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Class 11-12: Herbs and

Formulas That Release The
Exterior



Fayi Wu
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Mulberry Leaf and
Chrysanthemum Decoction
(sang ju yin)
Ingredients: sang ye, ju hua, lian qiao,
bo he, jie geng, xing ren, lu gen, gan
cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Releases the exterior wind-heat and stops
coughing by facilitating the flow of lung qi.
Indications
Slight fever, cough, slight thirst, a thin white
tongue coating, and a floating, rapid pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: sang ye, ju hua
Release exterior heat. Sang ye also clears heat from the
lungs and stops coughing, ju hua disperses upper burner
wind-heat
Deputy: lian qiao, bo he; jie geng, xing ren
Lian qiao, bo he: strengthen exterior-releasing properties
Jie geng, xing ren: facilitate the flow of lung qi and stop
cough
Assistant: lu gen
Clears heat and generates fluids
Envoy: gan cao
Harmonizes the actions of the other herbs
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorder of upper respiratory tract infection, influenza,
early-stage acute bronchitis, acute tonsillitis, and acute
conjunctivitis.
Modifications:
For heat in qi level, add shi gao, zhi mu
For nutritive-level heat with a dark tongue, add xuan shen,
xi jiao
For heat entering the blood, omit lu gen, bo he, add mai
meng dong, sheng di huang, yu zhu
For wind-heat affecting eyes , add jue ming zi, xia ku cao,
bai ji li
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Honeysuckle and Forsythia
Powder (yin qiao san)
Ingredients: jin yin hua, lian qiao, jie geng, niu
bang zi, bo he, dan dou chi, jing jie, dan zhu
ye, xian lu gen, gan cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Disperses wind-heat, clears heat, and relieves
toxicity.
Indications
Fever, slight or no chills, headache, thirst, cough,
sore throat, a red-tipped tongue, a thin white or
thin, yellow tongue coating and a floating rapid
pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: jin yin hua, lian qiao
Release heat from exterior, clear heat, and relieve toxicity.
Deputy: jie geng, niu bang zi; dan dou chi, bo he
Jie geng, niu bang zi: spread the lung qi and improve the
function of the throat
Dan dou chi, bo he: help chief herbs release exterior heat
Assistant: jing jie, dan zhu ye, xian lu gen, gan cao
Jing jie: boosts the exterior-releasing action of the formula
without producing dryness
Dan zhu ye, xian lu gen, gan cao: clear heat, generate
fluids and alleviates thirst
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorder of upper respiratory tract infection, influenza,
acute bronchitis, measles, epidemic parotitis, acute
endometritis, and early stage encephalitis or meningitis.
Modifications:
For severe sore throat, add ma bo, xuan shen
For pronounced coughing, add xing ren
For heat entering the interior with scanty urine, add sheng
di huang, mai meng dong, huang qin
For early-stage measles with incomplete expression of
rash, add chan tui, fu ping
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Bupleurum and Kudzu
Decoction to Release the Muscle
Layer (chai ge jie ji tang)
Ingredients: chai hu, ge gen, qiang huo, bai
zhi, huang qin, shi gao, jie geng, bai shao, gan
cao, sheng jiang, da zao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Releases pathogenic influences from the muscle
layer and clears interior heat.
Indications
An exterior wind-cold presentation characterized
by increasing fever and decreasing chills
accompanied by headache, stiffness of the
extremities, orbital and eye pain, dry nasal
passages, irritability, insomnia, thin, yellow tongue
coating, and a floating slightly flooding pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: chai hu, ge gen
Release the pathogenic influence from the muscle layer while
concurrently clearing heat.
Deputy: qiang huo, bai zhi, huang qin, shi gao
Qiang huo, bai zhi: helps the chief ingredients release the
exterior and alleviate pain
Huang qing, shi gao: clearing interior heat
Assistant: jie geng, bai shao
Jie geng: facilitates the flow of lung qi and helps scatter the
pathogenic influence from the exterior
Bai shao: preserves the yin by preventing the exterior-releasing
herbs from causing excessive sweating
Envoy: gan cao, sheng jiang, da zao
Gan cao: harmonizes the actions of the other herbs
Sheng jiang, da zao: regulate the protective and nutritive qi to
faciliate the release of the pathogenic influence

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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorder as influenza and toothache.
Attentions:
Inappropriate for simple exterior wind-heat disorders
Modifications:
For severe chills without sweating, substitute ma huang for
huang qin
For cases without chills or headache, omit qiang huo and
bai zhi
For a dry mouth and tongue, add tian hua fen
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Ligusticum Chuanxiong Powder
to be Taken with Green Tea
(chuan xiong cha tiao san)
Ingredients: chuan xiong, bo he, bai
zhi, qiang huo, xi xin, jing jie, fang feng,
gan cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Disperses wind and alleviates pain.
Indications
Headache in any part of head accompanied by
fever and chills, dizziness, nasal congestion, a
thin, white tongue coating and a floating pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: bo he
Disperses wind for the exterior, benefits the head and clears
heat.
Deputy: chuan xiong, qiang huo, bai zhi, xi xin: disperse wind
and alleviate headache
Chuan xiong: alleviates headache from shao yang channel
Qiang huo: alleviates headache from tai yang channel
bai zhi: alleviates headache from yang ming channel
Xi xin; scatters cold, alleviates pain (shao yang)
Assistant: jing jie, fang feng
Disperse wind from the head and release the exterior
Envoy: gan cao, green tea
harmonizes the actions of the other herbs
Green tea: clears heat and moderates side-effects caused by
warm, drying properties of some of the other ingredients
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorder of upper respiratory tract infection, migraine
headache, tension headache, neurogenic headache, and
acute and chronic rhinitis or sinusitis.
Attentions:
Inappropriate for treating headache from ascendant liver
yang due to liver and kidney deficiency and for headache
due to qi and blood deficiency
Modifications:
For wind-cold headache, omit bo he, add sheng jiang, su
ye
For wind-heat headache, omit qiang huo, xi xin, add man
jing zi, ju hua
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Xanthium Powder (cang er zi
san)
Ingredients: cang er zi, xin yi hua, bai
zhi, bo he
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Disperses wind, alleviates pain and unblocks the
nose.
Indications
Copious, purulent, and foul-smelling nasal
discharge, nasal obstruction, dizziness, frontal
headache, a normal or yellow tongue coating, and
a floating, rapid pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: cang er zi, xin yi hua
Unblock the nasal passages and are frequently
used in treating profuse nasal discharge.
Deputy: bai zhi, bo he
Bai zhi: releases the exterior and opens up the
orifice, disperses wind-dampness, and promotes
the discharge of pus
Bo he: releases wind-heat from the exterior and
clears the eyes and head
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorders as acute or chronic sinusitis and acute,
chronic or allergic rhinitis.
Modifications:
For more pronounced heat in the lungs, add sang
bai pi, di gu pi or huang qin
For very copious and purulent nasal discharge,
add jin yin hua
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Kudzu Decoction (ge gen
tang)
Ingredients: ge gen, ma huang, gui zhi,
shao yao, sheng jiang, da zao, gan cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Releases the exterior and muscle layer, and
generates fluids.
Indications
Fever and chills without sweating, stiff and rigid
neck and upper back, a thin, white tongue coating,
a floating, tight pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: ge gen
Releases the muscle layer (especially of the upper back
and neck) by drawing fluids to the affected area and
exterior.
Deputy: ma huang, gui zhi
Ma huang: releases exterior and induce sweating
Gui zhi: releases exterior and relieves the muscle layer
Assistant: bai shao, sheng jiang, da zao
Bai shao: preserve yin
Sheng jiang, da zao: regulate the protective and nutritive qi,
harmonize the stomach
Envoy: gan cao
Harmonizes the actions of the other herbs
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorders as upper respiratory tract infection,
influenza, stomach flu, acute cervical myositis,
tendonitis or bursitis of the shoulder, urticaria,
allergic rhinitis, and early-stage polio or
encephalitis.
Modifications:
For severe nasal blockage, add chuan xiong, xin
yi hua, huang qin, jie geng
For urticaria, add chan tui
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Ginseng Powder to Overcome
Pathogenic Influences (ren shen
bai du san)
Ingredients: qiang huo, du huo, chuan xiong,
chai hu, jie geng, zhi ke, qian hu, ren shen, fu
ling, gan cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Releases the exterior, dispels wind and dampness, and
augments the qi.
Indications
High fever and severe chills with shivering, absence of
sweating, pain and stiffness of the head and neck,
soreness and pain of the extremities, focal distention and
fullness of the chest, nasal congestion with sonorous
breathing, a productive cough, a greasy, white tongue
coating, and a floating, soggy pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: qiang huo, du huo
Dispels wind cold from the exterior, dispel dampness and
alleviate pain.
Deputy: chuan xiong, chai hu, bo he
Chuan xiong: relieves the exterior, moves the blood, dispels
wind, alleviates pain
Chai hu, bo he, relieve exterior, reduce fever, and expel the
pathogenic influences
Assistant: jie geng, zhi ke, qian hu, fu ling, sheng jiang, ren shen
Jie geng, zhi ke: regulate qi in the chest
Qian hu: expels phlegm and stops cough
Fu ling: transforms phlegm and strengthens the spleen
Sheng jiang: releases exterior and harmonizes middle jiao
Ren shen: tonifies qi
Envoy: gan cao
Tonifies qi and harmonizes the actions of the other herbs
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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorders as upper respiratory tract infection,
influenza, early-stage dysentery, early-stage
measles, and surgical infection.
Attentions:
contraindicated for cases with heat
Modifications:
For malarial disorders, increase the dosage of
chai hu, add huang qin and bing lang
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Ephedra, Asarum, and Prepared
Aconite Decoction (ma huang xi
xin fu zi tang)
Ingredients: ma huang, fu zi, xi xin
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Assists yang and releases the exterior.
Indications
Sensation of extreme cold and severe chills
(relieved by wearing more clothing or adding
covers), a slight fever without sweating,
exhaustion, a white, slippery tongue coating, and
a submerged faint pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: ma huang
Releases the exterior and dispels externally-
contracted cold.
Deputy: fu zi
Stimulates yang and warms both interior and the
channels
Assistant: xi xin
Releases exterior and scatters interior cold
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Modern application and modifications
Attentions:
If the deficiency is more severe, this formula is
contraindicated
Modifications:
For wind-cold headache, add chuan xiong, sheng
jiang
For chronic wheezing due to cold deficiency, take
with er chen tang
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Modified Polygonatum
Odoratum Decoction (jia jian
wei rui tang)
Ingredients: yu zhu, cong bai, jie geng,
dan dou chi, bo he, bai wei, zhi gan cao,
da zao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Nourishes yin, clears heat, induces sweating, and
releases the exterior.
Indications
Fever and slight chills, little or no sweating,
headache, dry throat, cough, sputum which is
difficult to expectorate, thirst, irritability, a dark-red
tongue, and a rapid pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: yu zhu
Nourishes the yin of the lungs and stomach, clears heat,
and generates the fluids.
Deputy: cong bai, dan dou chi, bo he
Releases exterior and dispel wind heat
Assistant: bai wei, jie geng
Bai wei, cools the blood and clears heat without injuring yin
Jie geng: disseminates the lung qi to stop cough and expel
phlegm
Envoy: gan cao, da zao
Assist the chief herb in moistening dryness and
harmonizing the actions of the other ingredients

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Modifications
Modifications:
For more severe exterior disorders, add fang feng,
ge gen
For cough, dry throat, and sputum which is difficult
to expectorate, add niu bang zi, gua lou pi
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Ledebouriella Powder that Sagely
Unblocks (fang feng tong sheng
san)
Ingredients: fang feng, ma huang, jiu da huang, mang
xiao, jing jie, bo he, zhi zi, hua shi, shi gao, lian qiao,
huang qin, jie geng, chuan xiong, dang gui, bai shao, bai
zhu, gan cao
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Actions and indications of the formula
Actions
Disperses wind, releases the exterior, drains heat, and
unblocks the bowels.
Indications
Strong fever and chills, dizziness, red and sore eyes,
difficulty in swallowing, sticky nasal discharge and saliva, a
bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth, focal distention with a
stifling sensation in the chest and diaphragm, constipation,
dark urination, a yellow greasy tongue coating, and a
flooding rapid or wiry slippery pulse.
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Analysis of Formula
Chief: fang feng, ma huang, jiu da huang, mang xiao
Fang feng, ma huang: disperse wind and release the exterior by
inducing sweating.
Da huang, mang xiao: expel heat through stool
Deputy: jing jie, bo he, zhi zi, hua shi, shi gao, lian qiao, huang
qin, jie geng
Jing jie, bo he: release exterior
Zhi zi, hua shi: drain heat through urine
Shi gao, jie geng, lian qiao: clear heat in the stomach and lungs
Assistant: chuan xiong, dang gui, bai shao, bai zhu
Chuan xiong, dang dui, bai shao: harmonize the blood and help
to disperse wind
Bai zhu: strengthens the spleen
Envoy: gan cao,
Protects the spleen and harmonizes the actions of the other
ingredients

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Modern application and modifications
Modern application:
Disorders as influenza, erysipelas, food poisoning,
carbuncles, urticaria, dermatitis, and acne.
Modifications:
For cases without strong chills, omit ma huang
For cases without constipation, omit da huang,
mang xiao