Minor Purgative Decoction

傷寒論

Yangming disease, pulse slow; although there is sweating and no aversion to cold, the body must be heavy, with shortness of breath, abdominal fullness and panting, and if there is tidal fever, this indicates the exterior is about to resolve and the interior may be attacked. If the hands and feet sweat continuously, this means the stool is already hard; Da Cheng Qi Tang governs it. If sweating is profuse with slight fever and aversion to cold, the exterior has not resolved; since the fever is not tidal, one cannot give Cheng Qi Tang. If there is great abdominal fullness and no bowel movement, one may give Xiao Cheng Qi Tang to slightly harmonize the Stomach Qi, but do not cause severe purging. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Yangming disease with tidal fever and slightly hard stool: one may give Da Cheng Qi Tang; if the stool is not hard, one must not give it. If there has been no bowel movement for six or seven days, there may be dry stool. To determine this, give a small amount of Xiao Cheng Qi Tang; if after the decoction enters the abdomen there is passing of flatus, this indicates dry stool, and then it may be attacked. If there is no passing of flatus, this is only hardness at the beginning, and afterward there will certainly be loose stool; one must not attack it. Attacking it will certainly cause distention and fullness and inability to eat. If the patient wants to drink water, giving water will cause hiccup. If fever subsequently appears, the stool will certainly become hard again but scanty; use Xiao Cheng Qi Tang to harmonize it. If there is no passing of flatus, one must carefully not attack. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Yangming disease, the patient sweats profusely; because Body Fluids are discharged outward, the Stomach is dry, and the stool must be hard; when hard, there is delirious speech; Xiao Cheng Qi Tang governs it. If after one dose the delirious speech stops, do not give further doses. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Taiyang disease, after emesis, purgation, or sweating, with slight restlessness, frequent urination, and consequent hard stool, give Xiao Cheng Qi Tang to harmonize and it will heal. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Two or three days after contracting illness, pulse weak, no Taiyang or Chaihu pattern, restlessness, hardness below the heart; by the fourth or fifth day, although able to eat, give Xiao Cheng Qi Tang in small amounts, slightly harmonize it, and cause slight comfort. By the sixth day, give Cheng Qi Tang one sheng. If there is no bowel movement for six or seven days and urine is scanty, although unable to eat, the stool is hard only at the beginning and afterward will certainly be loose; it is not yet determined to be hard. Attacking it will certainly cause loose stool. One must wait until urination is free and the stool is definitely hard, then it can be attacked; Da Cheng Qi Tang is suitable. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- For diarrhea with delirious speech, there is dry stool; Xiao Cheng Qi Tang is suitable. (Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage)) -- Qian Jin Yi: Xiao Cheng Qi Tang treats inability to pass stool, frequent hiccup, and delirious speech. (Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet))

Rhubarb 4 liang, Magnolia Bark 2 liang (prepared), and three large Aurantium Immaturus fruits (prepared). For the above three ingredients, use four sheng of water, boil to reduce to one sheng and two ge, remove the dregs, and divide into two warm doses. (Shang Han Za Bing Lun)

Boil six bowls of water down to two bowls; take one bowl warm each time before meals.

湯劑

Remove Yangming excess heat, purge dry stool, Clear heat and remove glomus.

1. Yangming fu-organ excess pattern, with constipation, delirious speech and tidal fever, glomus and fullness in the chest and abdomen, old yellow tongue coating, and a slippery and rapid pulse. 2. It can also be used in the early stage of dysentery, diarrhea with abdominal pain, and tenesmus.

Stroke, unconscious and unresponsive, obstruction of urine and stool, abdominal distention and fullness: add Notopterygium 6, Earthworm 6, Notoginseng 3. -- Habitual constipation with Yang deficiency tendency: combine with Houpo Wen Zhong Tang.

Use with caution in pregnant women.