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Diaphoretic Prescriptions Composed of Drugs Pungent in Flavor and Cold in Nature

Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang (升麻葛根汤)

Shengma Gegen Tang 升麻葛根湯 Cimicifugae and Puerariae Decoction
By the TCMHH editorial team Not medically reviewed How we work Updated 6 Oct 2026
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Name

Decoction of Cimicifuge and Pueraria

The Prescription of 升麻葛根汤

Source

The book Yan Shi Xiao Er Fang Lun

Ingredients

Sheng Ma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) 3 g,Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae) 3 g,Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae Alba) 6 g,Zhi Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Preparata) 3 g.

Explanation

Sheng Ma: The principal drug, being pungent and sweet in flavor and slightly cold in nature, expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin, promoting eruption, removing toxic substances.

Ge Gen: Assisting Sheng Ma in promoting eruption and expelling exo-pathogens, aiding in the production of body fluids.

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

Zhi Gan Cao: Invigorating Qi, removing toxic substances.

The Effect of 升麻葛根汤

Effect

Expelling pathogenic factors from the muscles and skin, promoting eruption.

Indications

Onset of measles without skin eruption or with poor skin eruption, marked by fever, aversion to wind, headache, general pain, sneeze, cough, blood-shot eyes, watery eyes, thirst, reddened tongue with dry coating and floating rapid pulse; including such diseases with the above symptoms as measles, rubella, drug rash, allergic purpura, etc.

Administrations

Decocted in water for oral dose to be taken 3 times.

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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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