1. Ma Huang Tang Family Formulas

1. Ma Huang Tang Family Formulas

Ma Huang Tang consists of ephedra, cinnamon twig, apricot kernel, licorice, ginger, and jujube, boiled in water and taken orally, treating headache, fever, chills, body pain, absence of sweat, and a floating, tight pulse—symptoms of wind-cold exterior excess. Recent experiments have shown that this formula has a certain inhibitory effect on cold viruses, thus proving that the ancient notion of wind-cold exterior excess is largely viral upper respiratory infection. Adding gypsum to this formula creates Da Qinglong Tang, primarily treating headache, body pain, fever, chills, lack of sweat, irritability, and a floating, tight pulse—this is exterior excess combined with interior heat, i.e., the primary formula for wind-cold exterior entering the interior and turning into heat. Recent studies have consistently shown that this formula is effective in treating upper respiratory infections; adding herbs such as honeysuckle, forsythia, dandelion, and houttuynia for clearing heat and detoxifying further enhances its efficacy. Da Qinglong Tang removes cinnamon twig, ginger, and jujube, becoming Ma (Ephedra) Xing (Apricot Kernel) Shi (Gypsum) Gan (Licorice) Tang, which TCM practitioners believe is suitable for symptoms of restlessness, wheezing, thirst, and cough. From a modern medical perspective, this formula is suitable for all bronchial and pulmonary infections, including acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchopneumonia, as well as pulmonary emphysema and pulmonary heart disease caused by lung infections. Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang removes apricot kernel and becomes Yuebi Tang, primarily treating edema and generalized swelling. According to recent experience, this formula can also treat acute and chronic nephritis and various endocrine-related edemas. Ma Huang Tang removes cinnamon twig and becomes San'ao Tang, treating wind-cold cough and wheezing; Ma Huang Tang adds white atractylodes and becomes Ma Huang Jia Shu Tang, treating various rheumatic pains; Ma Huang Tang removes cinnamon twig, ginger, and jujube and adds coix seed, becoming Ma Huang Xing Ren Yi Ren Gan Cao Tang, treating widespread rheumatic pain, fever, and worsening symptoms in the afternoon. In addition, a combination of ephedra, aconite, and asarum forms Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang, the primary formula for treating yang deficiency combined with cold, treating headache, fever, chills, lack of sweat, and a deep, thin pulse. Recent studies suggest that this formula is highly effective against all viral upper respiratory infections, especially for patients with weak constitutions and low blood pressure, and it also has a certain effect on sinus syndrome. Removing asarum and adding licorice creates Ma Huang Fu Zi Gan Cao Tang, which has the same effects as Ma Huang Fu Zi Xi Xin Tang but weaker exterior-dispelling and cold-dispelling power.