葛根加半夏湯

Source

The book Shang Han Lun

Ingredients

• Ge Gen 12 g,
• Ma Huang 9 g,
• Zhi Gan Cao 6 g,
• Shao Yao 6 g,
• Gui Zhi 6 g,
• Sheng Jiang 6 g,
• Ban Xia 9 g,
• Da Zao 12 dates.

Explanation

Ge Gen: The principal drug, being sweet and pungent in flavor and cold in nature, removing pathogenic heat from the exterior, ascending the Qi of the spleen and stomach to treat diarrhea.

Gan Cao: Regulating the Qi of the middle-Jiao and tempering the actions of all the other ingredients.

Shao Yao: Regulating the nutrient system, dispelling pathogenic heat.

Sheng Jiang and Da Zao: Tempering the stomach and spleen.

Ma Huang and Gui Zhi: Relieving superficies syndrome by means of diaphoresis.

Ban Xia: Being pungent in flavor and warm in nature, dispersing accumulation of pathogens, letting the adverse flow of the stomach-Qi go downwards to arrest vomiting.

Effect

Relieve exterior syndrome by means of diaphoresis, relax the tendons and arrest vomiting.

Administration

Decoct in water for oral dose to be taken three times a day.