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Treats heat damaging the primordial qi, presenting with shortness of breath, fatigue, dry mouth, and sweating.
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus).
The above three herbs are decocted in water and taken orally.
Ke Yunbo stated: The Lung is a delicate organ that receives all vessels and governs the primordial qi of the entire body. Cold affecting the form or cold drinks injuring the interior will damage the Lung; thus, in Shanghan (Cold Damage), there are critical conditions such as Jie Dai Mai (Knotted and Intermittent Pulse) and Wei Yu Jue Mai (Faint Pulse on the verge of disappearance). Summerheat punishing Metal (Lung) damages the Lung; thus, in Heat Injury, there is the concern of Xu San Mai (Deficient and Scattered Pulse). However, Shanghan involves real pathogens coming from outside, so even if the pulse is absent, it can be restored and unblocked. Heat injury involves treacherous pathogens coming from what one cannot overcome (i.e., Fire overcoming Metal); unless the source is first nourished to restore vitality before it completely vanishes, once severed, it cannot be recovered. This is why Sun Simiao urgently tonified the primordial qi and named this formula Sheng Mai San (Generate the Pulse Powder). Mai Men Dong is sweet and cold, clearing the functions of weighing and regulating; Ren Shen is sweet and warm, tonifying the root of acquired Ying and Wei (Nutritive and Defensive Qi); Wu Wei Zi is sour and warm, gathering the origin of innate Tian Gui (Heavenly Water/Reproductive Essence). When the three energies connect, Heaven, Earth, and Humanity are established; Water ascends and Fire descends, fulfilling the principle of Ji Ji (Water-Fire Intersection/Balance). Zhang Zhongjing treated Shanghan with two methods: Tong Mai (Unblocking the Pulse) and Fu Mai (Restoring the Pulse). In Shaoyin disease with interior cold and exterior heat, diarrhea with undigested food, and faint pulse on the verge of disappearance, he formulated Tong Mai Si Ni Tang (Pulse-Rescuing Four Reversals Decoction) to warm and tonify to support Yang. In Jueyin disease with exterior cold and interior heat, palpitations, and knotted/intermittent pulse, he formulated Fu Mai Tang (Pulse-Restoring Decoction) to cool and tonify to nourish Yin. Although both are Shanghan and involve pulse pathology, the treatments for cold and heat differ because one rescues the external loss of Kan Yang (Kidney Yang) and the other clears the internal blazing of Xiang Huo (Ministerial Fire). Sheng Mai San is based on the legislation of Fu Mai Tang. Since there is no exterior cold, pungent dispersants like Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig) are not used. Since heat damages formless Qi but has not damaged formless Blood, Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix), E Jiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin), Ma Ren (Semen Cannabis), and Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus) are not used, nor are they allowed to clog the diaphragm and obstruct the pulse channels. The Heart governs the pulse and dislikes slackness; therefore, sour substances are urgently consumed to astringe it. Thus, Gan Cao (Licorice Root) is removed and Wu Wei Zi is added. Pulse qi originates in the Kidney, is nourished by the Stomach, and converges in the Lung. In Zhang Zhongjing's two formulas, Gan Cao is heavily used because it relies entirely on Middle Jiao Grain Qi to unblock and restore the pulse, not depending on generation. Here, the intention is to obtain the primordial Qi of the Lower Jiao Tian Gui to generate it; therefore, the moderating nature of Gan Cao is not relied upon, but the astringent nature of Wu Wei Zi is essential.