Minor Chaihu Soup

Minor Chaihu Soup

Chaihu 8 qian (Sichuan-produced is authentic), scutellaria 3 qian, pinellia 3 qian, three dates, ginseng 2 qian, licorice 1 qian, ginger 2 qian.

This formula balances the exterior and interior, harmonizing the clear and turbid. The exterior of the human body is the skin and pores, which serve as the hub for defensive qi and vital energy; the interior is the triple burner, which oversees all the internal organs. Only Shaoyang governs the triple burner internally and the skin and pores externally. From the perspective of Shaoyang’s constitution, it is the energy of mutual fire, originating from the gallbladder. From the perspective of Shaoyang’s function, it is the energy of pure yang, residing in the stomach. The formula uses ginseng, dates, and licorice to nourish the stomach, while scutellaria and pinellia reduce the turbid fire, and chaihu and ginger elevate the pure yang. As a result, the qi flows smoothly, and both the skin and triple burner are effectively regulated. Even if the sun energy is trapped in the chest and unable to escape, this formula can still be used. By clearing the interior and middle, and elevating the qi, the qi won’t get stuck and will be released outward. If there is stagnation of lung fire and difficulty in urination and defecation, this formula can also be used. By opening up the upper jiao, fluids won’t get stuck and can flow downward. If there is stagnation of liver fire, this formula can also be used to draw the liver qi upward, preventing wood from getting stuck, and since it also contains ingredients that clear and reduce fire, the remaining fire will naturally dissipate. It is particularly meaningful for treating various illnesses caused by heat entering the blood chamber. Human blood is generated in the middle jiao, receiving qi and transforming into red blood, following the Chong and Ren meridians under the Yangming system, and then stored in the liver. This formula is not a medicine for the liver and gallbladder themselves, but rather a way to clear the qi from the stomach and deliver it to the liver and gallbladder.

The stomach is the main producer of blood, so treating the stomach is treating the source of the blood sea. Since the liver controls the blood, once the liver qi is cleared, the stagnation in the blood will naturally resolve. This is the correct treatment method (2), which is also the opposite of the isolation treatment method (3). Its subtlety lies in this.

[Note] (1) Wang: means “none” or “not.” (2) Zhengzhi: refers to using methods and medicines that are opposite to the nature of the disease for treatment, such as using hot medicines for cold conditions. (3) Gezhi: refers to the opposite of zhengzhi, i.e., using methods and medicines that align with the nature of the disease for treatment.

[Comment] This formula originates from "Shanghan Lun." It is the main formula for harmonizing Shaoyang, capable of balancing the exterior and interior, elevating the clear and reducing the turbid, regulating the skin and triple burner, and managing the triple burner itself. It can treat any illness related to defensive qi, vital energy, skin, and triple burner.