Cinnamon Twig Decoction Minus Cinnamon Twig Plus Poria and White Atractylodes

傷寒論

In taiyang disease, after taking Cinnamon Twig Decoction, or after purgation, if there is still stiff pain of the head and neck, mild fever, no sweating, fullness and slight pain below the heart, and difficult urination, Cinnamon Twig Decoction with Cinnamon Twig Removed and Poria and Atractylodes Added governs. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage))

White Peony 3 liang; Licorice 2 liang, prepared; Fresh Ginger, sliced; White Atractylodes; Poria each 3 liang; Jujube, split, 12 pieces. The above six ingredients, with 8 sheng of water, boil down to 3 sheng, remove the sediment, take 1 sheng warm; when urination becomes free, recovery occurs. It originally says Cinnamon Twig Decoction; now remove Cinnamon Twig and add Poria and White Atractylodes. (Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases))

With 8 sheng of water, boil down to 3 sheng, remove the sediment, and take 1 sheng warm. When urination becomes free, recovery occurs.

湯劑

Promote urination and free yang.

After taking Cinnamon Twig Decoction, or after purgation, if there is still stiff pain of the head and neck, mild fever, no sweating, fullness and slight pain below the heart, and difficult urination.

Physicians through the ages have been quite divided over this formula. For example, Cheng Wuji held that Gui Zhi should not be removed, but Poria and Bai Zhu added; Wu Qian and others held that removing Gui Zhi should be a mistake for removing Peony; Ke Qin and Chen Xiuyuan adhered to the original text and still maintained the theory of removing Gui Zhi. After taking this formula, free urination and elimination of dampness mark that the disease is turning toward recovery; when formula and pattern correspond, the disease can resolve on schedule. It is contraindicated when a Taiyang warm disease pattern is combined with a spleen-stomach Damp-heat water-qi pattern.