Ephedra Decoction

傷寒論

Taiyang disease with headache, fever, body pain, low back pain, bone and joint pain, aversion to wind, absence of sweating, and wheezing: Mahuang Tang governs. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- When Taiyang and Yangming combined disease presents with wheezing and chest fullness, one should not purge; Mahuang Tang is appropriate. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Taiyang disease, after ten days have passed, with a floating, thin pulse and somnolence, means the exterior has already resolved. If there is chest fullness and hypochondriac pain, give Xiao Chaihu Tang. If the pulse is only floating, give Mahuang Tang. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Taiyang disease with a floating, tight pulse, absence of sweating, fever, and body pain, unresolved after eight or nine days, with the exterior pattern still present: this should be treated by inducing sweating. After taking the medicine, shortly afterward the patient becomes restless and closes the eyes; in severe cases, epistaxis will certainly occur, and epistaxis brings resolution. The reason is that yang qi is replete; Mahuang Tang governs. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- If the pulse is floating, the disease is in the exterior and can be treated by inducing sweating; Mahuang Tang is appropriate. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- If the pulse is floating and rapid, one can induce sweating; Mahuang Tang is appropriate. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- In cold damage with a floating, tight pulse, if sweating is not induced and epistaxis consequently occurs, Mahuang Tang governs. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Yangming disease with a floating pulse, absence of sweating, and wheezing: inducing sweating will bring recovery; Mahuang Tang governs. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage))

Ephedra 3 liang, Cinnamon Twig 2 liang, Licorice 1 liang (honey-fried), Apricot Kernel 70 pieces. For the four ingredients above, use 9 sheng of water; first boil Ephedra, reduce by 2 sheng, remove the upper foam, add all other medicinals, boil to obtain 2.5 sheng, and remove the dregs. Take 8 ge warm. Cover to obtain a slight sweat; there is no need to sip congee. The rest is as in the Cinnamon Twig method for aftercare. (Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases))

For the four ingredients above, use 9 sheng of water; first boil Ephedra, reduce by 2 sheng, remove the upper foam, add all other medicinals, boil to obtain 2.5 sheng, remove the dregs, and take 8 ge warm. Cover to obtain a slight sweat; there is no need to sip congee. The rest is as in the Cinnamon Twig method for aftercare. (Modern usage: decoct in water and take; cover warmly to obtain a slight sweat.)

湯劑

Release the exterior by inducing sweat; Diffuse the Lung and calm wheezing.

Exterior excess pattern due to externally contracted wind-cold. Severe aversion to cold, mild fever, headache, joint pain, absence of sweating with wheezing, thin white tongue coating, floating tight pulse.

For wind-dampness and similar conditions with generalized vexing pain: add Cang Zhu: 10, Coix seed: 30. -- For severe nasal congestion and runny nose: add stir-fried Xanthium fruit: 10, Magnolia flower: 10, Bai Zhi: 10.

1. This formula is a drastic formula for pungent-warm sweating. Therefore, in the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage), for “sores patients,” “strangury patients,” “epistaxis patients,” “blood-loss patients,” as well as externally contracted exterior deficiency with spontaneous sweating, blood deficiency with a pulse that is also “slow at the cubit position,” and erroneous purgation with “heaviness of the body and palpitations,” even if there is an exterior cold pattern, all are contraindicated. Although Mahuang Tang has few ingredients, its power to induce sweating is strong, and it should not be taken excessively; otherwise, excessive sweating will certainly damage healthy qi. As Ke Qin points out: “This is a pure yang formula, excessively dispersing, like a general who advances straight in with a single blade. When administered appropriately, it wins the battle in one stroke. When inappropriate, it cannot be restrained and invites disaster. Therefore, when using it to release the exterior, it can be used once but not again.” (Shang Han Lai Su Ji · Shang Han Fu Yi, upper volume) 2. If Ephedra is used at 15 g or more, it needs to be decocted for a long time, at least two hours. 3. For prescriptions containing Ephedra, the medicine should not be taken after 8 p.m.; otherwise, it easily causes insomnia. If insomnia still occurs after doing this, please change to taking it after breakfast and lunch.