bubble_chart Preparation and Dosage

On the right, Wuwei, take three ingredients, grind them, and boil with seven sheng of water over a low flame until reduced to three sheng. Remove the dregs, adjust to a warm temperature, and take one sheng. Shortly after taking it, consume a little over one sheng of hot thin porridge to aid the medicinal effect. Take it warm and allow about an hour for the body to slightly sweat, which is beneficial; do not let it flow like water, as the illness will not be cured. If one dose causes sweating and the illness is relieved, stop further doses; it is not necessary to finish the entire prescription. If there is no sweating, take another dose following the previous method; if there is still no sweating, take subsequent doses at shorter intervals, about half a day apart, until three doses are completed. For severe cases, take the medicine day and night, observe the condition, and if the symptoms persist after finishing one dose, take another; if there is still no sweating, take up to two or three doses. Avoid raw and cold foods, sticky and slippery foods, meat, noodles, pungent spices, alcohol, dairy, and foul-smelling foods.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Releasing flesh dispelling wind, harmonizing nutrient and defensive aspects.

bubble_chart Indications

External contraction wind-cold pattern of exterior-deficiency type. Headache, fever, sweating, aversion to wind, nasal congestion, retching, thin white tongue coating, and floating weak or floating moderate pulse.

bubble_chart Formula Principles

This formula, known as Zhongjing's foremost among the group of formulas, features a rigorous combination of medicinals. It combines medicinals for relieving the exterior with tonics and astringents, making it a renowned ancient formula still in use today. In the formula, Cinnamon Twig releases the exterior with its pungent-warm nature, warming the meridians and unblocking yang; Peony Root is sour, bitter, and slightly cold, nourishing blood and astringing yin. When paired in equal amounts with Cinnamon Twig, one disperses while the other astringes, allowing for both sweating to expel external pathogens and stopping sweating without retaining pathogens; Fresh Ginger Rhizome is pungent and warm, assisting Cinnamon Twig in dispersing cold from the flesh and also warming the stomach to stop vomiting; Chinese Date is sweet and neutral, tonifying qi and harmonizing the middle, as well as nourishing the spleen and promoting fluid production. The combination of ginger and jujube can elevate spleen and stomach qi to expel pathogens from the exterior, harmonizing the nutrient and defensive aspects; Prepared Liquorice Root tonifies qi and harmonizes the middle, regulating all the medicinals. When these medicinals are used together, they regulate yin-yang and harmonize nutrient-defense, making this formula adaptable for both external contraction diseases and miscellaneous illnesses with appropriate modifications.

bubble_chart Pattern Identification

1. external contraction wind-cold exterior deficiency sweating and aversion to wind.
2. headache and fever.
3. nasal congestion and retching.
4. thin white tongue coating.
5. floating and weak or floating and moderate pulse.

bubble_chart Formula Modification

1. Slight panting or panting: add Magnolia Bark, Bitter Apricot Seed.
2. Neck aching pain: add Pueraria Root.
3. Yang deficiency with profuse sweating: add Aconite Lateral Root.
4. Weak constitution and susceptibility to illness: Astragalus Root.
5. Periarthritis of the shoulder: add Turmeric, Salvia, Chinese Angelica.
6. Abdominal pain: double the amount of Peony Root.
7. Aversion to cold without sweating: add Ephedra, Pueraria Root.
8. More heat and less cold: add Gypsum, Anemarrhena.

bubble_chart Cautions and Contraindications

Exterior excess without sweating, external contraction of dampness, habitual alcohol consumption, and internal dampness-heat are contraindications.

bubble_chart Modern Application

This formula regulates sweat gland function, promotes blood circulation, and inhibits common cold viruses. It is used for the improvement of common cold, profuse sweating, allergic rhinitis, skin diseases, stiff shoulders, neuralgia, cold abdominal pain, impotence, panting, and weak constitution.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

1. Antipyretic, Analgesic, Anti-inflammatory, and Sedative Effects "Research on Chinese Patent Drugs" 1983(3):25, the antipyretic test indicates that 75% Cinnamon Twig Decoction can reduce the rectal temperature of feverish rabbits by 0.71, and the skin temperature test also shows that it can reduce the normal skin temperature of mice by 8.13%. The results of the analgesic experiment show that at 120 minutes, 37.5% and 75% Cinnamon Twig Decoction increase the basic pain threshold of mice by 64.82% and 105.35% respectively; this effect is similar to that of 0.1% morphine (20mg/kg); the inhibition rate of 75% Cinnamon Twig Decoction on the writhing response of mice is 90%. Additionally, Cinnamon Twig Decoction has a strong anti-formaldehyde inflammatory effect, with inhibition rates of 37.5% and 84.77% one hour after inflammation induction. Experiments show that Cinnamon Twig Decoction can inhibit the free activity of mice and enhance the hypnotic effect of barbiturates.
2. Promotion of Macrophage Function "Fujian Chinese Medicine" 1983(1):61, this formula significantly promotes the function of macrophages in mice. The phagocytosis rate of the Cinnamon Twig Decoction group is 24.4%, and the phagocytosis index is 42.2%; the control group's rates are 21.0% and 36.4% respectively, (P<0.05) shows statistically significant differences. The experiment also referenced observations by Ashman and Ellinggon, which demonstrated that elevated body temperature enhances macrophage activity, thereby confirming the scientific basis of the original formula's instruction to 'drink warm porridge and cover oneself'. Additionally, by grouping subjects according to different dosing schedules, it was found that the optimal efficacy was achieved with 2–3 doses per day or continuous administration over several days, consistent with Zhongjing's records on 'subsequent doses at shorter intervals' and 'repeat if symptoms persist'.