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Treats Taiyang disease (Taiyang disease) after severe purgation followed by repeated sweating. There is a sensation of fullness and obstruction in the epigastrium (heart below), which feels soft upon palpation. The pulse is floating and tight at the Guan position (middle position on the radial artery). This formula is indicated. If the exterior syndrome has not resolved, one should first resolve the exterior, then attack the fullness.

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

Take the above two herbs. Soak them in 2 sheng of boiling water (Ma Fei Tang). After a short while, strain out the dregs. Divide into two doses and take warm.

Song verse: Differentiate the directions of Pi syndrome (fullness and obstruction). Floating pulse at Guan, epigastric fullness, soft upon pressure. Two liang of Dahuang, one liang of Huanglian. Mix with Ma Fei Tang to slowly drive away the disease.

Wei An (Chen Nianzu's commentary): Epigastric fullness that is soft and not hard upon pressure indicates that the pathogen that has sunk inward is clashing with formless Qi and gathering without dispersing. The pulse floating above the Guan position, with its force rising high, indicates that Minister Fire (Heart Fire) is hyperactive in the upper jiao and cannot descend to interact with Yin. This is Heat Pi syndrome caused by sensing the transformational Qi of the Minister Fire in the Upper Jiao. The formula uses Dahuang and Huanglian, which are greatly bitter and cold, to descend it. When Fire descends, Water naturally ascends; this is also the method of turning "Pi" (stagnation/blocked) into "Tai" (peace/prosperity). The most wonderful aspect is using soaking instead of decoction, extracting only the formless Qi, not the heavy tangible flavor, making both aroma and flavor light, enabling descent and immediate ascent. This is what is meant by "The sage-like and unknowable is called divine."

Treats epigastric fullness accompanied by aversion to cold and sweating. This decoction is indicated.

Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) (2 liang) Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix) (1 liang) Huanglian (Coptidis Rhizoma) (1 liang) Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) (1 piece, processed, skin removed, broken, boiled separately to extract juice.)

Cut the three herbs (Dahuang, Huangqin, Huanglian). Soak them in 2 sheng of Ma Fei Tang. After a short while, strain out the dregs. Add the Fuzi juice. Divide into two doses and take warm. (I note: Soaking with Ma Fei Tang extracts slight Qi but not flavor.)

Song verse: One piece of Fuzi in Xie Xin Tang (Drain the Epigastrium Decoction). One liang each of Lian (Huanglian) and Qin (Huangqin), two Dahuang. For sweating, aversion to cold, and epigastric fullness, carefully consider the distinction between separate decoction and light soaking.

Wei An (Chen Nianzu's commentary): Epigastric fullness is due to sensing the intrinsic heat of Shaoyin Minister Fire. The accompanying aversion to cold presents the intrinsic cold of Taiyang Water. Sweating occurs because the intrinsic cold of Taiyang is severe, while the marked Yang (Wei Yang/Defensive Yang) is greatly deficient and attempting to escape outward. In treating Taiyang disease, Yang Qi is primary; how can one lightly use bitter-cold substances at this time? However, since the fullness does not resolve, one must use the greatly bitter-cold Dahuang, Huanglian, and Huangqin to resolve the intrinsic heat of Shaoyin. Fearing imminent collapse of Yang, one urgently uses the greatly warming Fuzi to warm the marked Yang of Taiyang. They proceed together without conflict, achieving remarkable results separately. The most wonderful aspect is that Fuzi is specifically decocted to support Yang, desiring it to be cooked and heavy in nature; the Three Yellows (San Huang) clear accumulation and open fullness, desiring them to be raw-soaked and light in nature.