Minor Blue Dragon Decoction

傷寒論

-- In cold damage, when the exterior is not resolved and there is water qi below the heart, with dry retching, fever, and cough, or thirst, or diarrhea, or choking, or difficult urination and lower abdominal fullness, or panting, Xiao Qing Long Tang governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- In cold damage, with water qi below the heart, cough with slight panting, fever, and no thirst. If after taking the decoction there is thirst, this means the cold is leaving and the condition is about to resolve; Xiao Qing Long Tang governs it. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Cough with counterflow, needing to lean and rest to breathe, unable to lie down: Xiao Qing Long Tang governs it. (omitted below) (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet)) -- A woman vomits saliva/foam; the physician instead purges her, and glomus immediately forms below the heart. One should first treat her vomiting of saliva/foam; Xiao Qing Long Tang governs it. When the saliva/foam stops, then treat the glomus; Xie Xin Tang governs it. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet))

Ephedra 3 liang, Cinnamon twig 3 liang, Asarum 3 liang, Dried ginger 3 liang, Licorice 3 liang, Peony root 3 liang, Schisandra fruit half sheng, Pinellia half sheng. For the above eight ingredients, use one dou of water; first decoct Ephedra until it is reduced by two sheng, remove the upper froth, add the other drugs, decoct to obtain three sheng, remove the dregs, and take one sheng warm. After taking it, take mild dryness in the mouth as the standard. (Shang Han Za Bing Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage and Miscellaneous Diseases))

For the above eight ingredients, use one dou of water; first decoct Ephedra until it is reduced by two sheng, remove the upper froth, add the other drugs, decoct to obtain three sheng, remove the dregs, and take one sheng warm (modern usage: decoct nine bowls of water down to three bowls; for Cinnamon twig, Add later, decoct for only 15 minutes; take one bowl warm after each of the three meals.).

湯劑

Release the exterior and dissipate cold, warm the lungs and transform fluids.

1. Patterns of wind-cold invading the exterior and water-fluid retention internally. Symptoms include aversion to cold and fever, absence of sweating, cough, panting, profuse clear thin phlegm, moist/slippery tongue coating, no thirst, and a floating tight pulse. 2. Treats phlegm-fluid cough and panting, or body pain and heaviness, and swelling of the limbs and face.

Severe yang deficiency with chronic cough, pale white enlarged tongue with teeth marks, and deep weak right chi: combine with Zhen Wu Tang. -- Cough with wheezing: add Fu Ling:15, Xing Ren:10. -- Fever, sore throat, and cough: add Jie Geng:10, Shi Gao:15. -- Cold enveloping fire, external cold with internal heat, thirst, red lips; or pulmonary edema with cough and inability to lie down, only able to sit: add Shi Gao:30. -- Severe cough and wheezing, edema: add Xing Ren:10, Di Long:30. -- Nasal congestion with profuse clear nasal discharge: add Xin Yi:10, stir-fried Cang Er Zi:10, Bai Zhi:10. -- Chronic cough with profuse phlegm: add Su Zi:6, stir-fried Lai Fu Zi:6, Bai Jie Zi:6. -- Wheezing with generalized edema: combine with Ji Jiao Li Huang Wan.

1. For mild external cold pattern: Ma Huang may be changed to Zhi Ma Huang. 2. Because this formula contains many warm-drying substances, it is not suitable for those with yin deficiency dry cough without phlegm or phlegm-heat pattern. 3. If Ma Huang is used at 15 g or more, it must be decocted for at least two hours. 4. Prescriptions containing Ma Huang should not be taken after 8 p.m.; otherwise it easily causes insomnia. If insomnia still occurs, change to taking it after breakfast and lunch. 5. Those with a thin and weak body type, the weak and sickly, and those who are thin, pale, and sweat easily should use Ma Huang with caution.