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(Zhang Zhongjing)
Treats Taiyang disease (disease of the Taiyang channel) presenting with stiffness and discomfort in the neck and back, where the voice sounds distinct ("KT KT" refers to the sound made by birds with short feathers when they stretch their necks, describing the appearance of the patient's inability to relax the neck and back). Absence of sweat and aversion to wind indicate Wind-strike with Exterior Excess syndrome. The Yangming channel ascends to the neck and intersects with the Taiyang channel; there is concern that the pathogen will transmit to the Yangming channel. Therefore, Puerariae Radix (Gegen) is added to block this transmission. This syndrome is also known as Gang-Jing (Stiff Spasm), caused by Wind-Cold damaging the sinews, leading to spasmodic tension and rigidity. *Jin Gui Yao Lue* treats this syndrome primarily with this decoction. Gang-Jing presents with absence of sweat, while Rou-Jing (Soft Spasm) presents with sweating. Zhang Zhongjing further states: If Taiyang disease sweating is incomplete, resulting in irritability and shortness of breath, this decoction should also be used to induce sweating again; the Classics state: How do we know sweating was incomplete? Because the pulse is choppy. Commentary: Shortness of breath due to failure to sweat or purge in Shanghan (Cold Damage) indicates an Excess pattern; shortness of breath after sweating or purging indicates a Deficiency pattern. Exterior Excess patterns are suitable for inducing sweating, while Exterior Deficiency patterns are suitable for resolving the muscle layer.

It also treats diarrhea caused by simultaneous involvement of the Taiyang and Yangming channels (In Shanghan, there are Bing-bing (concurrent diseases) and He-bing (combined diseases). When the pathogen in the primary channel has not resolved and transmits to another channel, it implies sequential transmission, called Bing-bing; when two or three channels are affected by pathogens simultaneously, it is called He-bing, indicating severe pathogenic factors. In Taiyang-Yangming He-bing, symptoms include headache, lower back pain, muscular fever, dry nose, eye pain, and a floating, large, and long pulse. Head and lower back belong to the Taiyang channel; muscles, eyes, and nose belong to the Yangming channel; floating and large pulses belong to Taiyang; a long pulse belongs to Yangming. In combined diseases of Yang channels, spontaneous diarrhea must occur. When pathogens merge into the Yang aspect, Yang becomes Excess and Yin becomes Deficient. Since Yang is Excess on the exterior and fails to govern the interior, the interior becomes Deficient, causing diarrhea. Wu Hegao said: Quack doctors often consider leakage-type diarrhea in Shanghan as incurable. Administering this decoction to disperse exterior pathogens in the channels will prevent Yang from becoming overly Excess and harmonize Yin, stopping the diarrhea without specific treatment for it. Commentary: Puerariae Radix can guide the clear Yang Qi of the Stomach upward; therefore, it is frequently used for diarrhea. Zhao Sizhen said: He-bing refers to simultaneous illness of two or three Yang channels without transmission; Bing-bing refers to one channel being diseased first, then spreading to another, representing disease transmission. For example, in Taiyang-Yangming, if sweating is incomplete, transmission has not fully occurred. This corresponds to Zhang Zhongjing's description: "Taiyang signs have not ceased, face is red, Yang Qi is constrained in the exterior and cannot vent out, causing irritability and shortness of breath." In such cases, sweating should still be induced using Guizhi Mahuang Banxia Tang (a combination formula); if the concurrent condition is complete, it means transmission has passed. This corresponds to Zhang Zhongjing's description: "Taiyang signs have ceased, tidal fever, sweating on hands and feet, hard stool, and delirium." In such cases, purgation is indicated using Chengqi Tang. Thus, we know that transmission leads to entry into the Fu organs, while lack of transmission prevents entry. The transmission changes in Bing-bing are thus. Zhang Zhongjing treats Taiyang-Yangming He-bing with Gegen Tang; Taiyang-Shaoyang He-bing with Huangqin Tang; Shaoyang-Yangming He-bing with Chengqi Tang. The Three Yin channels have Liang-gan (double contraction) but no He-bing. *Ci Shi Nan Zhi* states: Foot Taiyang is the head of all Yang channels, so it undergoes many transmissions. Taiyang transmitting to Yangming is Water transmitting to Earth, called Minor Evil, or Xun-jing De-du Chuan (transmission along the normal sequence); Taiyang transmitting to Shaoyang is Yue-jing Chuan (transmission skipping a channel); Taiyang transmitting to Taiyin is Wu-xia Chuan (transmission due to erroneous purgation); Taiyang transmitting to Shaoyin is Biao-li Chuan (Exterior-Interior transmission). Water overcoming Fire, Fire overcoming Water, these are variations between the North and South regions, harming people instantly. If differentiation is not early, it becomes incurable. Taiyang transmitting to Jueyin is Shou-wei Chuan (head-to-tail transmission). The Three Yin do not reach the head; only Jueyin ascends with the Du vessel, connecting with Taiyang, also called Xun-jing De-du Chuan, disaster...

Puerariae Radix (4 liang), Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang), Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens (Shengjiang, 3 liang), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 2 liang, honey-fried), Ziziphi Jujubae Fructus (Dazao, 12 pieces).
These are herbs for the Foot Taiyang channel. Cheng Wuji said: Light substances can remove excess; Puerariae Radix and Ephedrae Herba are examples. This formula targets Wind-strike with Exterior Excess, hence adding these two items to Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction). Zhang Zhongjing distinguishes Wind-strike from Cold Damage by the presence or absence of sweat: Sweat indicates Wind-strike, treated with Guizhi Jia Gegen Tang, without Mahuang; no sweat indicates Cold Damage, treated with this decoction. Zhang Yuanyu said: Adding Gegen to both formulas blocks the path from Taiyang to Yangming; it is not merely a Taiyang herb. If Gegen, a rising herb, is taken at the onset of Taiyang disease, it may inadvertently lead pathogens into the Yangming channel. Zhou Yangjun said: Not removing Mahuang and adding Gegen constitutes strong diaphoretic action opening the muscle layer; is there not fear of uncontrolled profuse sweating? Hence, Guizhi is used to restrain it, and Shaoyao to astringe it. Yu Jiayan said: For Taiyang with concurrent Yangming signs, if Wind injures the Wei level, Gegen is added to Guizhi Tang; if Cold injures the Ying level, Gegen is added to Mahuang Tang. For Taiyang with concurrent Shaoyang signs, if Wind injures the Wei level, Chaihu is added to Guizhi Tang; if Cold injures the Ying level, Chaihu is added to Mahuang Tang. The same applies to combined diseases. Thus, Gegen is the chief herb for Yangming, and Chaihu for Shaoyang. However, why is Xiaochaihu Tang exclusively used for Shaoyang, while Gegen Tang is completely unused for Yangming? There are two reasons: In Taiyang with slight Yangming involvement, the impending Yangming is prioritized, so Gegen is added; in Yangming with residual Taiyang involvement, the unresolved Taiyang is prioritized, so Gegen is not added, lest...

Removing Mahuang from this formula yields Guizhi Jia Gegen Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats the aforementioned syndrome with sweat and aversion to wind. Adding Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) to this formula yields Gegen Jia Banxia Tang (Zhang Zhongjing): Treats Taiyang-Yangming He-bing without diarrhea, but with vomiting (This further distinguishes Cold Damage from Wind-strike based on diarrhea vs. vomiting. Cold is Yin, its nature descends; disharmony in the interior causes diarrhea without vomiting; Wind is Yang, its nature ascends; rebellion of interior Qi downward causes vomiting without diarrhea. Banxia is added to descend rebellious Qi).

Adding Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) to this formula yields Gegen Jieji Tang; treats fever with aversion to cold, headache and neck stiffness, Shanghan and Wenbing (Warm Diseases).