【Source】

《Xuanming Lun》

 【Composition】

Talc, Licorice, Windproof, Chuanxiong, Angelica Sinensis, White Peony, Mint, Ephedra, Forsythia, Gypsum, Scutellaria, Platycodon, Schizonepeta, White Atractylodes, Gardenia, Ginger
(16)

 【Classification】

<Blood Tonifying>: Angelica Sinensis, Peony

<Spleen and Middle Tonifying>: Licorice, White Atractylodes

<Refreshing and Cold for Releasing the Exterior>: Mint

<Clearing Heat and Drying Dampness>: Scutellaria

<Warming and Cold for Releasing the Exterior>: Windproof, Ephedra, Ginger, Schizonepeta

<Activating Blood and Removing Stasis>: Chuanxiong

<Phlegm Dissolving>: Platycodon

<Clearing Heat and Purging Fire>: Gardenia, Gypsum

<Promoting Urination and Draining Dampness>: Talc

<Clearing Heat and Detoxifying>: Forsythia

【Rationale】

From “Shang Han Wen Yi Tiao Bian”: Windproof and Ephedra to release the exterior; Mint and Schizonepeta to clear the upper body; Rhubarb and Glauber’s salt to cleanse the intestines and stomach; Talc and Gardenia to promote water excretion; Platycodon and Gypsum to clear pathogenic factors from the lung and stomach; and Forsythia to expel roaming fire from all meridians. Wind-heat affecting the body is governed by the Liver. Chuanxiong, Angelica, and White Peony harmonize Liver blood to pacify wind-heat. White Atractylodes and Licorice strengthen the spleen and transport, which can overcome dampness and heat and resist wind-fire. The formula doubles the amount of “Liu Yi San” (Talc and Licorice) to steam and release damp-heat from latent pathogens, with half released through the exterior and half excreted through water.

 【Function】

Dispel wind and release the exterior, clear summer-heat and purge heat, promote urination and eliminate dampness. Resolves both interior and exterior, promotes qi and blood circulation.

 【Efficacy】

External contraction of wind-evil, internal injury from diet and fatigue, headache, body aches, aversion to cold, fever, sore throat, cough, phlegm, shortness of breath; summer-dampness, chest stuffiness, poor appetite, scanty urine, bitter and dry mouth, and symptoms of childhood rash, etc.

 【Indications】

Upper respiratory tract infections, rheumatism and arthralgia, sunstroke, summer-dampness, food stagnation, constipation, functional fever, carbuncles and boils, urticaria, neurodermatitis, eczema, and other conditions.

 【Contraindications】

Pregnant women, those with excessive menstruation after childbirth, and those with diarrhea should not take this medication.

 【Mnemonic】

防風通聖散/’>Fang Feng Tong Sheng San (=當歸散/’>Dang Gui San + Liang Ge San + Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang + Liu Yi San + 桔梗湯/’>Jie Geng Tang + Schizonepeta, Windproof, Scallion, Ginger) – Tiao Wei Cheng Qi Tang (Rhubarb, Glauber’s salt, -Licorice) – Scallion Whites.