course f - chapter 4 formulas for relieving exterior syndrome

8/3/2019 Course F - Chapter 4 Formulas for Relieving Exterior Syndrome

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Chapter 4 Formulas for Relieving Exterior Syndrome

The formulas for relieving exterior syndrome refer to those that are chiefly composed of traditional

Chinese herbs having the therapeutic effects of inducing diaphoresis, expelling pathogenic factors from

the muscles and skin as well as promoting eruption. They are preferred for the treatment of exterior

syndrome.

Because the exterior syndrome involves the difference between wind-cold type and wind-heat type,

the formulas for relieving exterior syndrome are subdivided into the pungent and warm formulas for

relieving exterior syndrome, pungent and cool formulas for relieving exterior syndrome, and tonic

formulas for relieving exterior syndrome.

Section 1 Pungent and Warm Formulas for Relieving Exterior Syndrome

This group of formulas is chiefly made up of traditional Chinese herbs pungent in flavor and warm inProperty. Possessing the function of dissipating wind-cold, they are usually indicated for the treatment

of wind-cold exterior syndrome.

Mahuang Tang( Ephedra Decoction )

Ingredients

Ephedra, Herba Ephedrae (with joints removed) 6g

Cinnamon twig,Ramulus Cinnamomi 4g

Bitter apricot kernel, Semen Armeniacae Amarum (with its skin removed) 9g

Prepared licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata 3g

Administration

All the herbs should be decocted in water for oral dose. After administration, it is necessary for the

taker to stay in warm bed to induce slight perspiration.

Functions

Inducing sweat to relieve exterior syndrome, facilitating the flow of the lung-qi to relieve asthma.

Indications

Exterior syndrome of excess type due to exogenous pathogenic wind-cold, manifested as aversion to

cold, fever without perspiration and headache, pantalgia, dyspnea, thin and white coating of the

tongue as well as superficial and tight pulse, etc.

In western medicine, this formula can be modified used in the following diseases, namely cold,

influenza and bronchitis, bronchial asthma and other diseases, which are manifested as above-

mentioned symptoms.


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Modern Research

In clinical and experimental, it is ascertained that this formula can relieve of the troubles by producing

the effects of inducing sweat, removing fever, arresting cough, relieving pain and promoting diuretic.

Cautions

l. Being warm and pungent, the formula is drastic in its effect of inducing sweat, so it should not be

administered for the cases manifested as spontaneous perspiration caused by exterior syndrome of

deficiency type, general debility with exogenous diseases, blood deficiency after giving birth, etc.

2. As soon as sweat is induced out and the illness is cured, the administration should be withdrawn

immediately. Prolongation of intake is of no benefit.

Guizhi Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction)

Ingredients

Cinnamon twig, Ramulus Cinnamomi 9gPeony root, Radix Paeoniae 9g


Fresh ginger, Rhizoma Zingiberis 9g

Chinese dates, Fructus Ziziphi Jujubae 4pcs.

Administration

All the above herbs are decocted together in water for oral administration. After taking the decoction,

the patient is required to drink a small quantity of hot water or hot porridge and then lie in warm bed

to induce slight perspiration.

Functions

Expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin and regulating ying and wei to relieve exterior

syndrome.

Indications

Exterior deficiency syndrome due to pathogenic wind and cold, manifested by fever, headache,

perspiration with aversion to wind, nasal catarrh, retching, thin and white coating of the tongue, and

floating and moderate pulse.

Equally, the formula can be modified to deal with the common cold, influenza and others that are

attributable to exterior syndrome of deficiency type caused by pathogenic wind and cold, as well as

urticaria, cutaneous pruritus, eczema, neuralgia, myalgia, etc.

Modern Research

Modern researches have proved that the formula possesses the efficacies of inducing sweat, reducing


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fever, removing phlegm, relieving convulsion and pain, promoting digestion and absorption,

nourishing the body and consolidating the constitution.

Cautions

l. The formula is not advisable for the exterior syndrome of excess type due to pathogenic wind and

cold.

2. Patients with exterior syndrome of wind-heat type marked by aversion to wind, perspiration as well

as thirst and rapid pulse are prohibited from taking the formula.

Jiuwei Qianghuo Tang (Notopterygium Decoction of Nine Ingredients )

Ingredients

Notopterygium root, Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 6g

Ledebouriella root, Radix Ledebouriellae 6gAtractylodes rhizome, Rhizoma Atractylodis 6g

Asarum herb, Herba Asari 2g

Chuanxiong rhizome,Rhizoma Ligustici Chuanxiong 3g

Dahurian angelica root, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 3g

Dried rehmannia root, Radix Rehmanniae 3g

Scutellaria root, Radix Scutellariae 3g

Licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 3g

Administration

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral use.

Functions

Relieving exterior syndrome, clearing interior heat and alleviating pain.

Indications

Syndrome due to the exogenous wind, cold and dampness on the body surface with interior heat,

manifested by chill and fever, absence of perspiration, headache with stiff neck, aching pain of the

extremities, bitter taste in the mouth with thirst, white and slippery coating of the tongue, floating

pulse, etc.

The formula can be modified to deal with influenza, lumbago, sciatica rheumatic arthritis that are

ascribable to the attack of exogenous wind-cold-dampness on the body surface with interior heat.

Modern Researches

Modern researches have ascertained that this formula possesses the efficacies in inducing diaphoresis,


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bringing down fever, relieving pain and cough, resisting bacteria and viruses, subduing inflammation,

etc.

Cautions

1.The formula is not advisable for cases ascribable to exterior syndrome caused by exogenous wind-

cold.

2.The formula should not be decocted long in case the effective components are destroyed.

3.Patients with weakness of the vital energy and deficiency of yin are prohibited from taking the

formula.

Xiao Qinglong Tang (Decoction of Green Dragon)

IngredientsEphedra, Herba Ephedrae (with joins removed) 9g

Peony root, Radix Paeoniae 9g

Asarum herb, Herba asari 3g

Dried ginger, Rhizoma Zingiberis 3g


Cinnamon twig, Ramulus Cinnamomi 6g

Pinellia tuber, Rhizoma Pinelliae 9g

Schisandra fruit, Fructus Schisandrae 3g

Administration

All the above ingredients are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

Functions

Relieving superficial syndrome by means of inducing diaphoresis, removing fluid-retention, arresting

cough and relieving asthma.

Indications

Exterior cold due to cxopathogen, and excessive fluid in the body, marked by chill and fever, absence

of perspiration, cough, asthma with watery and copious sputum, or thirst with little predilection for

drinks or retching, or dysphagia, or diarrhea, or dysuria, and white and slippery coating of the tongue,

and floating and tight pulse.

In addition, the formula can be modified to deal with the above symptoms and signs as seen in the

common cold, influenza, asthmatic bronchitis, bronchial asthma at its stage of attack, etc.


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Modern researches

Modern researches have ascertained that this formula possesses the effects of inducing sweat,

reducing fever, relieving dyspnea and cough, removing Phlegm, promoting diuresis, relieving allergic

reaction and promoting blood circulation.

Cautions

This formula should not be administered to patients with dry cough, dry mouth and throat

accompanied by thick yellow-colored sputum.

Section 2 Pungent and Cool Formulas for Relieving Exterior Syndrome

This group of formulas is chiefly composed of herbs pungent in flavor and cool in property and

possesses the therapeutic effect of expelling pathogenic wind-heat. It is preferred for the treatment of

exterior syndrome due to exogenous wind-heat.

Yinqiao San (Powder of Lonicera and Forsythis)

Ingredients

Forsythia fruit, Fructus Forsythiae 9g

Honeysuckle flower, Flos Lonicerae 9g

Peppermint, Herba Menthae 6g

Schizonepeta spike, Spica Schizonepetae 5g

Prepared soybean, Semen Sojae Praeparatum 5g

Arctium fruit, Fructus Arctii 9gPlatycodon root, Radix Platycodi 6g


Lophatherum, Herba Lophatheri 4g

Reed rhizome, Rhizoma Phragmitis in proper dosage

Administration

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

Indications

Affection by exogenous wind-heat with superficial syndrome marked by fever with anhidrosis or with

disturbed hidrosis, mild chilly sensation, headache, thirst, cough, sore throat, red tip of the tongue

with thin white or yellowish coating on it, and floating and rapid pulse. Besides, this formula can be

modified to treat such conditions as infection of upper respiratory tract, acute tonsillitis, encephalitis

B, epidemic cerebrospinal meningitis, parotitis and so on that pertain to exterior syndrome caused by

exogenous wind-heat.


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Modern researches

Modern researches have ascertained that this formula possesses the efficacy of inducing diaphoresis,

bringing down fever, relieving pain and cough, resisting bacteria and viruses, subduing inflammation,

etc.

Cautions

1. The formula is not advisable for cases ascribable to exterior syndrome caused by exogenous wind-

cold.

2. The formula should not be decocted long in case the effective components are destroyed.

Sang Ju Yin ( Decoction of Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum )

Ingredients

Mulberry leaf, Folium Mori 7.5gChrysanthemum flower, flos Chrysanthemi 3g

Bitter apricot kernel, Semen Armeniacae Amarum 6g

Forsythia fruit, Fructus Forsythiae 5g

Peppermint, Herba Menthae 2.5g

Platycodon root, Radix Platycodi 6g

Licoricc root, Radix Glycyrrhizae 2.5g

Reed rhizome, Rhizoma Phragmitis 6g

Administrations

All the above ingredients are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

Functions

Relieving the exterior syndrome with herbs pungent in flavor and cool in property, facilitating the flow

of the lung-qi to relieve cough.

Indications

The onset of cough due to wind-heat, marked by cough, mild feverish body,slight thirst, thin and

white coating of the tongue and floating pulse.

The modification of the above formula can be adopted for the treatment of such diseases as the

common cold, influenza, acute bronchitis, bronchial pneumonia and acute tonsillitis that indicate the

exterior syndrome due to wind-heat.

Modern Researches

Clinically and experimentally, it is ascertained that the above formula has the functions of relieving


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cough, removing phlegm, resisting bacteria, subduing inflammation as well as inducing mild sweat and

allaying fever.

Cautions

1. Those with cough due to exogenous wind-cold are prohibited from taking this formula.

2. Since the herbs in the formula are of dispelling effect, they should not be decocted for a long time.

Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang ( Decoction of Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum and

Licorice)

Ingredients

Ephedra, Herba Ephedrae (with joints removed) 6g

Bitter apricot kernel, Semen Armeniacae Amarum (with its skin and tip removed) 9g

Prepared licorice root, Radix Glycyrrhizae Praeparata 6gGypsum, Gypsum fibrosum 30g

Administrations

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water together and then taken orally.

Functions

Expelling pathogenic heat with pungent and cool herbs, clearing away lung-heat to relieve asthma.

Indications

Cough and dyspnea due to wind-heat manifested by persistent feverish body with or without sweat,

cough with dyspnea or even accompanied by nares flaring, thirst, thin white or thin yellow coating of

the tongue, slippery and rapid pulse, etc.

The formula can be modified for the treatment of acute bronchitis, bronchial pneumonia, bronchial

asthma in the stage of attack and other diseases associated with cough and dyspnea caused by lung-

heat.

Modern researches

Clinically and experimentally, it is ascertained that this formula has the efficacies of subduing

inflammation, removing phlegm, relieving cough and dyspnea, and resisting viruses.

Cautions

This formula is only advisable for cases with dyspnea of excess type due to lung-heat, and it is not

suitable for those associated with dyspnea of excess type due to wind-cold as well as those with

dyspnea of deficient type.


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Chai Ge Jieji Tang ( Bupleurum and Pueraria Decoction for Dispelling Pathogens

from superficialMuscles )

Ingredients

Bupleurum root, Radix Bupleuri 9g

Pueraria root, Radix Puerariae 9g

Scutellaria root, Radix Scutellariae 9g


Peony root, Radix Paeoniae 3g

Notopterygium root, Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 3g

Dahurian angelica root, Radix Angelicae Dahuricae 3g

Platycodon root, Radix Platycodi 3g

Gypsum, Gypsum Fibrosum 9g

Fresh ginger, Rhizoma Zingiberis 3 slicesChinese dates, Fructus Ziziphi jujubae 2 pcs.

Administrations

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water for oral administration.

Functions

Expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin and reducing fever.

Indications

Affection due to exogenous pathogenic wind-cold with heat in the interior resulting from stagnated

pathogens manifested as slight aversion to cold, high fever, headache, soreness and pain in the

extremities, eye pain, dry nose, orbit pain, restlessness, insomnia, thin and yellowish coating of the

tongue, and superficial and slightly full pulse. Besides, other cases ascribed to the above syndrome

such as the common cold, influenza, bronchitis and toothache can be deal with the modified formula.

Modern researches

Modern researches have proved that this formula possesses the efficacies in inducing sweat, allaying

fever, resisting bacteria and viruses, subduing inflammation, alleviating pain, tranquilizing the mind

and so on.

Cautions

1. The formula is contraindication in patients with symptoms of exterior wind-cold but without interior

heat.

2. The formula should not be administered for cases associated with yangming fu-organ disease

marked by abdominal pain and constipation.


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Section 3 Formulas for Strengthening the Body Resistance , and Relieving Exterior

Syndrome

This group of formulas is mainly composed of diaphoretics and tonifying herbs possessing the effect of

strengthening the body resistance and relieving exterior syndrome and indicated in the treatment of

exterior syndrome due to general debility and attack of exopathogens.

Baidu San ( Antiphlogistic Powder )

Ingredients

Bupleuruum root, Radix Bupleuri 30g

Root of purple-flowered Peucedanum, Radix Peucedani Peucedanum root 30g

Chuanxiong rhizome, Rhizoma Ligustici Chuangxiong 30g

Fruit of citron or trifoliate orange, Fructus Aurantii 30g

Notopterygium root, Rhizoma seu Radix Notopterygii 30gPubescent angelica root, Radix Angelicae Pubescentis 30g

Poria, Poria 30g

Platycodon root, Radix Platycodi (parched) 30g

Ginseng, ginseng 30g


Administrations

All the above herbs are to be ground into powder and administered 6g each time for one dosage, to be

decocted in water with a small amount of fresh ginger and peppermint for oral dose.

Functions

Relieving the exterior syndrome by re-plenishing qi and dispelling pathogenic wind and dampness.

Indications

Exopathic diseases caused by weakened body resistance and pathogenic wind-cold-dampness,

manifested as loathing of cold with high fever, headache and stiffness of the neck, soreness of the

extremities, absence of perspiration, stuffy nose with low speaking voice, fullness and stuffiness in the

chest, white and greasy coating of the tongue, floating and soft pulse which turns faint on hard

pressure, etc.

The modified formula can be adapted for the treatment of the common cold, influenza, epidemic

parotitis, bronchitis, chronic rheumatic arthritis, urticaria, eczema and pyesis in its primary stage and

other diseases that belong to the type of deficiency of genuine energy and attack of exogenous wind-

cold-dampness on the body surface.


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Modern Researches

Clinically and experimentally, it has been confirmed that the formula is effective for inducing sweat,

allaying fever, alleviating pain, reducing sputum, relieving cough, promoting urination and blood

circulation, subduing inflammation, resisting bacteria and viruses and so on.

Cautions

On account of its being warm and dry in property, the formula is indicated for cases affected by

exogenous wind-cold-dampness complicated with general deficiency, but it is not fit for those whose

pathogens are dampness-heat.

Jiajian Weirui Tang ( Moditfied Decoction of Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome)

Ingredients

Fragrant solomonseal rhizome, Rhiconia Poygonati Odorati 6g

Chinese green onion, Bulbus Allii fistulosi 6gPlatycodon root, Radix Platycodi 5g

Swallowwort root, Radix Cynanchi Atrati 3g

Prepared soybean, Semen Sojae Praeparatum 9g

Peppermint, Herba Menthae 5g


Chinese dates, Fructus Zizifhi jujubae 2pcs.

Administrations

All the above herbs are to be decocted in water and the decoction is to be taken warm and in separate

portions.

Functions

Nourishing yin and clearing away heat, induing sweat to relieve exterior syndrome.

Indications

Original yin-deficiency with re-affaciion due to exopathogen, manifested by headache, fever, light

aversion to wind-cold, dry throat with cough, sputum too. viscous to be coughed out. absence of

sweat or little sweat ,thirst and restlessness, reddened tongue and rapid pulse.

Moreover, the formula can be modified to deal with the common cold, influenza. bronchitis and others

that indicate exopathic diseases due to yin deficiency with re-affection by exopathogens after giving

birth or bleeding.

Modern Researches

Modern studies have confirmed that this formula is qualified as tonics for consolidating the constitution

and curative one for inducing sweat, bringing down fever subduing inflammation, relieving cough,

expelling phlegm, etc.


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Cautions

This formula is only advisable for exogenous diseases with yin deficiency, it is contraindicated in cases

without yin deficiency.

course f - chapter 4 formulas for relieving exterior syndrome

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