Ma Xing Gan Shi Tang, 麻黃杏仁甘草石膏湯

2. Ephedra, Apricot kernel, Licorice, and Gypsum Decoction. Ma Huang Xing Ren Gan Chao Shi Gao Tang. 麻黃杏仁甘草石膏湯.

 

ephedra (麻黃 ma huang Ephedrae Herba) 12g

apricot kernel (杏仁 xing ren, Armeniacae Semen) 6g

mix-fried licorice (甘草 gan cao, Glycyrrhizae Radix) 6g

gypsum (石膏 shi gao Gypsum) 24g
 

I usually decoct the above drugs with water into 360cc. (take 120cc at a time).

This is the origin formula of warm disease (溫病의 祖方). But I use this formuls as my medicine for common cold. Sometimes I use this when I feel indigestion and abdominal distention. I like to drink coffee. Can you imagine my constitution? My complexion is a little bit white and bright, and fat. I’m in repletion constitution.

 

Ma Huang works in the skin where greater yang and lung govern. This treats and disperses skin edema [skin water, 皮水]. This opens pores, then heat qi comes out.

Shi Gao works in the flesh where yang brightness governs. The character is cold and sweet. The combination of Ma huang and shi gao is called 淸散 [dispersing and clearing]. This combination increases urination. Xing ren descends lung qi. Gan cao harmonizes the middle burner.

 

This formula is good at when the position of disease is in greater yang and yang brightness together. This is good at common cold, empyema (acute), toothache (after treatment), and indigestion. This is also used well in SAS.

 

Toothache; many people experience toothache after treatement from dentist, so often painkiller is prescribed. In my opinion, Ma huang Gan Shi Tang is more effective than those drugs. Edema on the gums due to stimulation occurs and also causes pain. Ma huang lessens skin edema and shi gao clears heat in the flesh [the gum]. I often take this before or after visiting dentist. I thinke 1~3 pack (120cc/ one pack) is enough. But ma huang causes palpitation, insomnia, and feeling of sudden loss of power in someone who is in vacuous constitution. [ma huang that is greater yang medicine, comsumes the fluid of lesser yin, so practitioner need to be careful of this]. In this case, 荊防瀉白散 can be used instread.
 

 

荊防瀉白散 [source; 四象醫學 李濟馬]

 

生地黃 sheng di huang 12g

茯笭 fu ling 8g

澤瀉 ze xie 8g

知母 zhi mu 4g

石膏 shi gao 10g

羌活 qiang huo 4g

獨活 du huo 4g

荊芥 jing jie 4g

防風 fang feng 4g

 

I usually decoct the above drugs X 25 into 42~45 pack (1pack 120cc).

 Qiang huo, du huo, jing jie, and fang feng works in gerater yang, instead of ma huang. Sheng di huang and shi gao works in yang brightness. This formula is also good at toothache after dental treatment. This formula is actually for lesser yang stomach heat people (少陽人胃熱者) in SaSang (四象醫學). It is hard to drink ma xing gan shi tang continuously,[actually most of formulas except gui zhi tang in shang han lun, shouldn’t be taken as soon as the disease resolves] but 荊防瀉白散 can be eaten for long time.

 

Indigestion and abdominal distention;

When the flesh is thick, the fleshy heat in yang brightness is hard to come out to greater yang. Thereofore the heat in yang brightness gets to accumulated, this heat causes indigestion and abdominal distention. At that time ma xing gan shi tang opens greater yang and clear yang brightness, this make those person feeling good, also treats pain in the greater yang and yang brightness.

 

But ma hung tang family cannot be use for long time, as already said. Someone uses this formual to loose weight. If the one is in replete constitution, maybe this can be used for short time, but I do not recommend, especially if the person is over middle age.