Sāng Xìng Tāng

Question 1

Herbs

Answer 1

Sāng yè
Zhī zĭ
Dàn dòu chĭ
Xìng rén
Zhè bèi mŭ
Shā shēn
Lí pí

Question 2

Actions

Answer 2

Clears and disperses warm-dryness

Question 3

Indications

Answer 3

Moderate fever, headache, thirst, a dry, hacking cough or one with scanty, thick, and sticky sputum, a red tongue with a thin, dry, and white coating, and a floating, rapid pulse (especially on the right)

Question 4

Diagnostic Pattern

Answer 4

Externally contracted warm-dryness injuring the Lung qi at a relatively superficial (exterior) level

Question 5

Chiefs

Answer 5

• Sāng yè: light, acrid, cooling, aromatic; clearing and dredging the Lung collaterals, resolving wind-heat in the exterior; sweet and moistening so does not damage Lung yin
• Xìng rén: bitter, acrid, moistening; causes Lung qi to direct downward, transforms phlegm, stops cough

Sāng yè + Xìng rén: regulates and moistens Lung qi while dredging the exterior

• Zhī zĭ, Dàn dòu chĭ: release constrained heat; prevents pathogenic factor from penetrating further into the body and release it from the exterior

Question 6

Deputies

Answer 6

Zhè bèi mŭ: deputy to Xìng rén; cools and transforms the stagnation that might otherwise cause phlegm to form; bitter, cooling, acrid, dispersing qi –> clear heat without causing stagnation

Question 7

Assistants

Answer 7

Shā Shēn, Lí Pí: nourish the yin, clear heat; cooling and moistening

Question 8

Cautions and Contraindications

Answer 8

Contraindicated in cases with injury to the yin. Because this formula is composed of light, disseminating herbs, the dosage should not be too large.