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Formulas from the *Shanghan Lun* and *Jingui Yaolue*: Zhang Zhongjing of the Later Han Dynasty authored these two works, *Shanghan Lun* (Treatise on Cold Pathogenic Diseases) and *Jingui Yaolue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet), which became the ancestors of medical formulas for later generations. Although the conditions treated by his formulas are numerous and complex, their principles are clear and orderly. The herbs in a formula may be few, only one or two, yet they cover all aspects; or they may be many, up to twenty or thirty, yet not a single herb is irrelevant to the condition. Hence, they are called the "Ancestors of Formulas." This volume collects these formulas. Occasionally, some formulas from later generations are appended, allowing students to trace the source from the stream, understanding the subtlety of integrating ancient wisdom with innovation. If practitioners can deeply contemplate and memorize the formulas in this volume, they will be able to respond to changes infinitely.

Indicated for Taiyang disease (disease pattern resulting from pathogenic invasion of the Taiyang channel), where wind-cold pathogens are at the exterior, presenting with stiffness and pain in the head and neck, body ache, lower back pain, joint pain, fever with aversion to cold, aversion to wind, absence of sweating, chest fullness with wheezing, and a floating-tight or floating-rapid pulse. This formula is suitable for inducing sweating. If the pulse is floating-weak, spontaneous sweating occurs, or the chi pulse is faint and slow, it must not be taken. It is most effective for bi syndrome (painful obstruction syndrome) caused by the combination of wind, cold, and dampness, as well as for asthma and cough due to cold wind.

Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) 3 liang, remove joints; Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) 2 liang, remove bark; Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁) 70 seeds, remove skin and tips; Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) 1 liang, honey-fried. Boil with 9 sheng of water. First, boil Mahuang until the volume reduces by 2 sheng, discard the foam on top. Then add the remaining herbs. Boil until 2.5 sheng remains. Strain. Take 8 he warm. Cover with blankets to induce a slight sweat. There is no need to drink hot porridge.

Indicated for patients with heavy dampness experiencing bodily restlessness and pain.
Add Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) 4 liang to the original Mahuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).

Mahuang Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) is a potent agent for inducing sweating; monitored by Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig) and Gancao (Licorice Root), it avoids adverse effects. (Mahuang opens the pores and induces sweating with intense potency; thus, Guizhi monitors it to prevent excessive sweating leading to collapse of Yang, while Gancao harmonizes to prevent depletion of Yin and Ying blood, much like controlling a horse to prevent it from running wild.) Mahuang enters the Lung, Xingren enters the Heart; inducing sweating requires unblocking Ying (Nutritive Qi) and Wei (Defensive Qi). (Mahuang is light and clear, entering the Lung; Xingren is heavy and turbid, entering the Heart. When treating early-stage Taiyang disease, Zhang Zhongjing always establishes prescriptions based on the Heart-Ying and Lung-Wei systems.) Boiling Mahuang first concentrates its power. (Boiling Mahuang first aims to concentrate its efficacy, not merely to remove the foam.) There is no need to drink hot porridge, lest it cause stagnation. (Not drinking hot porridge prevents lingering of Mahuang's properties.) Removing Dazao (Jujube Fruit) and Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger) avoids hindering the ascending-descending actions of Xingren and Mahuang. (In Zhang Zhongjing's diaphoretic formulas, Ginger and Jujube are usually added. Here they are omitted because Shengjiang disperses horizontally to resolve the muscle layer, hindering Mahuang's upward action; Dazao slows the middle and clogs the diaphragm, hindering Xingren's downward action. This demonstrates the precision of the prescription.) One must know that Mahuang and Guizhi are acrid and warm; Zhang Zhongjing originally formulated them for wind-cold. Regardless of whether it is Shanghan (Cold Damage) or Fengzhong (Wind Strike), if the Wei level is excess, use Mahuang Tang; if the exterior is deficient, use Guizhi Tang. (Mahuang Tang treats Wei excess; Guizhi Tang treats exterior deficiency. The distinction lies in the presence or absence of sweating, not in distinguishing between wind and cold.) Later generations wrongly used these for Warm diseases and Summerheat, no wonder patients died immediately after ingestion. (These two formulas were originally designed for true Shanghan occurring in winter. Misusing them for Warm diseases leads to death.) Early Shanghan affects the Taiyang channel, characterized by stiffness and pain in the head and neck. (Stiffness and pain in the head and neck are symptoms of the Taiyang channel.) Fever, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, and wheezing with a floating-tight pulse confirm the indication for Mahuang Tang. (These are the key diagnostic criteria for Mahuang Tang. Mahuang treats absence of sweating, Xingren treats wheezing, Guizhi treats aversion to cold, Gancao harmonizes the herbs; every ingredient is precise, hence called "Classic Formulas".) If the Cun and Guan pulses are floating-weak (Exterior Deficiency) and the Chi pulse is slow-faint (Interior Deficiency), mistaken sweating leads to collapse of Yang, causing severe disaster. (If the pulse is floating-weak-faint, using Mahuang and Guizhi to warm and unblock joints to dispel cold is ineffective. For deficiency patterns, combine with Qi and Blood tonifying herbs.) Cold-wind asthma and cough can still be helped. (Cold-wind asthma results from wind-cold lodging in the Back-Shu points, recurring frequently; this formula effectively disperses cold and benefits the Lung. In asthma cases, taking Mahuang may not induce sweating.) The Mahuang Jia Zhu Tang (Ephedra Decoction plus Atractylodes) in *Jingui Yaolue* is apt for heavy dampness causing bodily restlessness and pain. (When dampness is excessive externally, Yang is internally constrained, causing restlessness and pain.) For cold-damp at the exterior, sweating is appropriate; Mahuang and Baizhu synergistically enhance efficacy. (With Baizhu, Mahuang does not cause excessive sweating; with Mahuang, Baizhu can drain dampness from both exterior and interior. This is the correct method for treating cold-damp at the exterior.) Adding Baizhu to diaphoretic formulas set the precedent for Hai Zang's Shen Zhu San (Divine Atractylodes Powder). (Adding Baizhu to diaphoretic formulas was termed "opening the ghost gate" by Jiegu. Wang Haizang imitated this idea to create Shen Zhu San to replace Mahuang and Guizhi, claiming it was miraculous.) An Dao's discussions were quite insightful. (Wang Andao wrote *Yijing Suhui Ji*, providing detailed distinctions between Shanghan and Warm diseases.) Do not rigidly adhere to modifications in *Huo Ren Shu*. (Zhu Gong's *Leizheng Huoren Shu* records adding Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Shigao (Gypsum Fibrosum), and Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) to Mahuang Tang after the Summer Solstice. Many later scholars followed this, showing unclear understanding; how can Ma Huang be used for Summerheat-damp?) This is the primary formula for Shanghan. Do not be misled by books. (Xu Gao notes: Some say Mahuang Tang is specific to Shanghan, others say it treats miscellaneous diseases generally, due to failing to grasp the core principle. If one knows it is the main formula for Cold injuring Ying, it should not be used for Warm diseases or Summerheat, nor even for shallow pathogens in the Wei level. Conversely, why is it not universally applicable for Cold pathogens affecting Ying?)