Ma Huang Tang (Ephedra Decoction)

Sub-Category:

• Formulas that Release Early-Stage Exterior Disorders

Pattern:

• Exterior Wind-Cold Excess

Actions:

• Promotes sweating, releases the exterior, and disperses wind cold

Indications:

• Excess Wind Cold condition
• Chills and fever, no sweating, body aches, headache, wheezing, runny nose with clear discharge.

Possible Tongue Appearance:

• Thin white tongue coat

Possible Pulse Patterns:

• Floating and tight pulse

Western Uses:

• Common Cold
• Asthma
• Cough

Cautions, Contraindications, Herb Drug Interactions:

• Used only in exterior excess Wind Cold, and it's use is ceased once sweating occurs
• Not for exterior deficient Wind Cold patterns.
• Not for exterior Wind Heat patterns.
• Not for patients that are prone to bleeding.
• Use caution in patients with Hypertension.
• This formula contains one or more toxic substances (while some Chinese herbs are toxic, it must be noted that many come prepared, or are combined, to mitigate their toxicity).

Originally Appeared In:

• On Cold Damage (Shang Han Lun)

Notes:

• This formula is best used when there is NO sweating with an exterior cold condition.

Combined Channels of all herbs in this formula:

• Lungs, Bladder, Heart, Large Intestine

Substances in this Formula (4 Total):

	Ma Huang (Ephedra Stem) 麻黄 Qty: 9 grams Chan: LU, BL Prop: Spicy, Slightly Bitter, Warm Latin: Herba Ephedrae Cat: Warm, Spicy Herbs that Release the Exterior
	Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig, Cassia Twig) 桂枝 Qty: 6 grams Chan: HT, LU, BL Prop: Spicy, Sweet, Warm Latin: Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae Cat: Warm, Spicy Herbs that Release the Exterior
	Xing Ren (Apricot Seed or Kernel) 杏仁 Qty: 9-12 grams Chan: LI, LU Prop: Bitter, Slightly Warm, Slightly Toxic Latin: Semen Pruni Armeniacae Cat: Herbs that Relieve Coughing and Wheezing
	Zhi Gan Cao (Honey Fried Licorice Root) 炙甘草 Qty: 3 grams Chan: All 12 Channels Prop: Sweet, Warm Latin: Radix Glycyrrhizae Cat: Herbs that Tonify Qi