1. Ephedra Decoction-Based Formulas

1. Ephedra Decoction-Based Formulas

Ephedra Decoction consists of ephedra, cinnamon twig, apricot kernel, licorice, ginger, and jujube, boiled in water and taken orally. It treats headaches, fever with chills, body aches, lack of sweat, and a floating, tight pulse—symptoms of wind-cold exterior excess syndrome. Recent experiments have shown that this formula has a certain inhibitory effect on cold viruses, thus confirming that the ancient notion of wind-cold exterior excess syndrome is largely viral upper respiratory infection. Adding gypsum to this formula creates Daqinglong Decoction, which treats headaches, body aches, fever with chills, lack of sweat and thirst, irritability, and a floating, tight pulse—this is exterior excess combined with interior heat, essentially the primary formula for wind-cold exterior excess progressing to interior heat. Modern practitioners often find this formula effective for upper respiratory infections; adding herbs like honeysuckle, forsythia, dandelion, and houttuynia for clearing heat and detoxifying further enhances its efficacy. Daqinglong Decoction without cinnamon twig, ginger, and jujube is called Ma(Xiang)Xing(Gan)Shi(Gao)Gan(Cao) Decoction, which TCM practitioners believe is suitable for four symptoms: restlessness, shortness of breath, thirst, and cough. From a modern medical perspective, this formula is appropriate for all bronchial and pulmonary infections, including acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, as well as pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary heart disease. MaXingShiGan Decoction without apricot kernel is called Yuebi Decoction, which treats edema and generalized swelling. Some modern practitioners have found it effective for treating acute and chronic nephritis and various endocrine-related edemas. Ephedra Decoction without cinnamon twig is called San'ao Decoction, which treats wind-cold cough and wheezing; Ephedra Decoction with white atractylodes is called Ephedra Plus Atractylodes Decoction, which treats various rheumatic pains; Ephedra Decoction without cinnamon twig, ginger, and jujube, with coix seed added, is called Ephedra Apricot Kernel Coix Seed Licorice Decoction, which treats widespread rheumatic pain, fever, and worsening symptoms in the afternoon. In addition, a combination of ephedra, aconite, and asarum forms Ephedra-Aconite-Asarum Decoction, the primary formula for yang deficiency and cold invasion, treating headaches, fever with chills, lack of sweat, and a sinking, fine pulse. Modern practitioners believe this formula is highly effective against all viral upper respiratory infections, especially for patients with weak constitutions and low blood pressure. It also shows some efficacy for sinus syndrome. Removing asarum from this formula and adding licorice results in Ephedra-Aconite-Licorice Decoction, which has similar effects to Ephedra-Aconite-Asarum Decoction but weaker exterior-dispersing and cold-clearing power.