【Naming】
《Shan Bu》: The name Da Qing Long Tang is taken from the meaning of the dragon bringing clouds and rain.
【Source】
《Shang Han Lun》(Treatise on Cold Damage)
【Ingredients】
Ma Huang (Ephedra), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), (Prepared) Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel), Shi Gao (Gypsum), Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Da Zao (Jujube)
(7)
【Category】
<Tonifying the Spleen and Middle Jiao>：Da Zao (Jujube), Gan Cao (Licorice Root)
<Releasing the Exterior with Acrid-Warm Herbs>：Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger), Ma Huang (Ephedra), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig)
<Clearing Heat and Draining Fire>：Shi Gao (Gypsum)
<Relieving Cough and Wheezing>：Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel)
【Formula Analysis】
《Yi Fang》: A Foot Taiyang (Bladder Channel) Formula. (1) Cheng Shi said: Gui Zhi treats Wind-stroke, and Ma Huang treats Cold Damage. Now, with both Wind and Cold injuries, using Gui Zhi to release the muscles and expel Wind cannot eliminate the Cold, and using Ma Huang to induce sweating and disperse Cold cannot dispel the Wind. Therefore, Zhongjing prescribed Qinglong to resolve both. (2) Ma Huang: sweet and warm, Gui Zhi: acrid and hot. Cold injures the Ying (Nutritive) Qi, so sweet herbs are used to moderate it; Wind injures the Wei (Defensive) Qi, so acrid herbs are used to disperse it. Therefore, Ma Huang is the Chief herb, and Gui Zhi is the Deputy herb. (3) Gan Cao: sweet and neutral; Xing Ren: sweet and bitter, assist Ma Huang in releasing the exterior. (4) Da Zao: sweet and warm; Sheng Jiang: acrid and warm, assist Gui Zhi in releasing the muscles. (5) When both Ying and Wei Qi, Yin and Yang are injured, a mild formula cannot resolve them alone. Heavy and light herbs must be used together to disperse them, so that Yin and Yang evils are eliminated and Ying and Wei Qi are harmonized. (6) Shi Gao: acrid, sweet, slightly cold, heavy in substance and specifically reaches the muscle surface as an Envoy herb.《Shan Bu》: Da Qing Long Tang is named after the meaning of the dragon causing clouds and rain. Treating Wind cannot go beyond Gui Zhi, and treating Cold cannot go beyond Ma Huang. Combining Gui Zhi and Ma Huang decoctions creates this formula, making it suitable for those injured by both Wind and Cold. Both syndromes lack sweat, so Shao Yao (Peony Root) is reduced, as we do not want it to restrain. Both syndromes have irritability, so Shi Gao is added to resolve the heat. If there is no irritability, then one should focus on Ma Huang Gui Zhi Ge Ban Tang (Ma Huang and Gui Zhi Half-and-Half Decoction). Zhongjing adding a large cold and acrid-sweet herb to an exterior releasing formula indicates that the fever of Ma Huang syndrome is entirely on the exterior, and the irritability of Da Qing Long syndrome also affects the muscles. Using Shi Gao at the initial stage of Taiyang disease is because its acridity can relieve muscle heat, its coldness can clear Stomach fire, and its sweetness can generate fluids, which is a preemptive measure to protect Yangming and preserve fluids. Inexperienced practitioners doubt and fear it, failing to use it when needed, which inevitably leads to heat binding in the Yangming, causing macules, jaundice, delirium, and other transformations. From this, one can see that Shi Gao is an essential herb for Wind-stroke and Cold Damage. It gains the name Qinglong when combined with Ma Huang and Gui Zhi, and it earns the name Baihu (White Tiger) when combined with Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena) and Gan Cao. After taking the decoction, aim for a slight sweat. If excessive sweating occurs, apply warm powder. One dose should induce sweating, then discontinue further doses, as even in syndromes that warrant sweating, excessive sweating should be avoided. Therefore, Zhongjing does not use Ma Huang in Gui Zhi Tang because he wants to avoid excessive sweating; he uses Gui Zhi in Ma Huang Tang to prevent excessive and uncontrolled sweating. If the method is not carefully followed, excessive sweating will deplete Yang, leading to various adverse transformations. The exterior will become empty and susceptible to Wind, Yin will flourish and repel Yang, causing increased irritability and insomnia. 《Han Dian》: This formula treats syndromes similar to Ma Huang Tang syndrome, but with substantial heat in the exterior and internal heat as well. The target symptoms include aversion to cold, fever, floating and tight pulse, muscle pain, joint pain, and lower back pain, along with irritability. Compared to Ma Huang Tang syndrome, the disease is more severe, leading to irritability. In such cases, even administering Ma Huang Tang will not induce sweating. This condition often occurs in robust individuals in the early stages of influenza, pneumonia, and other acute febrile diseases. This formula is Ma Huang Tang with the addition of Shi Gao, Sheng Jiang, and Da Zao. Shi Gao disperses internal heat and treats irritability.
【Functions】
Induces sweating and releases the exterior, clears heat and relieves irritability, releases the exterior with acrid-warm herbs, and clears internal heat.
【Indications】
(1) External contraction of Wind-Cold, Taiyang Wind-Cold injury, both Ying and Wei Qi are diseased, Wind-Cold exterior excess syndrome with internal heat presenting with fever and aversion to cold, severe cold and heat, floating and tight pulse, body aches, lack of sweating, and irritability. (2) Wind-water edema of the four limbs, heaviness and pain in the body, and internal heat. 《Yi Fang》: (1) Treats Taiyang Wind-stroke, with a floating and tight pulse, body aches, fever, aversion to cold, lack of sweating, and irritability (Shang Han Lun, Taiyang Chapter). (2) Also treats Cold Damage with a floating and rapid pulse, heaviness but not pain in the body, sometimes feeling lighter, without Shao Yin symptoms (Shang Han Lun, Taiyang Chapter). 《Shan Bu》: Taiyang Wind-Cold injury, both Ying and Wei Qi are diseased. A pulse resembling Cold Damage but with Wind-stroke symptoms, a pulse resembling Wind-stroke but with Cold Damage symptoms, both syndromes lacking sweating and having irritability, use this formula to resolve both and induce sweating. Even if these symptoms are present, if the pulse is weak and there is spontaneous sweating, do not take this, as it will deplete Yang.
【Suitable for】
High fever, common cold, influenza, early stages of acute febrile diseases, bronchopneumonia, acute pneumonia, allergic rhinitis, acute nephritis, acute edema, postpartum edema with abdominal distension, urticaria.
【Contraindications】
(1) Ma Huang in Da Qing Long Tang is a strong sweating agent, so the dosage should not be too large, otherwise it can lead to excessive sweating and depletion of Yang. (2) Those with a deep, weak pulse, or aversion to wind after sweating, should not take it. If this formula is mistakenly used for syndromes with internal deficiency, it can lead to excessive sweating and depletion of Yang. (3) This formula has a strong sweating effect. When treating external Wind-Cold with internal constrained heat, or both exterior and interior are excess, and the syndrome pattern aligns perfectly, the principle of “stop when the condition improves” must be followed to avoid the transformation of excessive sweating and Yang depletion.
【Mnemonic】
Mom’s heart and liver (Ma Huang Tang) + pounding ginger, jujube, and plaster (Da Qing Long likes to mess things up).
【Pharmacology】
Has antipyretic, antibacterial effects, and improves macrophage phagocytic function.