Nine-Ingredient Notopterygium Decoction

張元素，錄自此事難知

Notopterygium, saposhnikovia, and atractylodes: half a qian; asarum: five fen; ligusticum, angelica dahurica, rehmannia, scutellaria, and licorice: one qian; add ginger and scallion white and decoct. (Yi Fang Ji Jie)

The above nine ingredients, cut into pieces, decoct in water and take. If rapid sweating is desired, take hot and follow with soup or congee; if slow sweating is desired, take warm and do not follow with soup or congee. (Modern usage: boil six bowls of water down to two bowls; take one bowl warm after meals.)

湯劑

Promote sweating and dispel dampness, while also clearing interior heat.

Externally contracted wind-cold with exterior dampness pattern. Manifestations include aversion to cold and fever, absence of sweating, headache, soreness and pain of the limbs and body, bitter taste in the mouth and thirst, thin white tongue coating, and a floating, tight pulse.

Severe headache: add Gaoben. -- Aversion to cold and high fever: add Guizhi and Chaihu. -- Exterior pattern with heat: add Jinyinhua and Lianqiao. -- Severe heat: add Shigao and Zhimu. -- Warm epidemic heat disease: add Huanglian and Shigao. -- Severe dampness with chest fullness: remove Sheng Dihuang, add Zhiqiao and Houpo. -- Cough and wheezing: add Xingren and Qianhu. -- Dry or painful throat: add Niubangzi and Bohe. -- Vomiting and thirst: add Zhishi and Jiegeng. -- Short, reddish urine: add Huashi and Cheqianzi. -- Both sweating and purgation: add Dahuang. -- Severe pain in limbs and joints: add Duhuo, Weilingxian, and Jianghuang.

This formula is a pungent-warm, drying, and drastic preparation; therefore it is not suitable for use in wind-heat exterior patterns or in those with Yin deficiency with internal heat.