【Source】
《Formulas and Strategies (1110 AD)》，《Secrets of Pediatric Medicine (1114 AD)》Volume 2.
【Ingredients】
Cimicifuga，Kudzu Root，Peony Root，Licorice Root
(4)
【Category】
<Blood Tonifying>：Peony Root
<Spleen and Middle-Jiao Tonifying>：Licorice Root
<Acrid-Cool Exterior Releasing>：Kudzu Root、Cimicifuga
【Formula Analysis】
《Medical Formulas》: This is a Foot Yang Ming medicine. (1) Yang Ming has abundant Qi and Blood. When cold evil injures a person, Qi and Blood stagnate. Acridity can reach the exterior, and lightness can obtain solidity. Therefore, Cimicifuga and Kudzu Root, being acrid and light, are used to dispel pathogenic influences from the Yang Ming exterior. (2) When Yang evil is excessive, Yin Qi is deficient. Therefore, Peony Root is used to nourish Yin and harmonize Blood, and Licorice Root is used to regulate Wei Qi. (3) Cimicifuga and Licorice Root raise Yang and resolve toxins, so they also treat seasonal epidemics. 《Additions and Supplements》: This formula treats Yang Ming diseases spontaneously. Ma Huang and Gui Zhi are not used because excessive sweating can deplete fluids and cause stomach dryness. Cimicifuga and Kudzu Root are used to release the Yang of the stomach to dispel heat from the muscles. Peony Root and Licorice Root drain fire from the Spleen meridian to relieve internal heat in the stomach. It induces sweating if there is sweat, and stops sweating if there is no sweat, with the same effect as Gui Zhi Tang, but without Gan Jiang and Gui Zhi, and without the need to sip thin congee to assist Yang. Stomach fullness is an interior syndrome of the Yang Ming. This formula imitates its meaning, removing the acrid and hot Gan Jiang and Gui Zhi, and using Cimicifuga instead of Ma Huang, making it an exterior-releasing formula for the Yang Ming, not for the Tai Yang. Kudzu Root has a sweet and cool nature, which can dispel exterior solidity. Together with Cimicifuga, it ascends, allowing clear Yang to reach upwards and turbid Yin to descend. It can be seen that Peony Root astringes Spleen Yin and Licorice Root alleviates spasms and harmonizes the interior, which stops diarrhea. It can be seen that treating the interior still uses exterior-releasing medicine because it is diarrhea due to exterior solidity, not due to interior fullness.
【Functions】
Raises and disperses pathogenic toxicity from the Yang Ming, releases muscles with acrid and cool properties, clears heat and promotes eruption of rashes, and resolves toxins.
【Indications】
Febrile disease, wind-stroke, pestilence, fever with aversion to cold, headache and body ache, eye pain and dry nose; initial stage of rashes; Yang Ming diarrhea; toothache, swollen cheeks, sore throat. Seasonal epidemic febrile diseases with headache and fever, pain and discomfort in the limbs, and rashes that have appeared or have not yet appeared in adults and children. Sores all over the body, purulent and bloody spine swelling, extremely painful and itchy. Initial stage of Rotten Throat Dan Sha, distended head with aversion to cold, red and hot skin, throat knotting, swelling, pain, and festering, leading to faint rashes all over the body. Internal medicine indications include initial stage of measles, when the rash has not yet erupted, or has erupted incompletely, with fever and headache. 《Medical Formulas》: Yang Ming cold damage, wind-stroke with headache, body ache with fever and aversion to cold, no sweat, thirst, eye pain, dry nose, inability to lie down, and Yang Ming rashes, about to erupt but not erupting, unpredictable chills and fever, common in epidemics. 《Additions and Supplements》: Yang Ming exterior heat with diarrhea, also treats initial stage of smallpox and measles.
【Suitable For】
Measles, rubella and other pediatric exanthematous diseases, herpes, chickenpox, colds, viral pneumonia, enteritis, dysentery.
【Contraindications】
(1) Do not take if the rash has already erupted, for fear of further weakening the exterior. (2) Do not take if the cold damage has not entered the Yang Ming, for fear of drawing the exterior pathogen into the Yang Ming.
【Mnemonic】
Two people have the opportunity to be promoted (Sheng Ge – Cimicifuga and Kudzu), those promoted should not quarrel, promoted, little quarrel (Sheng Ge Shao Cao – Cimicifuga, Kudzu, Peony, Licorice).
【Modifications】
《Medical Formulas》: (1) For headache: add Chuan Xiong and Bai Zhi (Angelica Dahurica) (Chuan Xiong guides Yin and Yang blood Qi, Bai Zhi specifically treats Yang Ming headache). (2) For body pain and stiff back: add Qiang Huo (Notopterygium Root) and Fang Feng (Ledebouriella Root) (this also involves Tai Yang, so these two herbs are added). (3) If the fever does not subside: in spring, add Chai Hu (Bupleurum Root), Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root), and Fang Feng (Shao Yang governs, Chai Hu and Huang Qin are Shao Yang herbs); in summer, add Huang Qin and Shi Gao (Gypsum) (to clear heat and reduce fire). (4) For swelling of the head and face: add Fang Feng, Jing Jie, Lian Qiao (Forsythia Fruit), Bai Zhi, Chuan Xiong, Niu Bang Zi (Burdock Fruit), and Shi Gao (to raise and disperse, and resolve toxins). (5) For sore throat: add Jie Geng (Platycodon Root) (to clear the lungs and benefit the diaphragm and throat). (6) For rashes that do not erupt completely: add <a href='https://whatsintcm.com/dt_articles/Zi Cao (Gromwell Root)/’>Zi Cao (Gromwell Root) (Zi Cao cools the blood and moistens the intestines. Using the woolly form takes advantage of its initial acquisition of Yang Qi and the effect of stimulating and raising). (7) For weak pulse: add Ren Shen (Ginseng). (8) For weak stomach with poor appetite: add Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome). (9) For abdominal pain: double the dose of Peony Root. (1) If there is swelling and pain in the throat, add Jie Geng, Xuan Shen (Scrophularia Root), and Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root) to relieve throat swelling and pain. (2) If the rash does not erupt smoothly, add Jing Jie (Schizonepeta), Chan Tui (Cicada Slough), Niu Bang Zi, and Bo He (Mint) to enhance the rash-promoting effect. (3) If the rash spots have not erupted and the skin color is deep red, this indicates toxins are stagnant in the blood level; add Zi Cao, Qian Cao (Rubia Root) or Dan Pi, Yin Hua, and Xuan Shen to strengthen the effect of cooling blood and resolving toxins. (4) If Qi is excessive, remove Ren Shen; for cough, add Sang Bai Pi (Morus Alba Root Bark) and Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel). For headache, add Qiang Huo and Chuan Xiong; for body pain, add Du Huo (Angelica Pubescens Root); for dry nose, add Jing Jie; for fullness and distention, add Lai Fu Zi (Radish Seed); for high fever and thirst, add Huang Qin; for constipation, add Shan Zha (Hawthorn Fruit); for palpitations, add Lian Qiao; for sore throat, add Niu Bang Zi; for shortness of breath, add Ma Huang (Ephedra); for delirium without sweating, also add Ma Huang. (5) In winter, add Ma Huang 5 fen; in summer, add Zi Su. For rashes and pathogenic heat, add Niu Bang Zi. In spring, add Huang Qin; in summer, add Huang Qin and Shi Gao; when wind is prevalent, add Xiao Feng San (Eliminate Wind Powder).
【Pharmacology】
Has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pathogenic microorganism, antispasmodic, analgesic, sedative, antitussive, and expectorant effects.