Ephedra Decoction

Ephedra Decoction

Ephedrae Herba (Ma Huang) 3 liang (9g), Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi) 2 liang (6g), Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xing Ren) 70 pieces (6g), Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Zhi Gan Cao) 1 liang (3g)

Prepare Ma Huang Tang as a decoction. The source text points out that ma huang should be decocted first and the foam that collects at the top of the decoction needs to be removed before adding the other medicinals. The decoction should be taken warm and the patient should bundle up with an extra layer to induce a mild sweat.

Induces sweating to release the exterior, diffuses the lung to calm labored breathing.

Ma Huang Tang is indicated for an externally contracted wind-cold exterior-excess pattern. The symptoms are aversion to cold, headache, generalized body pain, absence of sweating, and labored breathing. The tongue coating is thin and white, and the pulse is superficial and tight.

This pattern is due to externally contracted wind-cold which causes the lung qi failing to diffuse. The invasion of the exterior by external wind-cold obstructs the wei yang, blocks and congests the striae and interstices, constrains ying yin, and obstructs the channels. The result is aversion to cold, fever, absence of sweating, headache, and generalized pain. The lung governs the qi and belongs to wei, which is connected with the skin and body hair at the body’s exterior. The regular diffusion and descent of lung qi is affected when the exterior of the body is restrained by wind-cold. The body’s exterior is linked internally with the lung. Therefore, the tension of the body’s exterior constrains the lung qi within. The constrained lung qi ascends counter-flow to induce labored breathing. Thin and white tongue coating and a superficial, tight pulse are indications of an exterior pattern fettered by wind-cold. The treatment is to induce sweating to release the exterior and diffuse the lung to calm labored breathing.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Ma Huang Tang is used to treat an externally contracted wind-cold exterior-excess pattern. It is both a fundamental and a representative formula. This clinical pattern is marked by aversion to cold, fever without sweating, labored breathing, superficial and tight pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of an exterior-excess wind-cold pattern: common cold, flu, upper respiratory tract infection, acute bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and rhinitis. 3. Cautions and contraindications To avoid qi consumption and fluid damage, this formula should not be overdosed because of its drastic sweat-inducing effect. It is not applicable for patients with patterns such as exterior-deficiency wind-cold, exterior wind-heat, and exterior wind-cold with a weak constitution.

1. Ma Huang Jia Zhu Tang (Ephedra Decoction Plus White Atractylodes, 麻黃加朮湯)