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Zhang Zhongjing's Dahuang Huanglian Xiexin Tang (Rhubarb and Coptis Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) is indicated for epigastric fullness and stuffiness that feels soft upon palpation, accompanied by a floating pulse at the Guan position; or when there is a deep pulse at the Cun position, a floating pulse at the Guan position, and signs of heat.

Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 2 liang) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 liang)

Crush the herbs, soak them in two sheng of boiling water infused with hemp seeds (Mafei Tang), briefly squeeze out the liquid, discard the dregs, and divide into two doses to be taken warm.

Note: These are herbs belonging to the Hand-Shaoyin meridian, yet they are categorized under Yangming patterns. Cheng Wuji stated that Dahuang and Huanglian are used to guide and drain deficient heat from the heart/epigastrium. Soaking them in Mafei Tang utilizes their light aroma to drain deficient heat.

Furthermore, according to *Ren Shu* (The Man Who Can Do It), *Yi Yin Tang Ye Lun* lists Dahuang Huanglian Huangqin Tang as having three ingredients. The current official edition lacks Huangqin, which is an omission. However, *Baoming Ji* excludes Huangqin but adds Gancao (Licorice Root, 1 liang).

Zhang Zhongjing's Fuzi Xiexin Tang (Aconite Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) is indicated for epigastric fullness and stuffiness accompanied by aversion to cold, sweating, and a deep, slow pulse.

Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 2 liang) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 liang) Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 1 liang) Fuzii Preparata Radix (Prepared Aconite Root, 1 piece, processed, peeled, decocted separately)

Crush the herbs, soak them in two sheng of boiling water infused with hemp seeds (Mafei Tang), briefly squeeze out the liquid, discard the dregs, mix in the juice of the separately decocted Fuzi, and divide into two doses to be taken warm.

Banxia Xiexin Tang (Pinellia Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) is indicated for symptoms following sweating or purgation, including chills, epigastric fullness and stuffiness, vomiting, inability to swallow food and drink, a faint pulse, and painlessness upon palpation. This is not a Chaihu pattern.

Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber, half sheng, washed) Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) Renshen (Ginseng Radix) (each 3 liang) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, 1 liang) Dazao (Jujubae Fructus, 12 pieces) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 2 liang, honey-fried)

Take the above seven ingredients, add one dou of water, decoct to obtain six sheng, strain, then decoct again to obtain two sheng. Take one sheng warm per dose, three times daily.

Shengjiang Xiexin Tang (Fresh Ginger Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) is indicated for symptoms following sweating or purgation, including stomach disharmony, dry belching with a smell of food, spontaneous diarrhea, borborygmus, fluid retention under the hypochondrium, and epigastric fullness and stuffiness.

Compared to Banxia Xiexin Tang, increase Shengjiang (Zingiberis Recens Rhizoma) to four liang and decrease Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) to one liang.

Gancao Xiexin Tang (Licorice Decoction to Drain the Epigastrium) is indicated for rumbling in the abdomen after purgation, hardness and fullness in the epigastrium, and worsening fullness after further purgation. This is not due to accumulated heat, but rather deficiency in the stomach allowing hostile qi to rebel upward.

Compared to Banxia Xiexin Tang, remove Renshen and increase Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma) to four liang.

Note: Li Dongyuan in *Yixue Mingbian* states that the aforementioned Xiexin Tangs belong to the Hand-Shaoyin meridian because they treat epigastric fullness, thus categorized under Yangming. Moreover, since Zhi Zi, Huangqin, Huanglian, Huangbai, and Dahuang are used as agents to unblock the upper and lower meridians, how can they not be categorized under Yangming?

Mizang Da Xiaopi Wan (Secret Collection Large Pill to Dissolve Fullness) is indicated for all types of epigastric fullness and stuffiness, especially those persisting for years and refractory to treatment.

Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma, stir-fried, 6 qian) Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, stir-fried, 6 qian) Jianghuang (Curcumae Longae Rhizoma) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) (each 1 qian) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) Sharen (Amomi Fructus) Ganshengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma) Shenqu (Massae Medicatae Fermentatae, stir-fried, each 1 qian) Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 2 qian) Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, stir-fried, 5 qian) Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, 2 qian) Zexie (Alismatis Rhizoma, 3 qian) Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, stir-fried, 3 qian) Zhuling (Polyporus, 1.5 qian) Banxia (Pinelliae Tuber, 4 qian)

Grind all ingredients into a fine powder. Mix with water-soaked steamed dough to form pills the size of paulownia seeds. Take 50 to 100 pills per dose with plain boiled water.

Zhishi Xiaopi Wan (Immature Bitter Orange Pill to Dissolve Fullness) is indicated for a floating and wiry pulse at the right Guan position, empty fullness in the epigastrium, aversion to food, lethargy, aiming to open the stomach and promote appetite.

Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (each 5 qian) Ganshengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, 2 qian) Banxiaqu (Pinelliae Tuber Fermentatum, 3 qian) Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, honey-fried, 4 qian) Renshen (Ginseng Radix, 3 qian) Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, 3 qian) Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried, 2 qian) Fuling (Poria) Damaimian (Hordei Fructus Germinatus) (each 2 qian)

Grind all ingredients into a fine powder. Mix with water-soaked steamed dough to form pills. Take 30 to 50 pills per dose with warm water.

Note: The above two formulas, along with Banxia Xiexin Tang, represent modification methods. They contain herbs from Zhizhu Tang, Sijunzi Tang, Wuling San, and Pingwei San, which have functions of promoting diuresis, resolving fullness, and tonifying deficiency.