竹叶石膏汤

Name

Lophatherum and Gypsum Decoction

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

  • Zhu Ye (Herba Lophatheri) 15 g,
  • Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 30 g,
  • Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae) 9 g,
  • Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) 15 g,
  • Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng) 5 g,
  • Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 3 g,
  • Jing Mi (Semen Oryzae Sativae) 15 g.

Explanation

Zhu Ye: The principal drug, being sweet and tasteless in flavor and cold in nature, clearing away heat and relieving restlessness.

Shi Gao: The other principal drug, being pungent and sweet in taste and very cold in nature, removing heat and restlessness.

Ren Shen: Replenishing Qi.

Mai Dong: Nourishing Yin, promoting the production of body fluids.

Ban Xia: Letting the upward adverse flow of the stomach-Qi go downwards to arrest vomiting.

Gan Cao and Jing Mi: Benefiting and regulating the stomach.

Effect

Clearing away heat and promoting the production of body fluids, replenishing Qi and regulating the stomach.

Indications

Syndrome due to lingering fever in the later stage of febrile diseases, marked by fever, profuse sweating, distress in the chest, nausea due to the adverse flow of Qi, dry mouth with desire for drinking, or insomnia due to vexation, reddened tongue with little coating, and weak rapid pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as influenza, infant heat stroke syndrome, etc.

Administration

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken twice.