HERB FORMULAS

MA XING SHI GAN TANG

English: Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum and Licorice Decoction
Also Known As: Ma Huang and Apricot Seed Combination
Decoction of Ephedra, Armeniacae, Gypsum and Licorice
Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang
Ma Huang Xing Ren Shi Gao Gan Cao Tang

HERBS AND ACTIONS

Pharmaceutical Latin
Pin Yin
Dosage
Actions
Hb. Ephedrae Ma Huang 4-12g Strong diaphoretic, ventilates Lung Qi and stops wheezing.
With Xing Ren, for cough and wheezing due to Wind-Cold Attacks the Lungs.
With Shi Gao and Xing Ren, for cough from Heat Obstructing the Lungs with wheezing, flaring of the nostrils and fever and Wind-edema.
Sm. Armeniacae Xing Ren 1-18g Disperses Lung Qi, stops cough and wheezing and resolves Phlegm.
With Ma Huang and Shi Gao, for Excess cough and wheezing with Lung Heat.
Gypsum Fibrosum Shi Gao 10-48g Clears Lung Heat, nourishes the Body Fluids and stops thirst.
With Ma Huang, for cough from Heat Obstructing the Lungs with wheezing, flaring of the nostrils and fever and Wind-edema.
With Ma Huang, Xing Ren and Zhi gan Cao, for Lung Heat with cough and asthma.
Rx. Glycyrrhizae Preparata Zhi Gan Cao 1-6g Harmonizes, tonifies Qi, moistens the Lungs, clears Heat, detoxifies, resolves Phlegm and stops cough.
 With Ma Huang and Xing Ren, for Wind-Cold Attacks the Lungs with coughing and/or wheezing.
With Shi Gao and Xing Ren, for Cough due to Lung Heat.

FORMULA ACTIONS

  • Disperses Wind-Heat
  • Stops Asthma
  • Clears the Lungs
  • Descends Qi

SYNDROMES

  • Wind-Heat Attacks the Lungs
  • Wind-Cold Transformed into Heat
  • Wen Bing - Qi Stage Lung Heat

CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS

  • Cough with thick sticky, yellow sputum
  • Sore, red, swollen throat
  • Thirst, with desire to drink cold liquids
  • Runny or blocked nose with thick yellow discharge
  • Vertigo
  • Dry throat
  • Dizziness
  • Fever with or without perspiration
  • Slight chills
  • Aversion to Wind
  • Headache
  • Dyspnea with flared nostrils and pain
  • Fidgeting
  • Labored breathing
  • Asthma
  • Shortness of breath
  • Spontaneous perspiration
  • Flushed face
  • Wheezing
  • Chest pain
  • Restlessness
  • Facial edema
  • T: Red
  • C: Yellow or White
  • P: Superficial and rapid or Slippery and rapid

TREATS

  • Bronchial asthma
  • Common cold
  • Pertussis
  • Bronchiolitis
  • Diphtheria
  • Upper respiratory tract infection
  • Influenza
  • Acute and chronic bronchitis
  • Keratitis
  • Asthma
  • Acute pharyngitis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Lobar pneumonia
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Cardiac asthma
  • Bronchial pneumonia
  • Pneumonitis from measles
  • Chicken pox
  • Measles with pneumonia
  • Infantile pneumonia
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Acute tracheitis
  • Nasosinusitis

CONTRAINDICATIONS AND HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

CONTRAINDICATIONS
  • Contraindicated for those with asthma due to Wind-Cold.
  • Contraindicated when the pathogen lingers due to Qi Deficiency.
HERB/DRUG INTERACTIONS

NOTES

MODIFICATIONS

For Excess Heat: For recalcitrant asthma:
+ Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua + Rz. Pinelliae Preparatum Zhi Ban Xia
+ Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao + Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin + Per. Citri Reticulatae Chen Pi
+ Hb. Houttuyniae Yu Xing Cao + Fr. Aurantii Immaturus Zhi Shi
+ Fol. Isatidis Da Qing Ye Rz. Zingiberis Recens Sheng Jiang
For asthma or cough with profuse Phlegm:
For chills and anhidrosis:
+ Fr. Perillae Zi Su Zi + Hb. Schizonepetae Jing Jie
+ Sm. Lepidii/ Descurainiae Ting Li Zi + Hb. Menthae Bo He
For sinus inflammation or bronchial asthma:
 + Sm. Sojae Praeparata Dan Dou Chi
+ Pheretima Di Long
For dyspnea:
For thick yellow sputum:
 + Sm. Lepidii/ Descurainiae Ting Li Zi
+ Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou + Fol. Eriobotryae Pi Pa Ye
+ Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu
For erupted or unerupted measles with fever, thirst, cough and labored breathing:
or
 + Fol. Isatidis Da Qing Ye
+ Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou + Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Bul. Fritillariae Thunbergii Zhe Bei Mu + Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao
+ Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
For high fever, asthma and cough:
For weak or elderly patients:
 + Rz. Anemarrhenae Zhi Mu
+ Rx. Astragali Huang Qi + Rx. Scutellariae Huang Qin
+ Rx. Ginseng Ren Shen + Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou Ren
+ Tub. Ophiopogonis Mai Men Dong
For asthma with sweating due to Lung Heat:
For asthma without sweat due to Lung Heat:
+ 5x as much Gypsum / Shi Gao as Ephedra / Ma Huang
+ 3x as much Gypsum / Shi Gao as Ephedra / Ma Huang
For measles with with fever, dyspnea, and flared nostrils:
For stifling sensation in the chest with cough and profuse sputum:
 + Rx. Arnebiae/ Lithospermi Zi Cao
+ Sm. Lepidii Ting Li Zi + Stigma Croci Fan Hong Hua
+ Cx. Mori Albae Sang Ba Pi
For Excess cough and dyspnea:
+ Fr. Trichosanthis Gua Lou + Cx. Mori Albae Sang Bai Pi
For cough with sputum:
+ Cx. Lycii Di Gu Pi
+ Rx. Platycodi Jie Geng
For Blood in the sputum:
For fever, accelerated respiration, a thin yellow tongue coat and a rapid pulse:
+ Rz. Imperatae Bai Mao Gen
+ Fol. Perillae Zi Su Ye + Cacumen Platycladi Ce Bai Ye
+ Fol. Mori Sang Ye For a high fever:
+ Pheretima Di Long + Flos Lonicerae Jin Yin Hua
+ Cx. Mori Sang Bai Pi + Fr. Forsythiae Lian Qiao
For edema of the face and ankles:
For chest pain:
+ Sm. Lepidii/ Descurainiae Ting Li Zi + Per. Trichosanthis Gua Lou Pi
+ Sm. Plantaginis Che Qian Zi + Fr. Luffae Retinervus Si Gua Lou