白虎湯

Name

White Tiger Decoction

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

• Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 30 g,
• Zhi Mu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae) 9 g,
• Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 3 g,
• Jing Mi (Semen Oryzae Sativae) 9 g.

Explanation

Shi Gao: The principal drug, being pungent and sweet in flavor and very cold in nature, purging heat in the lung and stomach, eliminating vexation.

Zhi Mu: Purging heat in the lung and stomach, being moisture in nature to moisten dryness.

Gan Cao and Jing Mi: Benifiting the stomach, protecting body fluids from being impaired, letting prescriptions very cold in nature not injure the spleen and stomach.

Effect

Removing heat and promoting the production of body fluids

Indications

Syndrome due to intense heat in Yangming Qi system, manifested as high fever, flushed face, extreme thirst and strong desire for drink, perspiration and aversion to heat, full large forceful pulse or slippery rapid pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as acute or chronic febrile infective diseases, diabetes, heatstroke, diab acute conjunctivitis, etc.

Administration

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice.