The pulse is floating, tight, and wiry; the tongue coating is dry, white, and greasy, hiding fever, with slight aversion to cold, cough, and qi counterflow. Unable to lie flat for fourteen days and nights, with a sore throat that is pale red and not swollen, and flushed cheeks. According to the account, the illness began after excessive loss of essence. Cold pathogens entered through the skin and hair into the lungs, taking advantage of the deficiency to directly invade the Shaoyin meridian, forcing the fire within the water to rise excessively. As the texts say, this is a severe case of "floating yang." Reviewing the previous prescriptions, initially, they used dispersing and resolving agents such as Peucedanum, Mentha, Arctium, and apricot kernel and fritillaria products. Later, they switched to nourishing agents like Coastal Glehnia Root, Dendrobium, bird's nest, and Sichuan fritillaria. These were no more effective than scratching an itch through a boot or trying to stop boiling water by stirring it. Using medicine is like deploying troops; if the enemy is fierce, only a brave and fierce general can respond effectively. I propose a combination of Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction and Two Plus Fossil Bone Decoction, one to warm and resolve the cold pathogens, the other to restrain the floating yang. I am unsure if this can reverse the condition and would appreciate the guidance of the wise.
Honey-fried Ephedra 1.5g, Sichuan Cinnamon Twig 2.5g, Large Peony Root 9g, Raw Liquorice Root 2.5g, Prepared Common Monkshood Daughter Root 4.7g, Oyster Shell 12.5g, Flower Fossil Bone 12.5g, Schisandra Fruit 3g (mixed with Dried Ginger 0.9g and pounded), Bitter Apricot Seed 9g, Fairy Pinellia 9g, Water-fried Mulberry Bark 6g, Milkwort Root 2.5g
After taking two doses, the panting gradually subsided. After removing Ephedra and taking two more doses, the redness of the cheeks receded. The prescription was then changed to milder agents for regulation, such as apricot kernel, fritillaria, licorice, platycodon, poria with pine, mulberry bark, coix seed, waxgourd seed, and northern glutinous sorghum, followed by five or six doses to complete the recovery.