Diaphoretic Prescriptions Composed of Drugs Pungent in Flavor and Warm in Nature
Da Qing Long Tang (大青龙汤): Classic TCM Formula
Name
Major Green Dragon Decoction
The Prescription of 大青龙汤
Source
The book Shang Han Lun
Ingredients
Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae) 12 g,Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi) 4 g,Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 5 g,Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum) 6 g,Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) 12 g,Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens) 9 g,Da Zao (Fructus Jujubae) 3 dates.Explanation
Ma Huang: The principal drug, being pungent and bitter in flavor and warm in nature, expelling wind-cold pathogens.
Gui Zhi: Expelling the pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin, aiding Ma Huang in inducing diaphoresis.
Shi Gao: Being pungent in flavor and cold in nature, clearing away the interior heat and assisting Ma Huang in expelling exogenous pathogenic factors.
Xing Ren: Moistening the lung to arrest cough.
Sheng Jiang and Da Zao: Promoting diaphoresis, reinforcing Qi of the rmddle-Jiao.
Gan Cao: Regulating the stomach, tempering the actions of all the other ingredients.
The Effect of 大青龙汤
Effect
Relieving exterior syndrome by means of diaphoresis, clearing away heat and restlessness.
Indications
Exterior excess syndrome due to wind-cold pathogens and pathogenic heat in the interior, marked by severe chills, high fever, general pain, restlessness without sweat and floating tense pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as bad cold, acute bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, lobar pneumonia, etc.
Administrations
Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken 3 times.
Contraindication
The administration of this prescription should be ceased once the case would begin to sweat, as its effects in inducing diaphoresis are extremely strong. And it must not be used in treating cases with exterior syndrome of deficiency type marked by spontaneous perspiration.
Sources and further reading
We cite classical materia medica and modern reference works. This article is health education, not medical advice.
- Shennong Bencao Jing (The Divine Farmer's Materia Medica), Han dynasty.
- Bencao Gangmu (Compendium of Materia Medica), Li Shizhen, 1578.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia, current edition — identity, quality and safety monographs.
- NCCIH and WHO reference material on traditional medicine safety.
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