主治喘咳、水气也。旁治恶风、恶寒、无汗、身疼骨节痛、一身黄肿。
考 证
麻黄汤证曰∶身疼腰痛、骨节疼痛、恶风无汗而喘。
甘草麻黄汤证曰∶里水。
麻黄醇酒汤证曰∶黄胆。
以上三方，麻黄四两，或三两，而为君药。
大青龙汤证曰∶恶寒、身疼痛、不汗出而烦躁。
越婢汤证曰∶恶风、一身悉肿。
越婢加术汤证曰∶一身面目黄肿。
越婢加半夏汤证曰∶其人喘、目如脱状。
以上四方，麻黄皆六两。
麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤证曰∶汗出而喘。
牡蛎汤，证不具也。（说在互考中）
以上二方，麻黄皆四两。
葛根汤证曰∶无汗恶风。
小青龙汤证曰∶心下有水气、咳而微喘。
乌头汤证曰∶历节疼痛。
以上三方，麻黄皆三两。
麻黄附子甘草汤，证不具也。（说在互考中）
麻黄附子细辛汤，证不具也。（说在互考中）
以上二方，麻黄二两。
上历观此数方。麻黄主治喘咳、水气也明矣；故其证而恶风恶寒、无汗身疼、骨节痛、
一身黄肿者，用麻黄皆治也。
互 考
甘草麻黄汤、麻黄醇酒汤。唯云里水黄胆，而不审其证。为则按∶黄家兼有喘咳。恶寒
骨节痛之证者，麻黄之所主治也。
牡蛎汤，此甘草麻黄汤而加牡蛎蜀漆方也；牡蛎治动气，蜀漆主逐水，然则世所谓疟疾，
动
麻黄附子甘草汤、麻黄附子细辛汤二方，其条所谓少阴病者，恶寒甚也，而有无汗之证，
故用麻黄也。
辨 误
甚矣世医之怖麻黄也。其言曰∶吾闻之麻黄能发汗，多服之则漉漉汗出不止，是以不敢
用焉。恶是何言也？譬怯者之于妖怪，足未尝踏其境，而言某地真出妖怪也。为则尝试麻黄
之效，可用之证而用之，汗则出焉。虽当夏月而无漉漉不止之患，仲景氏言服麻黄后，覆取
微似汗，宜哉，学人勿以耳食而饱矣。
品 考
麻黄 本邦之产未闻，而亦有形状相似者，是木贼而非麻黄也。朱震亨、李时珍言其与
麻黄同功，则学人试可乃已。甄权曰∶根节止汗，试之无效也，不可从矣。仲景氏曰∶先煮
麻黄去上沫，今汉舶所载而来者，煮之无上沫，共诸药煮之而可也。
主治气喘咳嗽、水气病。兼治恶风、恶寒、无汗、身体疼痛骨节酸痛、全身黄肿。
考证
麻黄汤证表现为：身体疼痛、腰痛、骨节疼痛、恶风、无汗且气喘。
甘草麻黄汤证表现为：里水（体内水湿停滞）。
麻黄醇酒汤证表现为：黄疸。
以上三个方剂中，麻黄用量为四两或三两，作为君药（主药）。
大青龙汤证表现为：恶寒、身体疼痛、无汗且烦躁。
越婢汤证表现为：恶风、全身浮肿。
越婢加术汤证表现为：全身及面目黄肿。
越婢加半夏汤证表现为：患者气喘、眼睛像要脱出状。
以上四个方剂中，麻黄用量均为六两。
麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤证表现为：有汗且气喘。
牡蛎汤，其证候描述不完整。（说明在互考部分）
以上两个方剂中，麻黄用量均为四两。
葛根汤证表现为：无汗、恶风。
小青龙汤证表现为：心下有水气、咳嗽且轻微气喘。
乌头汤证表现为：历节疼痛（关节剧烈疼痛）。
以上三个方剂中，麻黄用量均为三两。
麻黄附子甘草汤，其证候描述不完整。（说明在互考部分）
麻黄附子细辛汤，其证候描述不完整。（说明在互考部分）
以上两个方剂中，麻黄用量为二两。
综上所述观察这些方剂，麻黄主治气喘咳嗽、水气病是明确的；因此，当出现恶风恶寒、无汗身痛、骨节痛、全身黄肿等证候时，使用麻黄均能治疗。
互考
甘草麻黄汤、麻黄醇酒汤。仅提到里水和黄疸，而未详细审察其证候。据此分析：患有黄疸的人如果兼有气喘咳嗽、恶寒、骨节疼痛的证候，正是麻黄所主治的范围。
牡蛎汤，是在甘草麻黄汤基础上加入牡蛎和蜀漆的方剂；牡蛎主治动气（气机逆乱），蜀漆主要驱逐水饮，那么世医所说的疟疾，若伴有动气症状……
麻黄附子甘草汤、麻黄附子细辛汤这两个方剂，条文所谓少阴病，指的是恶寒严重，且有若无汗的证候，所以使用麻黄。
辨误
世医对麻黄的恐惧太严重了。他们说：“我听说麻黄能发汗，多服会导致汗水淋漓不止，所以不敢使用。”这是什么话呢？这就像胆小的人面对妖怪，脚从未踏足那个地方，却声称某地真有妖怪。我尝试过麻黄的功效，在适用的证候中使用它，汗自然会出来。即使在夏天，也没有汗水淋漓不止的祸患。张仲景说服用麻黄后，盖被取微似汗，这是适宜的。学者们不要以讹传讹、盲从耳闻罢了。
品考
麻黄，本国（日本）出产的未曾听闻，也有形状相似的植物，那是木贼而非麻黄。朱震亨、李时珍说它与麻黄功效相同，那么学者们可以尝试验证后再做定论。甄权说：麻黄根节能止汗，我试用无效，不可听从。张仲景说：先煮麻黄去掉上面的沫，现在汉地商船运来的麻黄，煮的时候没有上面的沫，与其他药物一起煮即可。
Indications: Mainly treats wheezing and coughing, and water qi (pathogenic fluid retention). Adjunctively treats aversion to wind, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, body pain with bone and joint soreness, and generalized yellowish edema.
Textual Research
The syndrome of Mahuang Tang (Ephedra Decoction) presents as: body pain, lower back pain, bone and joint pain, aversion to wind, absence of sweating, and wheezing.
The syndrome of Gancao Mahuang Tang (Licorice and Ephedra Decoction) presents as: Li Shui (internal water retention).
The syndrome of Mahuang Chunjiu Tang (Ephedra in Fermented Wine Decoction) presents as: Huang Dan (jaundice).
In the above three formulas, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is used in doses of four taels or three taels as the Jun Yao (sovereign drug).
The syndrome of Da Qing Long Tang (Major Blue Green Dragon Decoction) presents as: aversion to cold, body pain, absence of sweating, and irritability.
The syndrome of Yue Bi Tang (Crossing the Curtain Decoction) presents as: aversion to wind and generalized edema.
The syndrome of Yue Bi Jia Zhu Tang (Crossing the Curtain Decoction plus Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) presents as: generalized and facial yellowish edema.
The syndrome of Yue Bi Jia Banxia Tang (Crossing the Curtain Decoction plus Pinelliae Tuber) presents as: patient's wheezing and eyes protruding as if about to fall out.
In the above four formulas, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is consistently used in a dose of six taels.
The syndrome of Mahuang Xingren Gancao Shigao Tang (Ephedra, Apricot Seed, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction) presents as: sweating accompanied by wheezing.
Muli Tang (Oyster Shell Decoction): The syndrome description is incomplete. (See Mutual Verification).
In the above two formulas, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is consistently used in a dose of four taels.
The syndrome of Gegen Tang (Puerariae Radix Decoction) presents as: absence of sweating and aversion to wind.
The syndrome of Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Green Dragon Decoction) presents as: water qi under the heart, coughing with slight wheezing.
The syndrome of Wutou Tang (Aconiti Kusnezoffii Radix Decoction) presents as: Li Jie Teng Tong (pain in all joints).
In the above three formulas, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is consistently used in a dose of three taels.
Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Prepared Aconite Root, and Licorice Decoction): The syndrome description is incomplete. (See Mutual Verification).
Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Prepared Aconite Root, and Asarum Decoction): The syndrome description is incomplete. (See Mutual Verification).
In the above two formulas, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is used in a dose of two taels.
Having observed these formulas comprehensively, it is clear that Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) mainly treats wheezing, coughing, and water qi. Therefore, when symptoms such as aversion to wind and cold, absence of sweating, body pain, bone and joint pain, and generalized yellowish edema are present, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is effective.
Mutual Verification
Gancao Mahuang Tang (Licorice and Ephedra Decoction) and Mahuang Chunjiu Tang (Ephedra in Fermented Wine Decoction) only mention Li Shui (internal water retention) and Huang Dan (jaundice), without detailing the specific syndromes. Based on this analysis: Patients with Huang Dan (jaundice) who also present with wheezing, coughing, aversion to cold, and bone/joint pain are precisely within the therapeutic scope of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba).
Muli Tang (Oyster Shell Decoction) is a modification of Gancao Mahuang Tang (Licorice and Ephedra Decoction) adding Muli (Ostreae Concha) and Shuqi (Pteridis Argyrei Rhizoma); Muli (Ostreae Concha) treats Dong Qi (agitated qi), and Shuqi (Pteridis Argyrei Rhizoma) primarily expels water. Thus, regarding the malaria commonly referred to in later times...
For Mahuang Fuzi Gancao Tang (Ephedra, Prepared Aconite Root, and Licorice Decoction) and Mahuang Fuzi Xixin Tang (Ephedra, Prepared Aconite Root, and Asarum Decoction), the "Shao Yin Bing" (Shaoyin Disease) mentioned in the clauses refers to severe aversion to cold. Since there are symptoms of absence of sweating, Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is used.
Correction of Misconceptions
It is alarming how fearful physicians of later generations are of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba). They say, "I have heard that Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) induces sweating; taking too much causes profuse, unceasing sweating, therefore I dare not use it." What kind of talk is this? It is like a coward facing a monster, never having stepped into its territory, yet claiming that monsters truly exist in that place. I have tested the efficacy of Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba); when used for appropriate syndromes, sweating occurs naturally. Even in midsummer, there is no risk of profuse, unceasing sweating. Zhang Zhongjing stated that after taking Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba), one should cover up to obtain a slight sweat, which is appropriate. Scholars should not blindly believe hearsay.
Product Verification
Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) is not known to be produced in our country (Japan), although there are plants with similar shapes, such as Equiseti Herba (Horse Tail), which is not Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba). Zhu Zhenheng and Li Shizhen claimed it has the same efficacy as Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba); scholars should test it before accepting this view. Zhen Quan stated that the root nodes stop sweating, but my trials showed no effect, so this should not be followed. Zhang Zhongjing stated: "Boil Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) first and remove the foam on top." However, the Mahuang (Ephedrae Herba) imported via Han merchant ships today does not produce foam upon boiling; it can be boiled together with other herbs directly.