Formulas that Release Exterior Cold
| Formula | Ingredients | Pattern | Actions | Indications |
| Ma Huang Tang Ephedra Decoction |
Ma Huang | Wind-cold attacking the exterior | Release exterior cold Arrests wheezing |
Fever & chills (chills predominant) without sweating, headache, generalized body aches, wheezing. T: thin white coat P: floating, tight |
| Gui Zhi | ||||
| Xing Ren | ||||
| Zhi Gan Cao | ||||
| Da Qing Long Tang Major Bluegreen Dragon Decoction |
Ma Huang Tang Ma Huang Gui Zi Xing Ren Zhi Gan Cao |
Exterior wind-cold with interior heat | Releases the exterior Clears interior heat |
Severe fever & chills without sweating, body aches, irritability P: floating, tight |
| Shi Gao Sheng Jiang Da Zao |
||||
| San Ao Tang Three-Unbinding Decoction |
Ma Huang Tang Ma Huang Xing Ren Gan Cao |
Externally-contracted wind-cold | Disseminates LU qi Releases the exterior |
Head & body aches, nasal congestion, coughing, wheezing, copious thin white sputum, sensation of fullness in chest, coughing, loss of voice. |
| Sheng Jiang | ||||
| Gui Zhi Tang Cinnamon Twig Decoction |
Gui Zhi | Externally-contracted wind-cold leading to exterior cold from deficiency | Releases pathogenic influences from the muscle layer Regulates ying & wei qi |
Fever & chills unrelieved by sweating, headache, aversion to wind, stiff neck, nasal congestion, dry heaves, no thirst. T: thin white moist coat P: floating, moderate, or frail |
| Bai Shao | ||||
| Sheng Jiang Da Zao Zhi Gan Cao |
||||
| Xiao Qing Long Tang Minor Bluegreen Dragon Decoction |
Ma Huang Gui Zhi |
Exterior wind-cold with congested fluids | Releases the exterior Transforms congested fluids Warms LU Directs rebellious qi downward |
fever & chills (chills predominant) without sweating, coughing, wheezing, copious white stringy difficult to expectorate sputum, stifling sensation in chest, generalized sensation of heaviness & body aches, no thirst. T: moist coat P: floating, tight |
| Gan Jiang Xi Xin |
||||
| Wu Wei Zi Bai Shao Ban Xia |
||||
| Zhi Gan Cao |