[Source]

《Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang》 (Prescriptions of the Taiping Imperial Pharmacy Bureau for Benefiting the People)

 [Composition]

Ginseng (Rénshēn), Perilla Leaf (Zǐsūyè), Kudzu Root (Gěgēn), Peucedanum Root (Qiánhú), Prepared Pinellia Tuber (Fǎ Bànxià), Poria (Fúlíng), Bitter Orange Peel (Zhǐké), Aged Tangerine Peel (Chénpí), Platycodon Root (Jiégěng), Licorice Root (Gāncǎo), Costus Root (Mùxiāng), Fresh Ginger (Shēngjiāng), Jujube (Dàzǎo)
(13 ingredients)

 [Ingredient Classification]

<Regulating Qi>: Bitter Orange Peel, Costus Root, Aged Tangerine Peel

<Strengthening Spleen and Replenishing Middle Jiao>: Licorice Root, Jujube

<Acrid and Cool to Release Exterior>: Kudzu Root

<Replenishing Qi>: Ginseng

<Acrid and Warm to Release Exterior>: Perilla Leaf, Fresh Ginger

<Strengthening Spleen and Promoting Diuresis>: Poria

<Resolving Phlegm>: Peucedanum Root, Prepared Pinellia Tuber, Platycodon Root

[Formula Rationale]

《Medical Prescriptions》: For Hand and Foot Taiyin Meridians. (1) For wind-cold, the exterior should be released, hence Perilla Leaf, Kudzu Root, and Peucedanum Root are used. (2) For fatigue and injury, the middle jiao should be strengthened, hence Ginseng, Poria, and Licorice Root are used. (3) Aged Tangerine Peel and Prepared Pinellia Tuber: to eliminate phlegm and stop vomiting. (4) Bitter Orange Peel and Platycodon Root: to regulate the diaphragm and open the bowels. (5) Costus Root: to promote qi circulation and break stagnation. (6) When internal and external are harmonized, the pathogenic factors will disperse. 《Corrections and Additions》: Where pathogenic factors accumulate, qi must be deficient, therefore Ginseng is used as the sovereign herb to tonify. The skin and hair are correlated with the Lung; when the Lung is affected by wind-cold, the skin and hair are the first to manifest symptoms, leading to headache, anhidrosis (no sweating), fever, and aversion to cold in the exterior. Perilla Leaf, Kudzu Root, and Peucedanum Root are used as minister herbs to disperse these. Once the Lung is affected by pathogenic factors, turbidity forms in the chest, hence Bitter Orange Peel, Platycodon Root, and the two ‘aged’ ingredients (Aged Tangerine Peel, Prepared Pinellia Tuber) are used to clear it, thereby eliminating symptoms such as cough, copious sticky sputum, and chest fullness and oppression. Costus Root is added to promote qi circulation internally, and Ginger and Jujube are added to regulate qi in the exterior. Thus, qi in both exterior and interior is harmonized, and when harmonized, the condition resolves.

 [Functions]

Replenishes Qi and releases the exterior, disperses Lung qi and resolves phlegm.

 [Indications]

For individuals with body deficiency and weak qi who contract wind-cold externally, with internal phlegm-dampness, manifesting as aversion to cold, fever, headache, nasal congestion, cough with abundant phlegm, chest fullness and oppression, white tongue coating, and weak pulse. 《Medical Prescriptions》: (1) Treats exterior contraction and internal injury, fever, headache, vomiting, cough, phlegm obstruction in the middle jiao, dizziness, vexation, wind-cold induced diarrhea. (2) Also for continued fever after sweating in Shanghan (typhoid-like illness). 《Corrections and Additions》: Common cold due to wind-cold, headache, fever, aversion to cold, cough, copious sticky sputum, chest fullness and oppression, weak pulse with anhidrosis.

 [Clinical Applications]

Upper respiratory tract infection, acute bronchitis, pneumonia, common cold in the elderly due to cold pathogens.

 [Mnemonic]

This formula is like adding to Er Chen Tang: 枳桔目前哥生疏 (Zhǐ Jú Mù Qián Gě Shēn Sū), which refers to Bitter Orange Peel, Platycodon Root, Costus Root, Peucedanum Root, Kudzu Root, Ginseng, Perilla Leaf.

 [Modifications]

《Medical Prescriptions》: (1) For predominant exterior contraction: remove Jujube, add Scallion White. (2) For Lung fire: remove Ginseng, add Apricot Kernel, Mulberry Bark. (3) For diarrhea: add Atractylodes Rhizome, Hyacinth Bean, Lotus Seed. 《Corrections and Additions》: (1) If Ginseng is removed from this formula and Chuanxiong Rhizome is added, and Peucedanum Root is replaced with Bupleurum Root, it is called Qiong Su Yin (Chuanxiong and Perilla Leaf Decoction), which treats those with robust qi and fire, and can also be added for severe headache. (2) For wheezing and cough, add Apricot Kernel to descend qi, and Mulberry Bark to purge Lung fire. Combined with Si Wu Tang (Four-Substance Decoction), it is called Fu Ling Bu Xin Tang (Poria Heart-Tonifying Decoction), which is most suitable for qi and blood deficiency, postpartum debility with hematemesis, and wind-cold cough. (1) For milder qi stagnation, remove Costus Root to reduce its qi-regulating effect. (2) For severe cold, fever, and headache, add Chuanxiong Rhizome and Bupleurum Root to enhance the exterior-releasing and pain-relieving effects. (3) If due to common cold with fever, cover oneself and lie down, take several doses consecutively, and mild sweating will lead to recovery, with residual heat requiring continued gradual dosing for natural resolution. If due to phlegm-fluid induced fever, take this medicine frequently for several consecutive days until the fever subsides, and do not stop prematurely.

 [Pharmacology]

Has antipyretic, analgesic, antitussive, expectorant, non-specific immune-enhancing, and antiviral effects.