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Treats Shanghan (Cold Damage) where there is heat in the chest, pathogenic qi in the stomach, abdominal pain, and a desire to vomit.

Coptidis Rhizoma (Huanglian), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao), Zingiberis Rhizoma (Ganjiang) [each 3 liang], Ginseng Radix (Renshen) [2 liang], Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi) [3 liang], Pinelliae Tuber (Banxia) [0.5 jin], Jujubae Fructus (Dazao) [12 pieces].

The above seven herbs are decocted with one dou of water until six sheng remain. Strain the dregs, and take one sheng warm as a dose, three times during the day and twice at night.

Cheng Jiaoqian states: Heat in the chest manifests with irritability and depression; thus, it can be known that there is pathogenic qi in the stomach because cold pathogen is rejected downward. This syndrome presents with abdominal pain due to cold, and the ascending and descending qi are disconnected. Ganjiang is used to warm the middle and dispel cold.

Cheng Wuji states: After purgation in a patient with dampness disease, if the tongue appears coated like moss, it indicates heat in the Dantian (lower jiao) and cold in the chest. This signifies pathogen entering the interior, resulting in lower heat and upper cold.

Treats Taiyang Wind Strike (Taiyang Zhongfeng). After the exterior syndrome has resolved, if the interior qi is disharmonious, presenting with diarrhea, vomiting and regurgitation, stuffiness, fullness, hardness, and pain from the epigastrium to the hypochondrium, sweating, shortness of breath, headache, and aversion to cold is absent.

Jujubae Fructus (Dazao) [10 pieces, torn apart], Kansui Radix (Gansui), Euphorbiae Pekinensis Radix (Daji), Genkwa Flos (Yuanhua) [roasted, equal parts].

The above three herbs are separately pounded into powder. Using 1.5 sheng of water, first decoct ten large Jujubae Fructus until 0.8 sheng remains. Strain the dregs, and add the herbal powder. For robust individuals, administer one qianbi (a spoonful measure).

Ke Yunbo states: Zhang Zhongjing’s formulas for draining water vary greatly; this is the most峻猛 (pungent and drastic) among them. Generally, when water qi causes pathology, symptoms may include wheezing, cough, palpitations, dysphagia, vomiting, diarrhea, or anhidrosis, with the pathogen confined to one area. However, this formula causes water pathogen to exit via the skin causing sweat, ascend to the throat causing vomiting and regurgitation, and descend to the intestines and stomach causing diarrhea. The overflowing water pathogen outside is vast and uncontrollable. Furthermore, headache, shortness of breath, and stuffiness, fullness, hardness, and pain in the heart, abdomen, and hypochondrium indicate that water pathogen remains bound in the middle jiao, blocking the ascending and descending qi of the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Since the exterior pathogen has ceased, diaphoretic methods are inappropriate; since interior pathogen is rampant, mild diuretics are insufficient. One must select the most drastic water-draining agents to directly subdue it, otherwise, the Middle Qi will collapse, leading to helplessness and death. Gansui, Yuanhua, and Daji are all pungent, bitter, and cold in nature, possessing extreme toxicity. Used together, their flavors harmonize and mutually assist each other, allowing them to attack the nest of the pathogen, dredge the channels, and induce severe purgation, thereby leveling the water disaster in one stroke. However, where water accumulates, the original Qi is already deficient. Drastic drugs attacking pathogen inevitably weaken the Spleen and Stomach further. Without herbs that tonify the Spleen and regulate the Stomach as the sovereign, once the pathogen is eliminated, life itself may perish. Therefore, large and plump Jujubae Fructus is chosen as the Sovereign herb: to tonify the deficiency of Spleen Earth, to restrain the rampant Water Qi, and to detoxify the other herbs. One herb achieves three benefits, preventing both uncontrolled pathogen excess and unsupported Qi deficiency. This represents the perfection of Zhang Zhongjing’s legislative principles. Ignorant people, confused by the theory that "sweetness causes middle-fullness," dare not use it, failing to understand the principle of Chengzhi (restraining excessive elements through mutual control). Zhang Zihe borrowed this idea to formulate Jun Chuan, Yu Gong, and Shen You formulas to treat edema and phlegm-fluid retention, but failed to use tonic formulas as sovereign to nourish the root, relying solely on toxic drugs to attack the pathogen. Consequently, few achieved favorable outcomes.