【Source】

《Imperial Grace Formulary of the Taiping Era》

 【Ingredients】

Forsythia Fruit, Rhubarb, Mirabilite, Gardenia Fruit, Scutellaria Root, Peppermint, Licorice Root, Bamboo Leaf
(8)

 【Categories】

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Jiao>: Licorice Root

<Pungent-Cool to Release the Exterior>: Peppermint

<Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness>: Scutellaria Root

<Purging>: Mirabilite, Rhubarb

<Clearing Heat and Purging Fire>: Bamboo Leaf, Gardenia Fruit

<Clearing Heat and Detoxifying>: Forsythia Fruit

【Explanation of Formula】

《Yi Fang》: This formula purges fire from the upper and middle jiao. (1) For heat in the interior, treat with salty and cold, assisted by bitter and sweet. (2) Thus, Forsythia Fruit, Scutellaria Root, Bamboo Leaf, and Peppermint are used to ascend and disperse in the upper jiao. (3) And the potent action of Rhubarb and Mirabilite forcefully clears it from the middle jiao. (4) Licorice Root and raw honey are used because the condition is in the diaphragm, and sweetness helps to moderate it.《Shan Bu》: Wang Ang said: This formula purges excess fire from the upper and middle jiao. For heat in the interior, treat with salty and cold, assisted by bitter and sweet. Therefore, Forsythia Fruit, Scutellaria Root, Bamboo Leaf, and Peppermint disperse fire in the upper jiao, while the strong purging action of Rhubarb and Mirabilite clears heat from the middle jiao, allowing it to ascend and descend, thereby clearing the diaphragm. Licorice Root and raw honey are used because the condition is in the diaphragm, and sweetness helps to moderate it. Ancient formulas often use Cooling Diaphragm Powder.《Cheng Fang Bian Du》: Rhubarb and Mirabilite cleanse and descend to remove stagnation and expel heat. However, even if the stagnant evil is removed, there may still be floating fire scattered in the upper and middle jiao. Therefore, Scutellaria Root, Peppermint, and Bamboo Leaf are used to thoroughly clear fire from the upper and middle jiao. Forsythia Fruit dissipates residual fire in the channels and collaterals. Gardenia Fruit, from above, guides the fire evil to curve downward. In this way, all evils, both tangible and intangible, in the upper and lower jiao, interior and exterior, are dissipated.

 【Functions】

Clears heat and detoxifies, purges fire and unblocks the bowels.

 【Indications】

External heat disease, excessive heat evil in the upper and middle jiao, exuberant heat in the lung and stomach, presenting with high fever, headache, dizziness, red eyes, irritability, thirst, flushed face, dry lips, swollen and sore throat, oral ulcers, constipation, dark urine, restless sleep, delirium, mania, and all conditions of accumulated heat in the zang-fu organs.《Yi Fang》: Exuberant heart fire ascending, dryness and stagnation in the middle jiao, irritability, thirst, red eyes, dizziness, oral ulcers, cracked lips, hematemesis (vomiting blood), epistaxis (nosebleed), constipation and dysuria, various wind-syndromes with convulsions, stomach heat causing skin rashes and delirium, as well as acute infantile convulsions, and black depression of smallpox lesions.《Shan Bu》: Exuberant heart fire ascending, dryness and stagnation in the middle jiao, irritability, thirst, red eyes, dizziness, oral ulcers, cracked lips, hematemesis, epistaxis, constipation and dysuria, various wind-syndromes with convulsions, stomach heat causing skin rashes and delirium, as well as acute infantile convulsions, and black depression of smallpox lesions.

 【Appropriate Conditions】

Pneumonia, bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, sinusitis, headache, rubella, and other diseases.

 【Contraindications】

(1) Contraindicated for those with spleen and stomach deficiency-cold and loose stools. (2) Pregnant women should not take it.

 【Mnemonic】

Regulate the Stomach and Order the Qi Decoction + : 今夜翹脖子 (Jīn Yè Qiáo Bó Zi – phonetic for Scutellaria Root, Bamboo Leaf, Forsythia Fruit, Peppermint, Gardenia Fruit).

 【Modifications】

《Shan Bu》: (1) Adding Acorus Gramineus and Polygala Root to this formula is named “Zhuan She Gao” (Turning Tongue Paste), used to treat accumulated heat in the Heart meridian. (2) Adding Indigo Naturalis and Isatis Root is named “Huo Ming Jin Dan” (Life-Saving Golden Elixir), used to treat wind-heat in the Liver meridian. (3) Zhang Jiegu removed Mirabilite and Rhubarb, and added Platycodon Root as a guiding herb to make it float and ascend, suitable for various heats in the upper jiao when the bowels are not constipated. This formula should not be lightly criticized for its excessive purging action.

 【Pharmacology】

The individual herbs in this formula have cathartic, diuretic, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects.