1. Bupleurum Decoction-Based Formulas

1. Bupleurum Decoction-Based Formulas

Xiao Chaihu Tang is the representative formula for harmonizing Shaoyang, composed of bupleurum, scutellaria, pinellia, codonopsis, licorice, ginger, and jujube—seven herbs in total. It treats Shaoyang syndrome, which is a semi-exterior, semi-interior condition. Clinical manifestations include bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, alternating chills and fever, chest and flank discomfort, restlessness and desire to vomit, reluctance to eat, and a thin, white coating on the tongue. From a modern medical perspective, this syndrome is similar to the systemic reactive clinical manifestations of subacute and chronic inflammation, so people use Xiao Chaihu with modifications to treat subacute and chronic processes of cholecystitis, hepatitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, pancreatitis, arthritis, gastritis, and enteritis, often achieving satisfactory results. Through various modifications, this formula can also effectively treat other diseases symptomatically. For those with chest restlessness but no vomiting, remove pinellia and codonopsis and add trichosanthes; for those with thirst, remove pinellia and add codonopsis and trichosanthes; for abdominal pain, remove scutellaria and add white peony; for flank discomfort, remove jujube and add oyster shell; for palpitations below the navel and difficulty urinating, remove scutellaria and add poria; for those with slight fever but no thirst, remove codonopsis and add cinnamon twig; for coughers, remove codonopsis, jujube, and ginger and add schisandra and dried ginger. Xiao Chaihu Tang plus cinnamon twig becomes Chaihu Cinnamon Twig Tang, which treats the combined syndrome of Shaoyang and Taiyang—specifically, the combination of Xiao Chaihu Tang syndrome and Cinnamon Twig Tang syndrome—with clinical manifestations such as bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, alternating chills and fever, chest and flank discomfort, restlessness and desire to vomit, reluctance to eat, headaches, and fever with chills. Xiao Chaihu Tang without codonopsis, with zhishi, da huang, and white peony added, becomes Da Chaihu Tang, which treats the combined syndrome of Shaoyang and Yangming—with clinical manifestations such as bitter taste in the mouth, dry throat, dizziness, alternating chills and fever, chest and flank discomfort, restlessness and desire to vomit, reluctance to eat, a vague sense of restlessness, flank discomfort, abdominal fullness and pain, hard stools, thick yellow coating on the tongue, and a strong, tense pulse. Da Chaihu Tang adds chuan lian, yuan hu, mu xiang, and dandelion, becoming a compound Da Chaihu Tang (based on experience); it can treat acute cholecystitis and perforated ulcers. Xiao Chaihu Tang adds poria, lead dan, cinnamon twig, da huang, raw dragon bone, and raw oyster shell, becoming Chaihu Dragon Bone Oyster Shell Tang, which treats the combined syndrome of the three yang—when the spirit floats high, the clinical manifestations are mainly eight or nine days of typhoid fever, chest fullness and agitation, delirium, and overall heaviness. Xiao Chaihu Tang adds zhishi, gua lou, and huang lian, becoming Chaihu Chest-Sinking Tang (from "Popular Shanghan Lun"), which treats alternating chills and fever, chest and diaphragm fullness and oppression, pain upon pressing, and bitter taste with yellow coating. Xiao Chaihu Tang adds atractylodes, thick bark, tangerine peel, and licorice, becoming ChaiPing Jian (from "Jingyue Complete Works"), which treats liver qi stagnation and flank pain. Xiao Chaihu Tang adds mangxiao, becoming Chaihu Mangxiao Tang, which treats thirteen days of typhoid fever and abdominal fullness with delirium. Xiao Chaihu Tang removes half of the half, ginger, and jujube, adding cinnamon twig, dried ginger, pollen, and oyster shell, becoming Chaihu Cinnamon Twig Dried Ginger Tang, which treats chest and flank fullness with slight congestion, difficulty urinating, thirst without vomiting, but head sweating and alternating chills and fever.