Ascending and Descending Powder，From *The Complete Book on Summer Heat Illnesses*, Volume 2.，In cases of warm-heat syndromes or epidemic diseases, where pathogenic heat pervades both the interior and exterior, obstructing the flow of qi, causing the clear yang to fail to rise and the turbid yin to fail to descend, resulting in swelling of the head and face, sore and swollen throat, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, vomiting and abdominal pain, skin rashes and bleeding, erysipelas, delirium and mania, loss of consciousness,intestinal colic (abdominal pain), vomiting and diarrhea without evacuation, chest restlessness and diaphragmatic heat, nodular plague (red, swollen lumps), big-head plague (red, swollen head), toad-neck plague (swelling of the neck and nape), as well as erysipelas and leprosy.
Ascending and Descending Powder
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Formulas Name : Ascending and Descending Powder
Chinese Name : 升降散
Drug Formulation
White Stiff Silkworm (wine-fried) 2 qian, Whole Cicada Shedding (soil removed) 1 qian, Sichuan Rhubarb (raw) 4 qian, Guangzhou Turmeric (peeled; do not use sliced turmeric) 3 fen.
Source
From *The Complete Book on Summer Heat Illnesses*, Volume 2.
Processing
Grind the ingredients into a fine powder and mix thoroughly. For mild cases, take in 4 divided doses;
Benefits
In cases of warm-heat syndromes or epidemic diseases, where pathogenic heat pervades both the interior and exterior, obstructing the flow of qi, causing the clear yang to fail to rise and the turbid yin to fail to descend, resulting in swelling of the head and face, sore and swollen throat, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, vomiting and abdominal pain, skin rashes and bleeding, erysipelas, delirium and mania, loss of consciousness,intestinal colic (abdominal pain), vomiting and diarrhea without evacuation, chest restlessness and diaphragmatic heat, nodular plague (red, swollen lumps), big-head plague (red, swollen head), toad-neck plague (swelling of the neck and nape), as well as erysipelas and leprosy.
Instructions for Use
Each dose weighs 1 qian, 8 fen, 2 li, and 5 mao. Mix with 1 cup of chilled yellow wine and 5 qian of honey, stir well, and take cold. Stop once symptoms subside. For severe cases, take 3 doses: each dose weighs 2 qian, 4 fen, 3 li, and 3 mao, mixed with 1½ cups of yellow wine and 7 qian, 5 fen of honey, stirred well and taken cold.For the most severe cases, divide the dose into two administrations: each dose is 3 qian 6 fen 5 li, mixed with 2 cups of yellow wine and 1 liang of honey, stirred well and taken cold. If the condition has not improved after 1–2 doses, the treatment may be repeated; discontinue once the fever subsides.
Note
Do not drink tea, smoke, or eat or drink anything for half a day after taking the medicine. If these restrictions are not observed, the treatment will be ineffective.
Copyright: Excerpt from From *The Complete Book on Summer Heat Illnesses*, Volume 2., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 31, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 31, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 31, 2026
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Ascending and Descending Powder,In cases of warm-heat syndromes or epidemic diseases, where pathogenic heat pervades both the interior and exterior, obstructing the flow of qi, causing the clear yang to fail to rise and the turbid yin to fail to descend, resulting in swelling of the head and face, sore and swollen throat, fullness and oppression in the chest and diaphragm, vomiting and abdominal pain, skin rashes and bleeding, erysipelas, delirium and mania, loss of consciousness,intestinal colic (abdominal pain), vomiting and diarrhea without evacuation, chest restlessness and diaphragmatic heat, nodular plague (red, swollen lumps), big-head plague (red, swollen head), toad-neck plague (swelling of the neck and nape), as well as erysipelas and leprosy.