柴胡 防风 葛根 升麻 羌活 独活 人参 芍药 甘草(半炙半生)
经曰∶食以养生。又曰∶安谷者昌。胃虚过食冷物,填寒至阴升生之气,致所食不化,郁而生火,肌表热,
五心烦热。久郁不达,则销灼真阴,而皮肤筋骨皆为之热。故宜味薄气辛如柴胡、干葛、羌独活辈以举之。清阳
既出上窍,则郁火随升麻凉而退矣。再有芍药微收其耗,人参大补其元,甘草生仍退热,从而炙之,人参之侪偶
也。得此因、见此症,不处此方,徒以为火,知降而不知升,知夺而不知散,是绝其谷食也,安望其养生。
诗曰∶升阳柴胡家干葛,防风升麻羌独活,甘草半生半炙煎,散火宁须参和芍。
阴邪缠于目系,头疼睛痛,发散不退,宜以汤气蒸之。用生黄 一斤,防风半斤,作汤数斛,盛以大浴盆,
盆上置一小板。令病患赤身横坐于上,周遭以席簟围定,勿令风入。汤冷再换再添,俟汗大泄,即以本汤浴之,
周时可瘥。若阳邪传阴,攻散有碍,则用青橘叶煮汤,熏洗如前,亦效。或曰熏蒸徒欲发汗,但白水亦可,何必
药。是又不然,盖人身窍窦内通脏腑,一切诸气由窍而入,呼吸传变,无处不之。黄 甘温善补,得防风而功弥
速,驱风辅正,两得之矣。橘叶香浊善散,乘青用而力益猛,第入腠理,不丧元神。所取在气,非专藉其热而发
汗也。经曰∶开者发之,适事为故。
Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Duhuo), Ginseng Radix (Renshen), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao; half roasted, half raw).
The Classics state: "Food nourishes life." It also states: "Those who can digest grain prosper." When the Stomach is deficient and one overconsumes cold foods, the coldness, being extreme Yin, suppresses the ascending Qi of generation. This leads to indigestion, where food stagnates and transforms into Fire, manifesting as heat on the muscle surface and five-palm heat (heat sensation in the palms, soles, and chest). If this stagnation persists for a long time without resolution, it consumes True Yin, causing heat in the skin, muscles, bones, and tendons. Therefore, it is appropriate to use herbs with thin flavors and acrid properties, such as Bupleuri Radix (Chaihu), Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), and Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Duhuo), to lift the clear Yang. Once the Clear Yang emerges through the upper orifices, the stagnant Fire recedes with the cooling nature of Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma). Additionally, Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao) slightly astringes to prevent excessive dispersion, while Ginseng Radix (Renshen) greatly tonifies Yuan Qi. Raw Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) still clears heat; subsequently roasting it serves to pair with Ginseng Radix (Renshen). Encountering this etiology and syndrome, if one does not prescribe this formula, but merely treats it as excess Fire, knowing only to descend and not to ascend, knowing only to drain and not to disperse, is equivalent to cutting off the source of grain and food. How can one hope to nourish life?
Poem says: In the family of Shengyang Chaihu, add Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen); combine with Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Shengma), Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix (Qianghuo), and Angelicae Pubescentis Radix (Duhuo); decoct Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao) half raw and half roasted; to scatter Fire, it is necessary to harmonize with Ginseng Radix (Renshen) and Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao).
When Yin pathogenic factors entangle the visual system, causing headache and eye pain, and dispersing methods fail to resolve it, steaming with herbal decoction vapor is suitable. Use one jin (approx. 500g) of fresh Astragali Membranacei Radix (Huangqi) and half a jin of Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), boil to produce several hu (approx. 10 liters) of decoction, and place it in a large bathing tub. Place a small wooden board over the tub. Let the patient sit horizontally naked on the board, surrounding the area with mats to prevent wind from entering. Replace or add hot water when it cools down. Wait until profuse sweating occurs, then immediately bathe in this decoction. Recovery should occur within approximately one shichen (two hours). If Yang pathogenic factors transmit to the Yin level, making dispersing treatment difficult, boiling leaves of Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' (Qingjuye) for steam washing as described above is also effective. Some may say that steaming is merely intended to induce sweating, so plain water would suffice; why use medicine? This is incorrect. The orifices of the human body internally connect to the Zang-Fu organs; all Qi enters through these orifices, transmitting and changing via respiration, reaching everywhere. Astragali Membranacei Radix (Huangqi) is sweet and warm, good at tonifying Qi; aided by Saposhnikoviae Radix (Fangfeng), its efficacy becomes even faster, driving out Wind and supporting Righteous Qi, achieving both goals. Citrus reticulata 'Chachi' leaves have a turbid fragrance and are good at dispersing; utilizing their green color (associated with Liver/Wood), their power becomes more intense, yet they enter the Couli (interstices) without damaging the Primordial Spirit. The aim here is to utilize the Qi of the herbs, not specifically relying on heat to induce sweating. The Classics state: "For open conditions, use dispersing methods; act according to what is appropriate for the situation."