ma xing she gan tang

Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction

About ma xing she gan tang

Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang, Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum and Licorice Decoction, is Ma Huang, Shi Gao, Xing Ren and Zhi Gan Cao. The catalogue classes it among the formulas that clear Heat from the organs, and records it as clearing Lung Heat while diffusing and descending Lung Qi.

Ingredients

Herb	Amount
ma huang	12 g
shi gao	48 g
xing ren	18 g
zhi gan cao	6 g

Actions and indications

Clears Heat from the Lungs and disperses Wind-Heat

Heat trapped in the Lungs, with or without an exterior Wind-Heat pattern still present
Wind-Cold that has turned into Heat, or Lung Heat at the Qi stage of a warm disease
Fever with or without sweating; chills slight or absent, with some dislike of wind
Thirst for cold drinks, dry throat, flushed face, restlessness and fidgeting
Throat sore, red and swollen
Nose runny or blocked, with thick yellow discharge
Headache, dizziness and vertigo
Puffiness of the face
Tongue red or with a red tip, coat thin and white or yellow; pulse slippery and rapid, floating if exterior signs persist

Diffuses and descends Lung Qi to stop cough and wheezing

Yellow sputum, thick and sticky, with cough
Wheezing, panting or asthma, with laboured breathing, flaring nostrils and shortness of breath
Chest pain

Modern uses

Common cold
Influenza
Upper respiratory tract infection
Fever
Cough
Sore throat
Acute pharyngitis
Acute tonsillitis
Acute laryngitis
Diphtheria
Nasosinusitis
Nasal obstruction
Tracheitis
Acute tracheitis
Bronchitis
Acute or chronic bronchitis
Asthmatic bronchitis
Bronchiolitis
Bronchiectasis
Asthma
Bronchial asthma
Cardiac asthma
COPD
Dyspnea
Chest pain
Hemoptysis
Pneumonia
Lobar pneumonia
Bronchial pneumonia
Infantile pneumonia
Pneumonitis from measles
Measles with pneumonia
Chicken pox
Pertussis
Lung cancer
Headache
Migraine
Dizziness
Vertigo
Conjunctivitis
Keratitis
Facial edema
Spontaneous perspiration
Rheumatoid arthritis
Osteoarthritis
Hemorrhoids
Constipation

Symptoms

Aversion to wind
Chest pain
Chills
Cough
Dizziness
Dry throat
Facial edema
Feeling of heat
Fever
Flushed face
Headache
Irritability
Nasal congestion
Nasal discharge
Nasal flaring
Preference for cold drinks
Restlessness
Shortness of breath
Sore throat
Spontaneous sweating
Thirst
Wheezing
Yellow sputum

Modifications

Excess Heat: + jin yin hua, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + yu xing cao, + da qing ye
Stubborn asthma: + zhi ban xia, + gua lou, + chen pi, + zhi shi, + sheng jiang
Asthma or cough with a lot of Phlegm: + zi su zi, + ting li zi
Chills without sweating: + jing jie, + bo he, + dan dou chi
Inflamed sinuses or bronchial asthma: + di long
Laboured breathing: + ting li zi, + pi pa ye
Thick yellow sputum: + gua lou, + zhe bei mu
Measles, erupted or not, with fever, thirst, cough and laboured breathing: + da qing ye, + huang qin, + lian qiao
Measles, alternative: + gua lou, + zhe bei mu, + huang qin
High fever with asthma and cough: + zhi mu, + huang qin, + gua lou ren
Weak or elderly patients: + huang qi, + ren shen, + mai men dong
Measles with fever, laboured breathing and flaring nostrils: + zi cao, + fan hong hua

Show all 136 modifications

Stifling chest with cough and a lot of sputum: + ting li zi, + sang bai pi, + gua lou
Cough and laboured breathing of the excess type: + sang bai pi, + di gu pi
Cough with sputum: + jie geng
Blood in the sputum: + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye
Fever and fast breathing, with a thin yellow coat and rapid pulse: + zi su ye, + sang ye, + di long, + sang bai pi
High fever: + jin yin hua, + lian qiao
Puffy ankles and face: + ting li zi, + che qian zi
Chest pain: + gua lou pi, + si gua luo
Cough: + sang bai pi, + huang qin
Wind-Cold with Heat inside: + pi pa ye, + jie geng, + fang feng, + sang bai pi, + qian hu, + zhi zi, + huang qin, + jing jie
Wind-Cold with Heat inside and severe muscle aches: + pi pa ye, + jie geng, + fang feng, + sang bai pi, + qian hu, + zhi zi, + huang qin, + jing jie, + gui zhi, + zi su ye
Wind-Cold with Heat inside and constipation: + pi pa ye, + jie geng, + fang feng, + sang bai pi, + qian hu, + zhi zi, + huang qin, + jing jie, + da huang
Generally weak patients: + shi gao, + sang bai pi
Acute bronchitis (combined with Xiao Xian Xiong Tang)
Bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis: + huang qin, + zhi ban xia, + yu jin
Bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis with Phlegm-Heat: + huang qin, + zhi ban xia, + yu jin, + yu xing cao, + jin yin hua
Bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis with constipation: + huang qin, + zhi ban xia, + yu jin, + gua lou, + da huang
Bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis with Qi deficiency: + huang qin, + zhi ban xia, + yu jin, + huang qi, + bai zhu
Bronchiectasis or chronic bronchitis with injured Yin: + huang qin, + zhi ban xia, + yu jin, + mai men dong, + tai zi shen
Pneumonia in children: + qing dai, + huang qin
Pneumonia in children with fast breathing and a lot of sputum: + qing dai, + huang qin, + zi su zi, + lai fu zi, + di long
Whooping cough, made as a syrup: + bai bu, + ting li zi, + da zao, + yi tang
Cough with laboured breathing: + ting li zi
Asthma: + yu xing cao, + zi su zi
Asthma, alternative: + zao jiao ci, + sang bai pi
Severe asthma: + yu xing cao, + zi su zi, + lai fu zi, + she gan, + di long
Severe asthma, alternative: + dan nan xing, + qian hu
Asthma with Phlegm: + yu xing cao, + zi su zi, + tian zhu huang, + dan nan xing, + zhu ru
Asthma with Heat: + yu xing cao, + zi su zi, + huang qin, + tian hua fen
Asthma, coughing dry with little sputum: + yu xing cao, + zi su zi, + sha shen, + yu zhu
Fever from toxic Heat: + jin yin hua, + lian qiao, + huang qin
Fever with cough: + jie geng
Fever with diarrhoea: + huang lian
Acute pharyngitis: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + pu gong ying
Nasosinusitis: + bai zhi, + cang er zi, + xin yi hua
Lung Heat cough: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu
Lung Heat cough with chest pain: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu, + tao ren, + yu jin
Severe Lung Heat cough: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu, + ma dou ling, + pi pa ye
Severe Lung Heat cough with mild haemoptysis or blood-streaked sputum: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu, + qian cao (tan), + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye (tan)
Lung Heat cough with severe thirst: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu, + tian hua fen
Lung Heat cough with a sore throat: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + xing ren, + jin yin hua, + sang bai pi, + zhi mu
Marked chest pain: + tao ren, + yu jin
Coughing blood or blood-streaked sputum: + qian cao (tan), + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye (tan)
Two or three of these herbs, indication unclear: + she gan, + xuan shen, + jie geng, + ma bo
Copious yellow mucus with laboured breathing: + da huang, + gua lou ren
Chest pain, second set: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + yu xing cao
Chest pain and hard coughing: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin
Chest pain with exterior Wind-Heat: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + yu xing cao, + dan dou chi, + bo he, + jin yin hua
Chest pain with coughing of blood: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + yu xing cao, + bai ji, + xian he cao, + ma dou ling
Chest pain with thirst: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + yu xing cao, + bai mao gen, + zhi mu
Bronchial asthma: + gua lou pi, + huang qin, + lian qiao, + jie geng
Bronchial asthma with a high fever: + gua lou pi, + huang qin, + lian qiao, + jie geng, + sang ye, + bo he, + jin yin hua
Bronchial asthma with a lot of Phlegm and rapid panting: + gua lou pi, + huang qin, + lian qiao, + jie geng, + ting li zi, + she gan, + zhe bei mu, + di long
Bronchial asthma, Lung Heat marked: + gua lou pi, + huang qin, + lian qiao, + jie geng, + sang bai pi
Bronchial asthma with constipation: + gua lou pi, + huang qin, + lian qiao, + jie geng, + da huang
Asthma, bronchitis, cough or whooping cough from Phlegm-Heat: + yi yi ren, + dong gua zi, + lu gen, + di long
Asthma, bronchitis, cough or whooping cough from severe Phlegm-Heat: + yi yi ren, + dong gua zi, + lu gen, + di long
Phlegm-Heat cough or asthma with severe wheezing and a lot of mucus: + yi yi ren, + dong gua zi, + lu gen, + di long, + she gan, + sang bai pi, + ting li zi
Two or three of these herbs for Phlegm-Heat, exact indication unclear: + huang qin, + da qing ye, + ban lan gen, + huang lian
Phlegm-Heat cough or asthma with constipation: + yi yi ren, + dong gua zi, + lu gen, + di long, + da huang, + gua lou ren
Phlegm-Heat cough or asthma in recovery, with Yin deficiency: + yi yi ren, + dong gua zi, + lu gen, + di long, + di gu pi, + qing hao
Acute asthma, bronchitis, upper respiratory infection, pneumonia or whooping cough from Wind-Heat: + sang ye, + gua lou, + ju hua, + ma dou ling, + huang qin
Acute Wind-Heat respiratory illness with a sore throat: + sang ye, + gua lou, + ju hua, + ma dou ling, + huang qin, + she gan
Acute Wind-Heat respiratory illness with nosebleed, haemoptysis or blood-streaked mucus: + sang ye, + gua lou, + ju hua, + ma dou ling, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ou jie
Acute Wind-Heat respiratory illness with constipation: + sang ye, + gua lou, + ju hua, + ma dou ling, + huang qin, + da huang
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma, Heat predominating: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + sang bai pi, + huang qin
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma, second set given as Heat predominating: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + gan jiang, + xi xin
Severe mixed Cold-Heat asthma: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + di long, + ting li zi, + hou po
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma with an exterior Wind-Heat invasion: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + dan dou chi, + bo he, + jin yin hua
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma with a lot of Phlegm: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + jie geng, + zhi ban xia, + dan nan xing
Mixed Cold-Heat asthma with constipation: + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi, + da huang
Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP): + long dan cao, + chuan lian zi, + qing hao, + qian li guang, + dan dou chi
Fever with cough and laboured breathing: + zhi mu
Fever: + yu xing cao, + huang qin
Fever from severe Lung Heat: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + mi zhi sang bai pi, + di long
Fever with a lot of Phlegm: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + jie geng, + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi
Fever with severe coughing: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + mi zhi sang bai pi, + pi pa ye
Fever with coughing of blood: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + bai ji, + xian he cao, + ma dou ling
Fever with severe rapid panting: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + ting li zi, + she gan, + zhe bei mu
Fever with thirst: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + lu gen, + zhi mu
Fever with constipation: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + da huang
Acute attack of asthmatic bronchitis (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, + pu gong ying, + lu gen, + dong gua ren, − ren shen, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Acute attack of asthmatic bronchitis with severe internal Heat (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, + pu gong ying, + lu gen, + dong gua ren, + da qing ye, − ren shen, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Acute attack of asthmatic bronchitis with severe breathlessness and a lot of sputum (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, + pu gong ying, + lu gen, + dong gua ren, + she gan, + ting li zi, − ren shen, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Acute attack of asthmatic bronchitis with constipation and a distended abdomen (combined with Xiao Chai Hu Tang): + dang shen, + pu gong ying, + lu gen, + dong gua ren, + da huang, + gua lou, − ren shen, − sheng jiang, − da zao
Phlegm-Heat: + yu xing cao, + huang qin, + zhe bei mu, + gua lou pi
Heat damaging the vessels, with coughing of blood: + zhi zi, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye
Lungs badly blocked, unable to lie flat: + zi su zi, + ting li zi
Cough with nausea: + zhu ru, + zhi ban xia
Constipation: + gua lou ren, + xing ren
Lung Heat and toxins with a lot of foul, bloody pus and sputum: + jin yin hua, + lian qiao, + pu gong ying, + yu xing cao, + huang qin
Haemoptysis: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye
Haemoptysis with heavy bleeding: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye
Haemoptysis with chest pain: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + tao ren, + yu jin
Coughing blood: the patent remedy Yun Nan Bai Yao
Coughing blood: alternative to Yun Nan Bai Yao: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + san qi
Haemoptysis and a severe cough: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + ma dou ling, + mi zhi pi pa ye
Haemoptysis with severe thirst: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + tian hua fen
Haemoptysis with a very sore throat: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + she gan, + xuan shen
Asthmatic breathlessness: + zi su zi, + di long
Pneumonia: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + gua lou, + sang bai pi, + jie geng
Haemoptysis with a very sore throat, alternative: + yu xing cao, + sang bai pi, + huang qin, + bai mao gen, + ce bai ye, + she gan, + ma bo
Pneumonia with severe cough and a lot of thick Phlegm: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + gua lou, + sang bai pi, + jie geng, + yu xing cao, + qing dai, + ge qiao
Pneumonia with severe thirst: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + gua lou, + sang bai pi, + jie geng, + tian hua fen
Pneumonia with restlessness, agitation and vexation: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + gua lou, + sang bai pi, + jie geng, + shi gao, + zhi zi
Pneumonia, lips dry and tongue red and dry: + ban lan gen, + lian qiao, + huang qin, + gua lou, + sang bai pi, + jie geng, + xuan shen, + sheng di huang
Pneumonia from Phlegm-Heat congesting the Lungs: + gan cao, + yu xing cao, + ting li zi, + di gu pi, + huang qin, + sang bai pi, − zhi gan cao
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia with constipation and a distended abdomen (combined with Dai Ge San): + gan cao, + yu xing cao, + ting li zi, + di gu pi, + huang qin, + sang bai pi, − zhi gan cao
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia, purging step (combined with Dai Ge San): + da huang, + zhi shi
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia with a bluish face and lips: + gan cao, + yu xing cao, + ting li zi, + di gu pi, + huang qin, + sang bai pi, − zhi gan cao
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia with a lot of thick yellow Phlegm: + gan cao, + yu xing cao, + ting li zi, + di gu pi, + huang qin, + sang bai pi, − zhi gan cao
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia, Blood-moving step (combined with Dai Ge San): + dan shen, + hong hua, + tao ren, + chi shao
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia, Phlegm-clearing step (combined with Dai Ge San): + dan nan xing, + zhe bei mu
Phlegm-Heat pneumonia with severe toxic Heat: + gan cao, + yu xing cao, + ting li zi, + di gu pi, + huang qin, + sang bai pi, − zhi gan cao
Heat-type asthma: + zi su zi, + yin yang huo, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + zhe bei mu
Heat-type asthma, alternative: + zi su zi, + ting li zi, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + chuan bei mu
Heat-type asthma, further step (combined with Dai Ge San): + hu zhang, + bai hua she she cao
Heat-type asthma with thick yellow sputum: + zi su zi, + yin yang huo, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + zhe bei mu, + ge qiao, + bei sha shen
Heat-type asthma, sweating: + zi su zi, + yin yang huo, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + zhe bei mu, + lian qiao, − ma huang
Heat-type asthma, alternative set placed after the sweating entry: + zi su zi, + ting li zi, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + chuan bei mu, + ge qiao, + bei sha shen
Heat-type asthma, feverish: + zi su zi, + ting li zi, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + chuan bei mu, + jin yin hua
Heat-type asthma with breathlessness and rebellious Qi: + zi su zi, + yin yang huo, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + zhe bei mu, + hou po, + chen xiang
Heat-type asthma with breathlessness and rebellious Qi, alternative: + zi su zi, + ting li zi, + di long, + sang bai pi, + gua lou ren, + chuan bei mu, + chen xiang, + hou po

Cautions

contraindication Wheezing or asthma from Wind-Cold, or a purely Cold pattern without Heat, which the cold Shi Gao would aggravate
contraindication A pathogen that lingers because of Qi deficiency, or spontaneous sweating that reflects Qi or Yang deficiency rather than Heat
contraindication Children or elderly people who are generally weak, and anyone convalescing from a chronic illness
caution Spleen and Stomach Yang deficiency or Cold-type diarrhoea: use with caution, as Shi Gao is cold
caution Hypertension, irregular heartbeat, an overactive thyroid or anxiety disorders: generally avoid, or use with great caution, because of Ma Huang's stimulant effect on the heart and circulation
caution Ma Huang contains ephedrine-type alkaloids and is controlled or restricted in a number of jurisdictions (ephedra supplements banned in the US since 2004); use only under a qualified practitioner, never as self-treatment
caution With stimulant medicines: do not combine

Preparation

Decoction taken warm; classically Ma Huang is cooked first and skimmed and Shi Gao is broken into pieces, though all four herbs are now often cooked together

Names

Pinyin	ma xing she gan tang·ma xing shi gan tang
English Name	Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Gypsum, and Licorice Decoction

Classification

Category: Clear Heat from Organs