Má Huáng Tāng

Question 1

Method of Preparation

Answer 1

Decocted for 20 minutes. Taken hot to induce sweating. Once sweating occurs, should not be taken again.

Question 2

Actions

Answer 2

Releases exterior cold and arrests wheezing

Question 3

Indications

Answer 3

fever and chills (chills predominant) without sweating
headache
generalized body aches
wheezing
T: thin, white coat
P: floating, tight

Question 4

Herbs

Answer 4

má huáng
guì zhī
xìng rén
zhì gān căo

Question 5

má huáng

Answer 5

warm, acrid
strong diaphoretic
disseminates Lung qi and treats wheezing

Question 6

guì zhī

Answer 6

diaphoretic that releases the exterior (especially muscle layer)
warms and facilitates flow in the channels

+má huáng = strengthens diaphoretic effect, very effective in releasing exterior

Question 7

xìng rén

Answer 7

bitter, slightly warm
directs Lung qi downward to help chief arrest wheezing and expel pathogenic influence
oily = moderates acrid quality of two main diaphoretic herbs to protect the Lung (averse to dryness)

Question 8

zhì gān căo

Answer 8

harmonizes
moderates diaphoretic action of má huáng
protects against slight toxicity of xìng rén

Question 9

Cautions and Contraindications

Answer 9

Patients with debility, copious urination, prone to bleeding (especially from nose).
Caution in hypertension.
Use for very short periods of time.

Question 10

Disease Pattern

Answer 10

Wind-cold attacking the exterior where it fetters, constrains, or “bottles up” the protective qi.