甘草 生姜 人参 生地 桂枝 麦冬 阿胶 麻仁 大枣
一名复脉汤。 脉结代。心动悸。此汤主之。 脉结代者。血气虚衰。不能相续也。心
动悸者
润益阴之品。所以济其枯涸。而脉之结代者。可复于和平矣。故名复脉汤。
桂枝 芍药 麻黄 生姜 杏仁 甘草 大枣
服桂枝。大汗脉洪。与桂枝汤。若形似疟。日再发。汗出必解。 汗后脉洪。病犹在也
。如疟日再发者。邪气客于营卫之间。与桂枝二麻黄一汤。以散营卫之邪。桂枝汤料。倍于麻黄
汤料者。为其伤卫多而伤营少也。 前桂枝麻黄各半汤。以不得汗故也。今既已大汗出。故
桂枝倍麻黄耳。
大黄 浓朴 枳实 芒硝
阳明病。潮热谵语。腹满而喘。手足 然汗者。大便已硬。此汤主之。 潮热者。阳明
内实也。谵语喘满者。热聚于胃也。手足汗出。知大便已硬。非大承气不能疗也。承者顺也。胃
为水谷之海。邪气入胃。胃气壅滞。糟粕秘结。必荡涤之。正气乃顺。故有承气之名也。王冰曰
。宜下必以苦。枳实苦平。溃坚破结为君。浓朴苦温。逐气泄满为臣。热淫于内。治以咸寒
。芒硝除热软坚为佐。燥淫所胜。以苦下之。大黄荡涤润燥为使。 王海藏云。浓朴去痞。
枳实泄满。芒硝软坚。大黄泄实。惟痞满燥实四症全具者。方可用之。若不宜下而误下之。变
症不可胜数。 按承气有三种。用者大须审酌。必真有大热大实者。方与大承气汤。小热小
实者。可与小承气汤。若但结热而不满坚者。仅与调胃承气汤。此为合法适宜也。若病大而
以小承气攻之。则邪气不伏。病小而以大承气攻之。则正气必伤。仲景曰。凡欲行大承气。
先与小承气。转失气者。有燥屎也。可与大承气。若不转失气者。慎不可攻。攻之则胀满而
难治。又曰。服承气得利者。慎勿再服。何其谆谆致谨乎。
甘草、生姜、人参、生地黄、桂枝、麦冬、阿胶、火麻仁、大枣。
此方又名复脉汤（Re Mai Tang, Pulse Restoring Decoction）。主治脉象结代（Jie Dai, intermittent and irregular pulse）及心动悸（Xin Dong Ji, palpitations with a feeling of heart movement）。本方以润益阴之品，用以救济阴液的枯竭涸竭，从而使结代的脉象恢复至平和状态，因此命名为复脉汤。
桂枝、芍药、麻黄、生姜、杏仁、甘草、大枣。
服用桂枝汤后若大汗出且脉象洪大，应给予桂枝汤（Guizhi Tang, Cinnamon Twig Decoction）。若症状类似疟疾，每日发作两次，汗出后即可痊愈。发汗后脉象仍洪大，说明病邪仍在体内。如像疟疾一样每日发作两次的情况，是邪气客居于营卫之间，应给予桂枝二麻黄一汤（Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang, Two Parts Cinnamon Twig to One Part Ephedra Decoction）以疏散营卫之间的邪气。其中桂枝汤的剂量倍于麻黄汤（Mahuang Tang, Ephedra Decoction），是因为患者伤及卫气较多而伤及营气较少。前文提到的桂枝麻黄各半汤（Guizhi Mahuang Ban Tang, Half Cinnamon Twig and Half Ephedra Decoction），是因为当时无汗的缘故；如今既然已经大汗出，所以桂枝的用量倍于麻黄。
大黄、浓朴（厚朴）、枳实、芒硝。
阳明病（Yangming Disease, disease in the Yangming channel/organ system）出现潮热（Chao Re, tidal fever）和谵语（Chan Yu, delirious speech），腹部胀满且喘息，手足濈然汗出（Ji Ran Han Chu, continuous sweating on hands and feet），表明大便已经坚硬，此证由大承气汤（Da Cheng Qi Tang, Major Order the Qi Decoction）主治。所谓潮热，是阳明腑实（Yangming Nei Shi, interior excess in Yangming）的表现；谵语、气喘、腹满是热邪聚集于胃部的表现；手足出汗，可知大便已经坚硬，非大承气汤不能治愈。“承”意为顺，胃为水谷之海，邪气入胃导致胃气壅滞，糟粕秘结，必须荡涤清除，正气才能顺接，因此有“承气”之名。王冰说：宜用下法必用苦味药。枳实（Zhi Shi, Aurantium Fructus）味苦平，作为君药以溃坚破结；厚朴（Houpo, Magnolia Bark）味苦温，作为臣药以行气泄满；热邪淫溢于内，应用咸寒药治疗，芒硝（Mangxiao, Natrii Sulfas）作为佐药以除热软坚；燥邪所胜，应用苦味药以下之，大黄（Dahuang, Rheum Radix）作为使药以荡涤润燥。王海藏说：厚朴去除痞塞，枳实消除胀满，芒硝软化硬结，大黄攻泄实邪。只有痞、满、燥、实四种症状完全具备者，方可使用此方。如果不适宜用下法而误用下法，变证不可胜数。按：承气汤有三种，使用者必须仔细审察斟酌。必定是真有大热大实证者，才给予大承气汤；小热小实证者，可给予小承气汤（Xiao Cheng Qi Tang, Minor Order the Qi Decoction）；如果仅有热结而没有胀满坚硬者，仅给予调胃承气汤（Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang, Regulate the Stomach Order the Qi Decoction）。这才是合法适宜的用法。如果病重而用小承气汤攻伐，则邪气不能伏灭；病轻而用大承气汤攻伐，则正气必然受损。张仲景说：凡是准备使用大承气汤，先给予小承气汤，如果转矢气（Zhuan Shi Qi, passing gas）的，说明有燥屎，可以给予大承气汤；如果不转矢气的，千万不可攻下，攻下则会导致胀满且难以治疗。又说：服用承气汤后得利者，切勿再服。这是何等的谆谆告诫、谨慎小心啊。
Gancao (Licorice Root), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Shengdi Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Praeparata), Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin), Huomaren (Semen Cannabis), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus).
This formula is also known as Fumai Tang (Pulse Restoring Decoction). It is indicated for Jiedai Mai (intermittent and irregular pulse) and Xindongji (palpitations with a sensation of heart movement). This decoction employs moistening and yin-nourishing herbs to rescue dryness and depletion, thereby restoring the jiedai pulse to a state of harmony; hence it is named Fumai Tang.
Guizhi (Cinnamon Twig), Shaoyao (Peony Root), Mahuang (Ephedra Herb), Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome), Xingren (Apricot Seed), Gancao (Licorice Root), Dazao (Jujubae Fructus).
If after taking Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction) there is profuse sweating and a surging pulse, administer Guizhi Tang again. If the condition resembles malaria, occurring twice daily, resolution will follow sweating. If the pulse remains surging after sweating, the pathogen persists. In cases resembling malaria with two daily episodes, the pathogen resides between Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) levels; administer Guizhi Er Mahuang Yi Tang (Two Parts Cinnamon Twig to One Part Ephedra Decoction) to disperse pathogens in Ying and Wei. The dosage of Guizhi Tang ingredients is double that of Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) because the injury to Wei is greater than to Ying. The previously mentioned Guizhi Mahuang Ban Tang (Half Cinnamon Twig and Half Ephedra Decoction) was used due to the absence of sweating; now that profuse sweating has occurred, Guizhi is doubled relative to Mahuang.
Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Houpo (Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex), Zhishi (Aurantii Fructus), Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas).
In Yangming Disease (disease of the Yangming channel/organ system), presenting with Chaore (tidal fever) and Chenyu (delirious speech), abdominal fullness, panting, and Ji ran han chu (continuous sweating on hands and feet), indicating hardened stool, this formula is indicated: Da Chengqi Tang (Major Order the Qi Decoction). Chaore indicates Yangming Neishi (interior excess in Yangming); Chenyu, panting, and fullness indicate heat accumulation in the Stomach; hand and foot sweating confirms hardened stool, which requires Da Chengqi Tang. "Cheng" means to follow or smooth. The Stomach is the sea of water and grain; when pathogens enter, causing Qi stagnation and fecal impaction, purgation is necessary to restore the smooth flow of Zhengqi (Upright Qi), hence the name "Chengqi". Wang Bing stated: Purgation requires bitter herbs. Zhishi (Aurantium Fructus), bitter and neutral, serves as Jun (Chief) herb to break hardness and resolve accumulation. Houpo (Magnolia Bark), bitter and warm, serves as Chen (Deputy) herb to move Qi and relieve fullness. For heat rampant internally, salty-cold herbs are used; Mangxiao (Natrii Sulfas) serves as Zuo (Assistant) herb to clear heat and soften hardness. For dryness prevailing, bitter herbs are used to purge; Dahuang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma) serves as Shi (Envoy) herb to purge and moisten dryness. Wang Haicang said: Houpo removes obstruction, Zhishi relieves fullness, Mangxiao softens hardness, and Dahuang purges excess. Only when all four symptoms—Pi (obstruction), Man (fullness), Zao (dryness), and Shi (excess)—are present should this formula be used. Misusing purgation when inappropriate leads to countless complications. Note: There are three types of Chengqi formulas; selection must be precise. Da Chengqi Tang is for true severe heat and excess; Xiao Chengqi Tang (Minor Order the Qi Decoction) for mild heat and excess; Tiaowei Chengqi Tang (Regulate the Stomach Order the Qi Decoction) for heat binding without fullness or hardness. This is the appropriate method. Using Xiao Chengqi Tang for severe disease fails to subdue pathogens; using Da Chengqi Tang for mild disease injures Zhengqi. Zhang Zhongjing stated: Before administering Da Chengqi Tang, first give Xiao Chengqi Tang. If Zhuan shiqi (passing gas) occurs, dry feces are present, and Da Chengqi Tang may be given. If no Zhuan shiqi occurs, do not purge, as it will cause fullness and difficult treatment. Furthermore, once purgation occurs with Chengqi formulas, do not administer again. How earnest and cautious is this advice.