Library

Treats Taiyang wind-stroke (Taiyang wind-stroke: a syndrome caused by wind pathogen invading the Taiyang channel) with floating-tight pulse, fever and aversion to cold, body pain, anhidrosis accompanied by irritability, provided there are no Shaoyin disease signs. If the pulse is faint and weak, with sweating and aversion to wind, this formula must not be administered; if taken in error, it will lead to cold extremities (Jue Ni), twitching of sinews, and fasciculation of muscles, which constitutes a therapeutic deviation (Ni).

Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 6 liang, nodes removed), Cinnamon Twig (Guizhi, bark removed), Licorice Root (Gancao, 2 liang each, honey-fried), Apricot Seed (Xingren, 40 seeds, skin and tips removed), Fresh Ginger (Shengjiang, 3 liang, sliced), Jujube (Dazao, 12 pieces), Gypsum Fibrosum (Shigao, one piece the size of a chicken egg, crushed). Use nine sheng of water, first decoct Ephedrae Herba until the volume reduces by two sheng, skim off the foam, then add the remaining herbs. Decoct to obtain three sheng of liquid, filter out the dregs, and take one sheng warm. The goal is a slight perspiration. If sweating is excessive, apply warm powder to the body. If sweating occurs after the first dose, discontinue subsequent doses. Excessive sweating leads to loss of Yang Qi (Wang Yang), resulting in deficiency.

Da Qing Long Tang consists of modifications of Gui Zhi Tang and Ma Huang Tang, containing Mahuang, Xingren, Gancao, Shigao, Shengjiang, and Dazao. It addresses Taiyang disease characterized by fever, aversion to cold, anhidrosis, and irritability, possessing strong efficacy in resolving these symptoms. ("Fever, aversion to cold, anhidrosis, and irritability" are the key diagnostic points for Da Qing Long Tang.) Stop subsequent doses if sweating occurs after one administration; applying warm powder is beneficial if sweating is excessive. (Zhang Zhongjing's original recipe for warm powder is lost; Cheng Wuji in *Shanghan Mingli Lun* suggested using Angelica Dahurica (Baizhi), Ligusticum Wallichii (Qubai), Atractylodes Macrocephala (Baizhu), Ligusticum Chuanxiong (Chuanxiong), mixed with rice flour.) When cold pathogen is superficial, it only injures Wei Qi (Defensive Qi); when wind pathogen is severe, Ying Qi (Nutritive Qi) is also injured. Wind-stroke causing excess in Wei Qi manifests as irritability; this formula is potent for clearing heat and inducing sweating. (Note: Wind injures Wei, Cold injures Ying. Wind-stroke presents with floating-slow pulse, while Cold-pathogen presents with floating-tight pulse, which is the general principle. The pulse and symptoms here belong to Cold-pathogen, yet differ from typical wind-stroke due to the presence of irritability. Pure cold pathogen typically causes only vomiting and regurgitation... Cold and wind pathogens invade at varying depths and manifest according to individual constitutional deficiency or excess. Thus, shallow cold injures only Wei, while severe wind injures both Ying and Wei. In Wei excess, wind is hard to dissipate; in Wei deficiency, cold fails to consolidate. This illustrates the literary device of mutual implication. This decoction treats wind-stroke with Wei excess, being a heavy agent for clearing heat and inducing sweating.) Its syndrome is more severe than that treated by Ma Huang Tang; preserving the Yangming stage preemptively is a sage method. (Ke Yunbo in *Shanghan Laisu Ji* stated: "This is a severe form of Ma Huang Tang syndrome, hence doubling Mahuang to induce sweating and adding Shigao to remove irritability." "The symptoms resemble Ma Huang Tang, but differ in wheezing versus irritability: Wheezing is due to cold stagnating Qi, impairing ascending and descending functions, thus Bitter Apricot Seed is used to descend Qi; Irritability is due to heat injuring Qi and lack of fluids preventing sweating, thus Sweet Gypsum is added to generate fluids." "Using Shigao to clear Stomach fire is Zhang Zhongjing's preemptive move to protect Yangming within the Taiyang stage. Adding Shengjiang and Dazao to support Middle Qi prevents transmission to Taiyin." "One sweat resolves both exterior and interior, dispelling both wind and heat; this demonstrates Da Qing Long Tang's merit in clearing internal heat and expelling external pathogens, supplementing the deficiencies of Ma Huang Tang and Gui Zhi Tang.") Shaoyin irritability with faint-weak pulse, aversion to wind and sweating, does not match this indication. (Shaoyin disease also presents with irritability, differentiated by faint-weak pulse, sweating, and aversion to wind; this formula is contraindicated. Zhang Zhongjing established this formula as a warning, conveying deep cautionary intent.) Using heat to treat cold conditions can save the patient; misusing Da Qing Long Tang will inevitably cause loss of Yang. (For Shaoyin irritability, one should use heat to treat cold, such as Si Ni Tang with Porcine Bile, to salvage the situation. Misuse of Da Qing Long Tang will inevitably invite the disaster of Yang collapse; exercise extreme caution.)