Aidus & E-Fong Herbal Solution
Herbal Formula for Relieving Exterior- Xiao Qing Long Tang
          
         Xiao qing long tang
Minor Blue Dragon Decoction

SOURCE: Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold-Attack)

INGREDIENTS:
Ma Huang (Ephedra) 9g
Gui Zhi (Cassia twig) 6g
Bai Shao (White peony root) 9g
Xi Xin (Asarum root) 3g
Gan Jiang (Dry ginger) 3g
Zhi Gan Cao (Roasted licorice) 6g
Zhi Bang Xia (Pinellia tuber) 9g
Wu Wei Zi (Schizandra fruit) 3g

DIRECTIONS: Decoct Ma Huang (ephedra) first. After getting rid of the floating foam, put in the other herbs.
EFFECTS: Relieving the exterior and resolve fluid-retention to alleviate cough
and asthma.
INDICATIONS: Attack of wind and cold on the exterior with internal fluid- retention manifested by chill, fever,
absence of sweat, asthma and cough with abundant thin expectoration, or cough due to fluid-retention accompanied by
difficulty in lying position, or heaviness and pain of body with edema of face and, limbs, white and slippery coating,
floating pulse.
ANALYSIS OF FORMULA: This is a common formula for expelling cold to relieve the exterior and warming lung to
resolve fluid-retention. As the main herb, Ma Huang (ephedra) is to induce perspiration for relieving the exterior, to
disperse the lung for relieving asthma, and to excretes water for alleviating edema. Being pungent and sweet flavors and
warm nature, Gui Zhi (cassia twig) acts as the assistant herb to help Ma Huang (ephedra) relieve the exterior as well as
warming yang to promote the transformative function of qi. According to the principle that" diseases pertaining to
fluid-retention should be treated with warm-natured herbs" , Gan Jiang (dry ginger) warms the spleen and lung; Zhi Ban
Xia (pinellia tuber) dries dampness, resolves phlegm and lowers the turbidness; both Xi Xin (asarum berb) and Wu Wei
Zi (schizandra fruit) strengthen the effect of warming the lung and resolving fluid-retention and can prevent consuming the
lung qi for relieving cough and asthma; Bai Shao (white peony root) cooperates Gui Zhi (cassia twig) to harmonize the
nutrient and defensive qi and cooperates Wu Wei Zi (schizandra fruit) to prevent over- dispersing of Ma Huang
(ephedra) and Gui Zhi (cassia twig). All the five herbs act as adjuvans. As the dispatcher herb, Zhi Gan Cao (Roasted
licorice) harmonizes all the components.
In the present clinic, this formula is commonly applied to bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis, senile emphysema, and
acute attack of chronic bronchitis due to external cold with internal fluid-retention.