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(Mahuang, Ephedrae Herba) can disperse cold pathogens invading the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian (Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel), applicable for symptoms of anhidrosis.
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) (specifically enters the Bladder Meridian, also enters the Lung Meridian). Flavor is acrid, warm, slightly bitter. Texture is hollow and light/floating, enters the Foot-Taiyang Bladder Meridian. (The Foot-Taiyang Meridian serves as the outer barrier of the Six Channels, commanding the meridians and governing Ying and Wei Qi. Its meridian pathway originates from the inner canthus, ascends to the brain, descends to the nape, follows the shoulder along the spine to the waist, running along the posterior body. Therefore, whenever cold pathogens invade this meridian, symptoms must include headache, fever, aversion to cold, sudden stiffness of the lower back and spine, anhidrosis, and pulse tightness in both Cun and Chi positions; this is termed Shanghan (Cold Damage). If sweating is unceasing, and the pulse is neither tight nor floating, symptoms may present as aversion to wind only without aversion to cold; this is termed Shangfeng (Wind Strike).) It also enters the Hand-Taiyin Lung Meridian. (Mahuang's hollow texture resembles the lung, thus it also enters the Lung Meridian.) Zhang Zhongjing used this herb to treat anhidrosis caused by cold invading the Taiyang Meridian; his intent was profound. Generally speaking, body fluids transform into sweat, and sweat is blood. Within Ying it is blood; within Wei it is sweat. Cold injuring Ying causes Ying blood to become stagnant internally, unable to communicate externally with Wei; Wei Qi becomes dense and fixed, body fluids fail to circulate, resulting in anhidrosis, fever, and aversion to cold. In the formula, Mahuang and Gancao (Licorice Root) are combined with Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) to draw out pathogenic factors from the Ying level to the muscle surface; Xingren (Apricot Seed) is added as an assistant to vent the Lung and benefit Qi mechanism. Thus, although Mahuang is a heavy agent for inducing sweating in the Taiyang channel, it is actually a drug for dispersing fire-stagnation pathogens in the Lung Meridian. In the "Ten Categories" classification, it is said: "Light agents can remove excess," drugs like Gegen (Kudzu Root) and Mahuang belong to this category! (Tao Hongjing stated: Mahuang is the primary drug for treating Shanghan and resolving the muscle layer. Li Shizhen stated: Mahuang is a specific drug for the Lung Meridian, hence often used for treating Lung diseases. Zhang Zhongjing used Mahuang for Shanghan with anhidrosis and Guizhi for those with sweating, but no one had investigated its subtleties. Li Shizhen often pondered: Body fluids transform into sweat, and sweat is blood. Within Ying it is blood; within Wei it is sweat. Cold injuring Ying causes Ying blood to be stagnant internally, unable to communicate externally with Wei, Wei Qi closes and fixes, body fluids do not flow, hence anhidrosis, fever, and aversion to cold. Wind injuring Wei causes Wei Qi to leak externally, unable to protect Ying internally, Ying Qi becomes weak, body fluids are not secure, hence sweating, fever, and aversion to wind. However, Wind-Cold pathogens enter through the skin and hair. Skin and hair are the exterior correspondence of the Lung; the Lung governs Wei Qi, encompassing the whole body, resembling the image of Heaven. Although this syndrome belongs to the Taiyang, the Lung actually receives the pathogenic qi. Symptoms often accompany flushed face, depression, cough with phlegm, panting, and chest fullness; is this not a Lung disease? Because the exterior pores are closed, pathogenic heat attacks inward, causing Lung Qi stagnation. Therefore, Mahuang, Gancao, and Guizhi are used to draw out Ying-level pathogens to the muscle surface, assisted by Xingren to vent the Lung and benefit Qi. After sweating, if there is no high fever but wheezing remains, Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) is added. Zhu Gong's *Huoren Shu* adds Shi Gao and Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome) during Summer Solstice; these are drugs that vent Lung fire. Thus, although Mahuang Tang is a heavy sweating agent for the Taiyang channel, it is essentially a formula for dispersing Lung Meridian fire-stagnation. When cou li (pores/skin texture) are not dense, body fluids leak outward, and Lung Qi naturally becomes deficient. Deficiency requires tonifying the mother element; therefore, Guizhi is combined with Gancao to externally disperse Wind pathogens to rescue the exterior, and internally attack Liver Wood to prevent Spleen Earth from being over-controlled. Shaoyao (White Peony Root) is added as an assistant to vent Liver Wood and consolidate Spleen Earth. Venting the East [Liver] supplements the West [Lung]. Ginger and Jujube are used as envoys to circulate Spleen fluids and harmonize Ying and Wei. After purgation, if slight wheezing occurs, Houpo (Magnolia Bark) and Xingren are added to benefit Lung Qi. After sweating, if the pulse is deep and slow, Renshen (Ginseng Radix) is added to benefit Lung Qi. Zhu Gong added Huangqin (Scutellaria Root) to create Yangdan Tang to vent Lung heat. These are all drugs regulating the Spleen and Lung. Thus, although Guizhi Tang is a light agent for resolving the muscle layer in the Taiyang channel, it is essentially a formula for regulating the Spleen and rescuing the Lung. This is a secret principle unexplored for millennia, which I hereby reveal. Additionally, for Shaoyin disease with fever and deep pulse, there are Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Asarum Decoction) and Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Aconite, and Licorice Decoction). Shaoyin and Taiyang are interior-exterior pairs. Zhao Sizhen stated that prepared Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) paired with Mahuang achieves release amidst tonification.) Therefore, for conditions where Wind-Cold stagnates in the Lung manifesting as cough, rebellious Qi, phlegm-wheezing, and asthma, its therapeutic capabilities are recorded. However, the method of using this drug lies in the coordination of assistants and envoys. Or combine with Qi-tonifying drugs to assist power (such as Renshen), to obtain Wei-level sweat; or combine with Blood-nourishing drugs to assist fluids (such as Danggui (Angelica Sinensis)), to obtain Ying-level sweat; or combine with Warm-Yang drugs to assist Yang (such as Fuzi), to eliminate cold-coagulation cold-toxins; or combine with Cold drugs to assist Yin (such as Huangqin, Shi Gao, Zhimu), to resolve hot-summer plague pathogens. This is indeed the first essential drug for treating Shanghan and Yin Malaria. Regarding records stating it should not be used excessively or avoided in summer, it is because excessive use leads to profuse sweating and loss of Yang; spontaneous sweating and exterior deficiency consume human Yuan Qi. (Zhang Zhongjing said: Those with Excess Yang and Deficient Yin cannot undergo sweating therapy. Those with a slow Chi pulse cannot undergo sweating therapy. Those with dry throat and parched mouth cannot undergo sweating therapy. Those with cough and urinary incontinence or leakage cannot undergo sweating therapy. Those with diarrhea, even if exterior symptoms exist, cannot undergo sweating therapy. Patients with stranguria cannot undergo sweating therapy. Patients with nasal bleeding or blood-loss cannot undergo sweating therapy. Patients with sores/ulcers, even with body pain, cannot undergo sweating therapy. Shaoyin disease with deep, fine, and rapid pulse cannot undergo sweating therapy. Shaoyin disease with cold limbs and no sweat cannot undergo sweating therapy. Pulse that is agitated, rapid, weak, or faint cannot undergo sweating therapy. Deep and slow pulse cannot undergo sweating therapy. Those who already sweat cannot undergo sweating therapy. Pulsations moving up, down, left, or right in the abdomen cannot undergo sweating therapy.) In summer, Yang Qi leaks outward; it is inappropriate to induce further sweating to deprive Yuan Qi! However, if deep cold invades internally during spring and summer, why would it not be usable? As for Wind-Heat macules and rashes of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian, and Wind-pain and eye pain of the Foot-Jueyin Liver Meridian, after examining that the cou li are firm and closed, and the disease requires dispersion, one must also examine for excess patterns before administering. Its efficacy is similar to that of Guizhi, Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), Gegen, and Shaoyao. But Guizhi resolves Wind pathogens injuring Wei in the Taiyang channel (Wang Haogu stated: The Heart governs Ying as Blood, the Lung governs Wei as Qi; thus Mahuang is a drug of the Hand-Taiyin Lung, and Guizhi is a drug of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart). Gegen resolves Muscle Heat and thirst in the Yangming channel (Li Shizhen stated: Mahuang is a Taiyang channel drug, entering the Lung Meridian; the Lung governs skin and hair. Gegen is a Yangming channel drug, entering the Spleen Meridian). Chaihu releases the alternating chills and fever of Shaoyang Yang pathogens. Whereas Mahuang can release Yin pathogens injuring Ying in the Taiyang channel; this distinction must be carefully made. For inducing sweating, use the stem and remove the nodes; for stopping sweating, use the root nodes. Grind equally with Ge Fen (Clam Shell Powder) and Su Mi (Millet) into powder, place in bags, and apply topically. (Li Shizhen stated: The Qi of Mahuang inducing sweat is swift and uncontrollable, whereas the root nodes stop sweating with effect like shadow following form. The wonder of physical principles is immeasurable. Spontaneous sweating syndromes include Wind-Damp, Wind-Strike, Wind-Warmth, Qi deficiency, Blood deficiency, Spleen deficiency, Yin deficiency with Stomach heat, Phlegm-fluids, Summerheat, Yang collapse, and Rou Ji (soft spasm); all can be treated by adding Mahuang according to symptoms. Danggui Liu Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia with Gold Decoction) added with Mahuang Gen (Ephedrae Radix et Rhizoma) treats night sweats especially effectively. Because its nature can circulate throughout the body surface, it can guide other drugs to the Wei level to consolidate the cou li. Materia Medica only knows the topical application method, unaware that internal administration is even more beneficial. *Xuan Ming Wu Qi Pian* states: The Heart is associated with sweat, thus knowing sweat originates from the Heart. *Jing Mai Bie Lun* states: After excessive eating, sweat comes from the Stomach; when startled and essence is lost, sweat comes from the Heart; carrying heavy loads and traveling far, sweat comes from the Kidney; running fast and fearing, sweat comes from the Liver; body shaking and fatigue, sweat comes from the Spleen. *Ben Bing Pian* states: Intoxication, overeating, and intercourse cause sweat to come from the Spleen.) Use Houpo and Baiwei (Cynanchum Atratum Root) as envoys. Adverse reactions with Xin Yi (Magnolia Flower) and Shi Wei (Pyrrosiae Folium).