【Source】

《Shanghan Lun》

 【Ingredients】

Huang Qin, Shao Yao, (Prepared)Gan Cao, Da Zao
(4)

 【Categories】

<Blood Tonifying>: Shao Yao

<Spleen & Middle-Jiao Tonifying>: Da Zao、Gan Cao

<Clearing Heat & Drying Dampness>: Huang Qin

【Formula Rationale】

《Yi Fang》: A formula for Foot Taiyang and Shaoyang. (1) Cheng Shi said: For those with emptiness but not repletion, use bitter to firm, and sour to astringe. (2) The bitter and sour properties of Huang Qin and Shao Yao firm and astringe the Qi of the intestines and stomach. (3) For those who are weak and deficient, use sweet to tonify; Gan Cao and Da Zao, being sweet, tonify the weakness of the intestines and stomach. 《Shan Bu》: Ke Qin said: When Taiyang and Shaoyang diseases combine, the heat evil has already entered the Shaoyang interior. Gallbladder fire attacks the Spleen downwards, causing spontaneous diarrhea; it ascends to rebellious stomach Qi, hence accompanied by vomiting. Administering Huang Qin Tang, where sour and bitter interact, regulates the Middle Jiao to preserve Yin. Since the heat is not in the superficial half, Chai Hu is not used. As the heat has entered the semi-interior, Huang Qin is the principal herb. Although it’s not stomach repletion, nor stomach deficiency, Ren Shen is not needed to tonify the Middle Jiao. For those with accompanying vomiting, Ban Xia and Sheng Jiang are still added to subdue rebellious Qi. 《Kanpo》: The principal herb of this formula, Huang Qin, has anti-inflammatory, stomach-strengthening, and bowel-regulating effects. When combined with Shao Yao, it can stop abdominal pain and diarrhea. Shao Yao, when combined with Gan Cao and Da Zao, can treat tenesmus. Furthermore, Ban Xia combined with Sheng Jiang treats nausea and vomiting.

 【Functions】

Clears heat, stops diarrhea, harmonizes the middle Jiao, and relieves pain.

 【Indications】

(1) Damp-heat internally accumulated, manifested by body pain, thirst with little desire to drink or no thirst, sweating to relieve heat followed by recurrent heat, a light yellow and slippery tongue coating, and a slow pulse. (2) This formula originates from the 《Shanghan Lun》, and is suitable for diarrhea occurring due to combined Taiyang and Shaoyang syndromes. Therefore, it can also be used for diarrhea accompanied by poor appetite, epigastric fullness and hardness, abdominal pain, tenesmus, and external symptoms such as fever and chills. 《Yi Fang》: Treats spontaneous diarrhea in Taiyang and Shaoyang combined syndromes (from 《Shanghan Lun》, Chapter on Combined Syndromes). 《Shan Bu》: Taiyang and Shaoyang combined syndromes with spontaneous diarrhea.

 【Conditions Treated】

Acute gastroenteritis, dysentery.

 【Contraindications】

(1) Not suitable for diarrhea due to deficiency-cold, characterized by a white and slippery tongue coating, a slow and moderate pulse, and no dry mouth. (2) Avoid spicy, stimulating, and greasy foods.

 【Mnemonic】

(1) Huang Qin + Shao Yao + two auxiliary herbs to tonify Spleen: Gan Cao and Da Zao. (2) Early morning diligently sweeps the floor (Zao, Cao, Qin, Shao – a mnemonic for 棗草芩芍).

 【Modifications】

《Shan Bu》: For vomiting, add Ban Xia (half a sheng) and Sheng Jiang (three liang). 《Kanpo》: If accompanied by nausea and vomiting, use Huang Qin Jia Ban Xia Sheng Jiang Tang (Huang Qin Decoction with Ban Xia and Sheng Jiang).

 【Pharmacology】

Mainly has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, antipyretic, immune-enhancing, and sedative effects.