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Zhang Zhongjing's Baitouweng Tang (Bupleurum Decoction) is used to treat severe dysentery caused by heat-toxin.
Baitouweng (2 liang), Huanglian (3 liang), Huangbai (3 liang), Qinpi (3 liang).
The above four herbs are boiled in seven sheng of water until two sheng remain. The dregs are removed, and one sheng is taken orally. If not cured, take another dose.
Commentary: This formula treats dysentery located in the lower jiao (Lower Burner), caused by kidney deficiency with heat. The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states "the kidney desires firmness," hence pure bitter agents are used to consolidate it. This follows the herbal principles of the Taiyin (Great Yin) pattern, as dysentery belongs to the Taiyin category.

Huangqin Shaoyao Tang (Scutellaria and Peony Decoction) from *Jiyao* is used to treat diarrhea and dysentery accompanied by abdominal pain, tenesmus (feeling of incomplete defecation), fever, chronic non-healing conditions, rapid and surging pulse, and passage of thick, sticky pus and blood.
Huangqin, Shaoyao (each 2 liang), Gancao (5 qian).
Crush the herbs. Take half a liang per dose, boil in one and a half sheng of water until one sheng remains, and take warm.
Commentary: These are herbs for the Hand and Foot Taiyin meridians. Zhang Zhongjing uses Shaoyao Gancao Tang (Peony and Licorice Decoction) to restore yin. Sour flavors astringe, sweet flavors moderate; sour and sweet combined nourish yin blood. White peony tonifies, red peony purges. This derives from the Shaoyao Gancao Tang example in the Taiyang (Greater Yang) pattern.

Dahuang Tang (Rhubarb Decoction) is used for chronic diarrhea and dysentery that does not heal, characterized by thick, sticky pus and blood, tenesmus, and frequent episodes day and night.
Dahuang (1 liang).
Finely cut Dahuang, soak in two large zhan of good wine for about half a day. Boil together until one and a half zhan remains. Remove Dahuang, divide the medicinal wine into two doses, and take all at once. If dysentery stops, stop taking it; if not, continue taking until bowel movements are regulated. Afterwards, take Shaoyao Tang to harmonize. Once dysentery stops, take Huangqin Shaoyao Tang again to eliminate residual pathogens.
Commentary: This is an agent for the Yangming (Yang Brightness) meridian to regulate and purge pathogenic heat. Wine decoction is used to guide the medicinal power upward to the vertex and outward to the skin and hair.
Shaoyao Tang moves blood and regulates qi. The *Classic of Internal Medicine* states: "Passage of pus and blood in urine and stool indicates that when qi moves, blood stops." Moving blood heals dysentery; regulating qi eliminates tenesmus.
Shaoyao (1 liang), Danggui, Huanglian (each half liang), Binglang, Muxiang (each 2 qian), Guizhi (2.5 qian), Dahuang (3 qian), Huangqin (half liang), Gancao (2 qian, honey-fried).
Crush the herbs. Take half a liang per dose, boil in water, and take warm after meals. If dysentery persists, increase the amount of Dahuang.
Commentary: This is an agent that moves blood, regulates qi, and is not overly hot or cold. Generally, complex formulas with many ingredients are difficult to assign to specific meridians; one must observe the general nature. This formula follows the Gui Zhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) example of the Taiyang pattern.

Baizhu Huangqin Tang (Atractylodes Macrocephala and Scutellaria Decoction): After taking the previous medicines, even if dysentery has ceased, this formula is suitable for harmonizing.
Baizhu (1 liang), Huangqin (7 qian), Gancao (3 qian).
Crush the herbs, divide equally into three doses, boil in water, and take.
Commentary: This is an agent that removes damp-heat, harmonizes the middle jiao, and invigorates blood.

Qian Shi's Shaoyao Bapi Wan (Peony and Phellodendron Pills)
Shaoyao, Huangbai (equal parts).
Grind into powder and make pills with water.

Shouzhen's Shaoyao Bapi Wan treats all types of severe dysentery caused by damp-heat.
Shaoyao, Huangbai (each 1 liang), Huanglian (half liang), Danggui (half liang).
Grind into powder and make small bean-sized pills with water.
Commentary: These two formulas are agents that tonify yin, descend fire, and act on the lower jiao, deriving from the Taiyang pattern examples.

Ju Fang's Huanglian Ejiao Wan (Coptis and Donkey-hide Gelatin Pills) treats red and white dysentery caused by imbalance of cold and heat.
Ejiao (stir-fried 2 liang), Huanglian (3 liang), Fuling (2 liang).
Boil Ejiao in water to make a paste, mix with the powders of the other two herbs, make pills, and swallow with rice water.
Commentary: This is an agent that tonifies deficiency, reduces fever, and removes dampness, deriving from the Taiyang pattern examples. Haizang (Li Dongyuan) stated: Among these bitter-cold agents, they are suitable for cases where the original disease was not caused by internal injury from cold foods. One must examine the patient's deficiency or excess and differentiate via pulse diagnosis.