【Source】

“Synopsis of Warm Diseases”

 【Composition】

Artemisia annua, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Turtle shell, Raw Rehmannia, Tree peony bark
(5)

 【Classification】

<Nourishing Yin>: Turtle shell

<Clearing Heat and Cooling Blood>: Tree peony bark, Raw Rehmannia

<Clearing Heat and Purging Fire>: Anemarrhena asphodeloides

<Clearing Deficient Heat>: Artemisia annua

【Rationale】

“Synopsis of Warm Diseases”: Artemisia and Turtle Shell Decoction, uses the method of Minor Bupleurum Decoction with slight modifications. The reason for not using the herbs of Minor Bupleurum Decoction is that Minor Bupleurum Decoction was formulated for Shang Han (cold damage), while malaria originates from dampness and summer heat, and their sources of evil are different. Therefore, the herbs must be modified. Since both are in the Shao Yang meridian, the method cannot be departed from. Artemisia and Turtle Shell Decoction uses Artemisia annua to lead the evil. Artemisia annua is softer in power than Bupleurum, and its function of aromatically expelling filth and opening collaterals is superior to Bupleurum. When cold evil injures Yang, the Ginseng, Licorice, and Fresh Ginger in Bupleurum Decoction all protect Yang. Because stomach heat injures Yin, Turtle shell is used to protect Yin. Turtle shell is a moving substance and can enter Yin collaterals to search for evil. Bupleurum Decoction treats costalgia and dry heaves caused by drinking, thus using Ginger and Pinellia to unblock Yang, descend Yin, and clear phlegm evil. Artemisia and Turtle Shell Decoction treats yin-injury by evil heat, so Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Ophiopogon japonicus are used to clear evil heat and stop thirst. Tree peony bark clears the blood aspect of Shao Yang, and Mulberry leaf clears the Qi aspect in the Shao Yang collaterals. Modifying ancient formulas based on ancient methods is because the nature of the evil (cold or heat) differs. This is how Ye Tian Shi reads ancient books and skillfully uses ancient formulas, which cannot be compared to those who are confined by literal interpretations.

 【Functions】

Nourishes Yin, cools blood, clears heat, and generates fluids.

 【Indications】

Late stage of warm diseases, with Yin fluid injured, and evil lingering in the Yin aspect, presenting with night fever with early morning coolness, fever subsiding without sweating, thirst, red tongue with little coating, and a fine and rapid pulse.

 【Applications】

Summer heat syndrome in children, chronic nephritis, tuberculosis of the kidney, pneumonia, functional low-grade fever that does not subside, and prolonged fevers of unknown cause.

 【Mnemonic】

(1) Please eat high-grade turtle egg yolk juice (Qing Hao Bie Dan Huang Zhi). (2) Formula name + egg yolk juice (Dan Huang Zhi).

 【Modifications】

(1) If deficient heat is severe, add Belenol, Goji berry root bark, and Coptis to enhance the heat-clearing effect. (2) If there is evening fever with morning coolness, sweating, and thirst, remove raw Rehmannia and add Trichosanthes root to clear heat, generate fluids, and stop thirst. (3) If there is concurrent Yin deficiency of the lung, add Ophiopogon japonicus and Glehnia root to nourish Yin and moisten the lungs.