach), where food is vomited immediately after ingestion. (Li Dongyuan said: Pungent herbs like Shengjiang treat vomiting only when it is due to upper Jiao Qi congestion and exterior excess; if the cause is Stomach Qi deficiency with failure of grain Qi to move, causing chest obstruction and vomiting, one should only benefit the Stomach and promote grain Qi, not treat it as exterior excess using pungent draining herbs. Therefore, if Xiao Banxia Tang fails, Da Banxia Tang works instantly.)