【Chinese Name】 |
升麻葛根湯
|
【Phonetic】 |
Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang
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【English Name】 |
Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction |
【Classification】 |
Exterior-releasing formulas |
【Source】 |
《Formulas from the Imperial Pharmacy》Tai Ping Hui Min He Ji Ju Fang《太平惠民和劑局方》 |
【Combination】 |
Cimicifugae Rhizoma (Sheng Ma) 10 liang (300g), Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shao Yao) 10 liang (300g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Zhi Gan Cao) 10 liang (300g), Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Ge Gen) 15 liang (450g) |
【Method】 |
Take 9g of powder per dose and boil down to make a beverage. It should be taken warm, with no fixed schedule, until the pathogenic qi is resolved and the body cools down. It can also be prepared as a decoction with amounts proportionally reduced. |
【Action】 |
Releases the flesh and promotes complete eruption of rashes. |
【Indication】 |
This formula is indicated for the initial stage of measles. Signs and symptoms include rashes unable to break out, body heat, headache, cough, red eyes, tearing, thirst, a red tongue with a thin, dry tongue coating, and a superficial, rapid pulse. |
【Pathogenesis】 |
Measles attack when a child has accumulated heat in the lung and the stomach and it is further complicated by the contraction of an epidemic pathogen. If the child were not treated carefully at the initial stage, he may be affected by other external pathogens that block the exterior flesh and further lead to an inability to express or an unsmooth eruption of the rashes. If there is accumulated heat in the lung and the stomach and attacks of external pathogens, the zheng qi struggles with the pathogen and the lung qi fails to purify and descend. Therefore, there will be symptoms of lung wei at the initial stage, such as fever, headache, cough, red eyes, tearing, and a superficial, rapid pulse. Since heat causes fluid damage, there will be thirst and a red tongue with a dry tongue coating. For measles, eruption is favorable over moving inward to the interior. For incomplete expression of the measles, the treatment should promote the eruption of the rash. Concurrently, because there is accumulated heat, it is proper to clear heat and resolve toxins simultaneously. |
【Clarification】 |
In regards to the choice of shao yao: The source text did not mark if chi shao or bai shao should be used in this formula since there was no such distinction made for shao yao in the Song Dynasty. Most medical professionals, such as Wang Ang, Wang Tai-lin, and Fei Bo-xiong, claimed it was bai shao while analyzing or commenting on this formula. A few experts claimed it to be chi shao while analyzing it such as Wu Kun. Is it chi shao or bai shao in this formula? Chi shao is bitter-cold and enters the blood level. It is able to clear and resolve heat toxins in the blood vessels, clear heat, and cool and invigorate the blood. It is therefore good to promote rashes and dissolve toxins. On the contrary, bai shao is astringent; and therefore, not beneficial for promoting the eruption of measles towards the exterior. Based on this, we think that chi shao is more appropriate for measles and other diseases that cause rashes. However, for treating dysentery chi shao, bai shao, or their combination is proper because bai shao has the effect to alleviate urgency and relieve pain while chi shao can be used to cool and invigorate blood. |
【Application】 |
1. Essential pattern differentiation This is a fundamental formula used to treat the incomplete eruption of measles or prior to its presence. This clinical pattern is marked by measles unable to express or insufficient eruption, red tongue, and rapid pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of exterior pathogen blocking the surface with heat in the lung and the stomach: measles, varicella-herpes zoster, herpes simplex, diarrhea, and acute bacterial dysentery. 3. Cautions and contraindications Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang is prohibited when measles are thoroughly erupted, or the measles pathogen has invaded inward showing symptoms of rapid, short and heavy breathing with the shoulders moving up and down, and nasal flaring. |
【Additonal formulae】 |
Zhu Ye Liu Bang Tang (Lophatherum, Tamarisk and Arctium Decoction, 竹葉柳蒡湯) [Source]《Extensive Notes on Medicine from Xian Xing Studio》Xian Xing Zhai Yi Xue Guang Bi Ji《先醒齋醫學廣筆記》 [Ingredients] Xi he liu 5 qian (15g), jing jie sui 1 qian (3g), ge gen 1.5 qian (4.5g), chan tui 1 qian (3g), bo he 1 qian (3g), shu nian zi (niu bang zi) (plain stir-fried and crushed) 1.5 qian (4.5g), zhi mu (honey treated) 1 qian (3g),xuan shen 2 qian (6g), gan cao 1 qian (3g), mai dong 3 qian (9g), zhu ye 30 pieces (3g) [Preparation and Administration] Prepare it as a decoction. For people with severe condition: add shi gao 5 qian and dong mi (nuo mi) 1 fistful [Actions] Promotes complete eruption of rashes, releases the exterior, clears heat, and promote fluid production. [Applicable Patterns] Initial stage of acute rashes that cannot erupt. Symptoms include: cough, labored breathing, stuffy nose with nasal discharge, light aversion to cold, severe fever, vexation, irritability, sore and swollen throat, dry lips, thirst a thin, yellow tongue coating, and a rapid, superficial pulse. |
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