【Source】

Collected Poems on the Golden Chamber, Volume 2.

 【Composition】

Cinnamon Twig, (White) Peony Root, Licorice Root, Astragalus Root, Fresh Ginger, Jujube Dates
(6)

 【Classification】

<Blood Tonic>: Peony Root

<Spleen and Middle Jiao Tonic>: Jujube Dates, Licorice Root

<Qi Tonic>: Astragalus Root

<Acrid and Warm Exterior Releasing>: Cinnamon Twig, Fresh Ginger

【Analysis】

From “Kao of Medical Formulas”: Expelling the external, therefore use the acrid and sweet Cinnamon Twig to release the pathogenic evil from the muscles and skin; controlling the excessive, therefore use the sour and cold Peony Root to astringe the fluid in the营 (Ying) level; deficiency allowing invasion of evil, therefore use the sweet and warm Astragalus Root to solidify the Qi on the exterior; acrid and sweet release is Yang, hence Fresh Ginger and Licorice Root can assist Cinnamon Twig; as for Jujube Dates, they harmonize the gallbladder and benefit the stomach. From “Law of the Medical Gate”: Use the entire formula of Cinnamon Twig, chew with hot porridge to aid sweating, and add Astragalus Root to consolidate the Wei Qi. Because of fever, accompanied by spontaneous sweating and night sweats, fever is treated with Cinnamon Twig, and excessive sweating is treated by adding Astragalus Root. If fever persists after sweating, the evil is not completely eliminated and will be released from the exterior. Sweating causes a slight improvement, and the body is not heavy; over time, there is chest pain, indicating that excessive sweating has injured the exterior-protecting Yang and the chest Yang; there is sweating above the waist but not below, indicating that the Yang is flowing but the Yin is not, causing blockage between the upper and lower parts, for which Astragalus Root consolidates Yang and Cinnamon Twig unblocks Yin. From “Explanations of Formulas in the Golden Chamber”: Use 桂枝湯/’>Gui Zhi Tang to slightly release the exterior and harmonize the Ying and Wei, allowing the dampness on the exterior to be released with the sweat. For those with a strong exterior, even with slight sweating, there is still concern about damaging the exterior; hence, a small amount of Astragalus Root is added to strengthen the exterior, preventing sweating from harming the vital energy and preventing consolidation from retaining evil. This is precisely the wonderful use of supplementing while dispersing, supporting the vital energy and expelling evil. At the same time, the combination of Astragalus Root with Cinnamon Twig and Fresh Ginger has the effect of transforming Qi and moving water. However, Astragalus Root, by consolidating the exterior, hinders the dispersing effect of Cinnamon Twig, thus after taking the medicine, hot porridge should be consumed to assist the medicinal efficacy. It is used to treat jaundice because jaundice is also a condition of dampness stagnation, so for those with exterior deficiency, it is also indicated.

 【Functions】

Disperses wind and releases the exterior, tonifies Qi and consolidates the exterior.

 【Indications】

Common cold in debilitated individuals, yellow sweat, coldness in the lower legs, sweating above the waist, pain and laxity in the lower back, as if something is in the skin, severe cases may include inability to eat, body pain and heaviness, restlessness, difficult urination, etc., as well as floating pulse in jaundice with symptoms of exterior deficiency.

 【Applications】

Elderly, weak individuals, weak children with common cold, jaundice, yellow sweat, etc. This formula is 桂枝湯/’>Gui Zhi Tang with the addition of Astragalus Root, which can remove water, promote pus discharge, accelerate granulation, and has a strengthening effect. It is used for symptoms such as skin containing moisture, lack of elasticity, night sweats, and numbness.

 【Mnemonic】

Formula name (桂枝湯/’>Gui Zhi Tang + Astragalus Root).