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To diffuse lung qi, release the exterior, purge fire, descend adverse qi, and treat wind-phlegm.

The pungent flavor unblocks lung qi and resolves wind-cold; the sweet flavor benefits spleen qi and regulates the chest and abdomen; the bitter flavor purges heat from the Jueyin (Liver) channel; the cold nature disperses pathogenic factors from the Taiyang (Bladder) channel (the property is slightly cold, another view holds it is slightly warm). Its nature is yin and descending, with efficacy specialized in descending qi; when qi descends, fire descends and phlegm dissipates (excess qi becomes fire, and fire generates phlegm). It can eliminate excess heat.

It treats asthma and cough with vomiting due to phlegm-heat, chest and diaphragm fullness, cholera-like disorder, and pediatric malnutrition (Gan Qi), achieving the effect of pushing out the old and generating the new. It also brightens the eyes and calms the fetus. It is contraindicated in cases without external contraction. (Note: Chai Hu and Qian Hu are both wind-dispelling herbs. However, Chai Hu has an ascending nature, while Qian Hu has a descending nature, making them different. Wind-phlegm in the Liver and Gallbladder channels cannot be cleared without Qian Hu.)

Those with white skin, black flesh, sweet taste, and fragrant aroma are superior. Ban Xia serves as an assistant. It opposes Zao Jiao. It should not be processed by fire.

Light, induces sweating.

Pungent, warm, slightly bitter (Monk Jihong said: Ephedra produced in Zhongmu does not accumulate snow on the ground in winter, so its nature is hot; therefore, excessive use leaks true qi). It enters the Foot-Taiyang (Bladder) channel, and also travels to the Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) and Hand-Yangming (Large Intestine) channels, serving as a specific herb for the Lung organ. It can induce sweating and release the muscle layer, expel cold pathogens from the Ying (Nutritive) level, and disperse wind-heat from the Wei (Defensive) level. It harmonizes blood vessels, opens the nine orifices, and opens the hair follicles.

It treats stroke and cold damage (Zhong means Shang/injury), headache, warm malaria, rebellious coughing and upward rushing of qi (wind-cold stagnating in the Lung channel. The Classics state: All qi stagnations belong to the Lung), phlegmatic wheezing and asthma (Wheezing syndromes should drain Lung qi; although Ma Huang is used, it does not cause sweating, which is not recorded in Materia Medica), red and black macular toxins (Stomach heat. One view states that for macular syndromes, if the exterior is deficient, one must not sweat again; if there is no constipation, one must not purge; only clearing and resolving heat is suitable), toxic wind rashes and bi-syndrome, insensitivity of skin and flesh, red and swollen painful eyes, edema, and wind-swelling. Overdose leads to profuse sweating and Yang hyperactivity; it is strictly forbidden in summer (Sweat is the fluid of the Heart; excessive sweating shakes the Heart Blood. This is a fierce agent. Zhu Danxi advocated using Ren Shen with Ma Huang, which is a method of attacking and tonifying simultaneously. Li Dongyuan said: Among the Ten Categories, "Light can remove excess," such as Ge Gen and Ma Huang. When pathogens lodge in the skin and hair, closing the Cou Li and blocking Ying and Wei circulation, it is called excess. These two herbs are light and clear, thus they can remove this excess. Li Shizhen said: Ma Huang is a Taiyang channel herb, also entering the Lung channel, as the Lung governs skin and hair; Ge Gen is a Yangming channel herb, also entering the Spleen channel, as the Spleen governs muscles. Both are light and dispersing, but enter different channels. Wang Haogu said: Ma Huang treats Wei excess, Gui Zhi treats Wei deficiency. Although both are Taiyang channel herbs, they actually treat the Wei and Ying levels respectively. The Heart governs Ying as Blood, and the Lung governs Wei as Qi. Thus, Ma Huang is a formula for the Hand-Taiyin Lung channel, and Gui Zhi is a formula for the Hand-Shaoyin Heart channel. Li Shizhen said: Zhang Zhongjing treated cold damage with Ma Huang for no sweat and Gui Zhi for sweating, but few have explored the subtleties. Body fluids transform into sweat; sweat is blood. In the Ying level it is blood, in the Wei level it is sweat. Cold damages the Ying, causing internal stagnation of Ying blood, preventing external communication with the Wei. The Wei Qi closes and secures, body fluids do not flow, resulting in no sweat, fever, and aversion to cold. Wind damages the Wei, causing external stagnation of Wei Qi, preventing internal protection of the Ying. The Ying Qi is weak, and body fluids are not secured, resulting in sweating, fever, and aversion to wind. However, wind and cold enter via the skin and hair, which are the exterior union of the Lung. Since the exterior is closed, pathogenic heat attacks internally. Therefore, Ma Huang and Gan Cao are combined with Gui Zhi to draw out Ying-level pathogens and bring them to the muscle surface; Xing Ren is added to drain Lung qi and harmonize qi. After sweating, if there is no high fever but wheezing remains, Shi Gao is added. In *Huo Ren Shu*, Shi Gao and Zhi Mu are added after the Summer Solstice; these are drugs that drain Lung fire. This shows that although Ma Huang Tang is a heavy sweating agent for the Taiyang channel, it is actually a drug that disperses Lung fire stagnation. If the Cou Li are not tight, body fluids leak externally, leading to Lung Qi deficiency. Deficiency requires tonifying the mother, so Gui Zhi is combined with Gan Cao to externally scatter wind pathogens to save the exterior and internally attack Liver Wood to prevent invasion of the Spleen; Shao Yao is added to drain Wood and secure the Spleen; Sheng Jiang and Da Zong are used to move Spleen fluids and harmonize Ying and Wei. After purging, if slight wheezing occurs, Hou Po and Xing Ren are added to benefit Lung qi. After sweating, if the pulse is deep and slow, Ren Shen is added to benefit Lung qi. *Huo Ren Shu* adds Huang Qin to form Yang Dan Tang to drain Lung heat. This shows that although Gui Zhi Tang is a light agent for releasing the muscle layer in the Taiyang channel, it is actually a drug for regulating the Spleen and saving the Lung. Various schools regard Ma Huang and Gui Zhi as Lung channel herbs, claiming that cold damage transmits through foot channels but not hand channels, which is erroneous. Gui Neng calms the Liver.)

For inducing sweating, use the stem, remove the nodes, boil for more than ten boils, skim off the floating foam, or briefly soak in vinegar water. For reserve use, some use honey-fried versions (to avoid excessive sweating); for stopping sweating, use the root and nodes (spontaneous sweating without external stimuli belongs to Yang deficiency; night sweats during dreams belong to Yin deficiency. Using Ma Huang Gen, Ge Fen, and Su Mi in equal parts, ground into powder and packed in bags for dusting, is excellent. Li Shizhen said: Ma Huang induces sweating so swiftly it cannot be controlled; the root and nodes stop sweating with effects like shadow and echo; physical principles are unfathomable. Spontaneous sweating includes syndromes of wind-damp, wind-stroke, wind-warmth, Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, Spleen deficiency, Yin deficiency, Stomach heat, phlegm-fluids, heatstroke, collapse of Yang, and flexible spasm; all can add this herb. Because its nature can circulate through the whole body's muscle surface, guiding other herbs to the Wei level to secure the Cou Li. Although sweat is the fluid of the Heart, each of the five Zang organs has its own sweat. The Classics state: After eating to fullness, sweat comes from the Stomach; after fright and loss of essence, sweat comes from the Heart; after carrying heavy loads and traveling far, sweat comes from the Kidney; after running fast and fearing, sweat comes from the Liver; after shaking the body and laboring bitterly, sweat comes from the Spleen). Hou Po and Bai Wei serve as assistants. It opposes Xin Yi and Shi Gao.