Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction

Category: Herbal Tea

Herbal Tea Name: Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction

Chinese Name: 麻杏石甘饮

Formula

3 g ephedra, 6 g almonds, 10 g raw gypsum, 1 g licorice, 50 g lotus root starch

Main Ingredients

How To Make

Sort the ephedra, almonds, raw gypsum,licorice, respectively, removing any impurities. Cut the ephedra into small pieces, crush the almonds, break the raw gypsum into pieces, and slice the licorice. Place them together in a double-layered cheesecloth bag, tie the opening tightly, and place the bag in a clay pot with water to soak briefly. Decoct for 30 minutes. Remove the herb bag, add an appropriate amount of water, bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat and simmer until it becomes a drink. Stir in the lotus root starch to complete.

Efficacy

Clears heat and resolves phlegm. Indicated for whooping cough of the “phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs” pattern (spasmodic cough phase)

Usage

Take one dose in the morning and one in the evening

Commentary

Ephedra (Ma-huang) serves as the monarch (chief) herb; warm and pungent, slightly bitter in character, it travels through the Lung, Bladder meridians, working chiefly to disperse wind-cold exterior pathogens and diffuse constrained lung qi to relieve wheezing and sweating suppression. Almonds (Xing-ren) fill the deputy position, bitter-warm in property, acting through the Lung, Large Intestine meridians to descend lung qi and relieve cough and wheezing. Raw gypsum (Shi-gao) adds further support, working to clear heat, purge fire, remove vexation and stop thirst. Lotus root starch (Ou-fen) acts as an assistant ingredient, acting to nourish the spleen, calm the spirit and stop bleeding, thus refining the overall action. Licorice (Gan-cao) plays the envoy role, unifying the formula, working to tonify qi, harmonize all herbs, moderate the formula and unite the separate actions into one. Collectively, the combination clear heat and resolve phlegm, addressing the phlegm-heat and phlegm pattern.

Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan Decoction，From *Proven Tea, Decoction, and Soup Recipes for Common Ailments*,Clears heat and resolves phlegm. Indicated for whooping cough of the “phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs” pattern (spasmodic cough phase)

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