Formulas · Clear Heat 淸熱 · Bomyeongjip (保命集)

Cinnamon Twig and Peony Decoction

Gyejijagyak-tang

한글 계지작약탕 · Pinyin Gui Zhi Shao Yao Tang

桂枝芍藥湯

Composition 構成

Jeokjagyak Chi Shao
赤芍藥 적작약 · Red Peony

8 g
Chief 君
Seokgo Shi Gao
石膏 석고 · Gypsum

8 g
Chief 君
Jimo Zhi Mu
知母 지모 · Anemarrhena

8 g
Deputy 臣
Hwanggeum Huang Qin
黃芩 황금 · Scutellaria

8 g
Deputy 臣
Gyeji Gui Zhi
桂枝 계지 · Cinnamon Twig

4 g
Assistant 佐

Total 36 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts.

Received this formula from your practitioner? Amounts shown here are classical reference values — granule and prepared products differ. Always follow your prescribed dosage and directions.

Actions 效能

Drains heat from the yangmyeong in a taeyang and yangmyeong combination disease
Keeps a small door open at the surface while clearing within
Forestalls the evil passing inward into the yin channels

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Malaria with cold and heat breaking out at full strength — the great contention (大爭)
Taeyang and yangmyeong combination disease (太陽陽明合病)
Shivering with each alternation and sweating with each fever

Biomedical correlates

Malaria with severe rigors and high fever
Febrile illness with profuse sweating and no resolution

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治瘧寒熱大作, 此太陽陽明合病也, 謂之大爭. 寒熱作則必戰動, 發熱則必汗泄. 經曰, 汗出不愈, 知爲熱也. 不治則恐久而傳入陰經, 宜用此. 桂枝一錢, 赤芍藥ㆍ知母ㆍ石膏ㆍ黃芩各二錢. 右剉, 作一貼, 水煎服. 《保命》

Translation

Treats malaria with cold and heat breaking out at full strength. This is a taeyang and yangmyeong combination disease, and it is called the great contention. When the cold and heat come there must be shivering, and when the fever comes there must be sweating. The Classic says that if sweat issues and there is still no recovery, you know it is heat. Left untreated there is danger that in time it will pass inward into the yin channels, so this should be used. Cinnamon twig, 1 don; red peony, anemarrhena, gypsum and scutellaria, 2 don each. Cut up, make one packet, and decoct in water and take. — Bomyeongjip 保命 (Donguibogam · Haehak)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The leaf is as much a piece of reasoning as a prescription. Cold and heat breaking out together at full strength is read as a taeyang and yangmyeong combination disease — the great contention (大爭) — and the signs offered are the mechanics of it: shivering with every alternation, sweat with every fever. The warning at the end is why the formula exists at all. Sweat that comes and brings no recovery is proof the trouble is heat, and heat left in place will pass inward to the yin channels, where the chapter says malaria becomes deep and slow to cure. So the composition is weighted against heat rather than toward the surface. Red peony, anemarrhena, gypsum and scutellaria stand at 2 don each and cinnamon twig is held down to a single don — enough to keep a door open at the surface while the bulk of the formula drains the yangmyeong. Bomyeongjip supplies the sequel itself: if this makes the alternation worse instead of better, the sign is read as the soyang joining in and the next formula is Gyejihwanggeum-tang. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.