【Source】

《Treatise on Cold Damage Disorders》

 【Composition】

Artemisia capillaris, Rhubarb, Mountain Gardenia Fruit
(3 ingredients)

 【Categorization of Ingredients】

<Purgative>: Rhubarb

<Clear Heat and Drain Fire>: Mountain Gardenia Fruit

<Promote Urination and Drain Dampness>: Artemisia capillaris

【Formula Principles】

《Yifang》: A medicine for the Foot-Yangming channel. (1) Cheng Wu-ji said: “For minor heat, cool it to harmonize; for major heat, use cold to disperse it. Jaundice is caused by extreme damp-heat, and without extreme cold, the heat cannot be thoroughly cleared.” (2) Therefore, Artemisia capillaris serves as the chief herb. (3) Gardenia Fruit is the deputy herb. (4) Rhubarb is the assistant herb. By facilitating excretion through both urination and defecation, abdominal distention is relieved and resolved. 《Shan Bu》: Artemisia capillaris embodies the Qi of the north, remaining green through winter, defying frost and snow, and absorbing a great deal of cold Qi. Thus, it can clear retained heat evil. It guides Gardenia Fruit to unblock water passages and Rhubarb to regulate stomach repletion, causing all stagnant heat, internal and external, to be excreted through urine, thereby reducing abdominal distention without harming the intestines and stomach. This aligns with the method of “guiding out and exhausting,” making it a sacred formula for draining water in Yangming. 《Handian》: Artemisia capillaris has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, choleretic, and anti-jaundice effects; Gardenia Fruit has anti-inflammatory, diuretic, hemostatic, sedative, and choleretic effects; Rhubarb has mild laxative and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, through the combined action of these herbs, it can clear internal heat accumulation, promote urination and bowel movements, leading to improvement, and is effective in treating conditions such as hepatitis, nephritis, kidney sclerosis, edema, urticaria, stomatitis, gingivitis, beriberi, uterine bleeding, insomnia, and other diseases. The dosage of Rhubarb in this formula can be appropriately adjusted until satisfactory bowel movements are achieved.

 【Functions】

Clears heat and resolves dampness, reduces jaundice.

 【Indications】

This formula is renowned for treating damp-heat jaundice, characterized by a bright yellow complexion affecting the whole body, face, and eyes, mild abdominal distention, thirst, difficult urination, greasy yellow tongue coating, and a deep, rapid pulse. 《Yifang》: For Yangming disease due to cold damage, presenting with sweating only on the head, abdominal fullness, thirst, difficult urination and defecation, damp-heat jaundice, and a deep, firm pulse (from *Treatise on Cold Damage*, Yangming chapter). 《Shan Bu》: For Yangming disease with fever, sweating only on the head but no sweat on the body, difficult urination, thirst for fluids, indicating stagnant heat inside, leading to jaundice and mild abdominal distention. This formula is indicated.

 【Applications】

Jaundice, acute hepatitis, epidemic hepatitis, nephritis, edema, beriberi, stomatitis, urticaria, pruritus, gingivitis, eye pain, uterine bleeding.

 【Contraindications】

(1) This formula is not suitable for Yin Jaundice (cold-damp jaundice) or conditions where dampness is more prominent than heat. (2) Use with caution in pregnant women.

 【Mnemonic Aids】

(1) Hǎo zì dà (蒿梔大 – Artemisia, Gardenia, Rhubarb; sounds like “good and arrogant”). (2) Huáng shān hǎo (黃山蒿 – Jaundice mountain Artemisia/Gardenia; sounds like “Yellow Mountain good”). (3) Yīnchén zhì huángdǎn (茵梔黃 – Yinchen, Gardenia, Rhubarb; means “Yinchen treats jaundice”).

 【Modifications】

《Yifang》: For cold-damp Yin jaundice, remove Gardenia Fruit and Rhubarb, and add Prepared Aconite Root and Dried Ginger. (1) If accompanied by alternating chills and fever, headache, and bitter taste in the mouth, add Bupleurum Root and Scutellaria Root to harmonize and resolve heat. (2) If accompanied by hypochondriac pain and epigastric-abdominal distention, add Turmeric Tuber and Immature Bitter Orange to soothe the liver, regulate qi, and relieve pain. (3) If accompanied by nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, and indigestion, add Bamboo Shavings and Massa Fermentata Medicinalis to harmonize the stomach, promote digestion, and stop vomiting.

 【Pharmacology】

Primarily has choleretic, hepatoprotective, antibacterial, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and lipid-lowering effects.