【Source】

“Shang Han Liu Shu”, Volume 3.

 【Composition】

(Prepared) Fuzi, Gan Jiang, Rou Gui, Ren Shen, Bai Zhu, Fu Ling, Chen Pi, (Honey-fried) Gan Cao, Wu Wei Zi, (Prepared) Ban Xia
(10)

 【Category】

<Regulating Qi>: Chen Pi

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Qi>: Bai Zhu, Gan Cao

<Tonifying Qi>: Ren Shen

<Warming the Interior>: Gan Jiang, Fuzi, Rou Gui

<Tonifying Spleen and Promoting Urination>: Fu Ling

<Resolving Phlegm>: Ban Xia

<Astringing>: Wu Wei Zi

【Formula Actions】

“Yi Fang”: This formula contains herbs for the three Yin channels. (1) Cold invading the three Yin channels causes Yin to become excessive and Yang to become deficient. Therefore, Fuzi, ginger, and cinnamon are used to dispel the Yin cold with their pungent and hot properties. (2) The Six Gentlemen herbs are used to tonify and assist Yang Qi. (3) Wu Wei Zi combined with Ren Shen can generate pulse. (4) Adding She Xiang opens the orifices.

 【Functions】

Revives Yang and rescues from collapse, tonifies Qi and generates pulse.

 【Indications】

Syndrome of true cold directly invading the three Yin channels due to cold pathogen: chills, curled-up posture, cold limbs, body cold and shivering, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, no thirst, or bluish nails and lips, or mouth spitting frothy saliva, pulse deep, slow, and weak, or even absent pulse. “Yi Fang”: (1) Treats cold invading the three Yin channels; initially, the body is not hot, the head does not ache, there are chills and shivers, cold limbs, covering oneself with clothes, heavy and curled-up posture, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea, and no thirst. (2) Or bluish nails and lips, mouth spitting frothy saliva, or absent pulse, or pulse deep and slow and weak.

 【Mnemonics】

Si Ni Tang + Liu Jun Zi Tang + Five Worthies ( Wu Wei Zi, Rou Gui ).

 【Modifications】

(1) If there is vomiting of frothy saliva or lower abdominal pain, add Wu Zhu Yu to warm the stomach and liver, descend Qi, and stop vomiting. (2) If the pulse is absent, add pig gall to prevent Yang collapse due to excessive Yin and deficient Yang. (3) If diarrhea is persistent, add Sheng Ma and Huang Qi to tonify Qi and raise Yang to stop diarrhea, preventing Yin collapse due to inability of deficient Yang to secure Yin. (4) If vomiting is persistent, add ginger juice to warm the stomach and stop vomiting. (5) If Fu Ling is removed from this formula and replaced with Mai Dong and Chen Sha, it is also called Hui Yang Jiu Ji Tang from “Chong Ding Tong Su Shang Han Lun,” which treats Shaoyin disease with diarrhea, weak pulse, severe persistent diarrhea, cold extremities, absent pulse, dry vomiting, and vexation.