Astragalus Decoction for Sunstroke

Hwanggi-tang

한글 황기탕 · Pinyin Huang Qi Tang

黃芪湯

Registered with the chapter suffix to distinguish it from the three other formulas named 黃芪湯 registered on this site, all of which have different compositions.

Composition 構成

Insam Ren Shen
人蔘 인삼 · Ginseng

4 g
Chief 君
Hwanggi Huang Qi
黃芪 황기 · Astragalus

4 g
Chief 君
Baekchul Bai Zhu
白朮 백출 · White Atractylodes

4 g
Deputy 臣
Baekbongnyeong Fu Ling
白茯苓 백복령 · Poria (white)

4 g
Deputy 臣
Baekjagyak Bai Shao
白芍藥 백작약 · White Peony

4 g
Deputy 臣
Gamcho Gan Cao
甘草 감초 · Licorice

4 g
Envoy 使
Saenggang Sheng Jiang
生薑 생강 · Fresh Ginger

—
Envoy 使

three slices

Total 24 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts. Excludes 1 ingredient measured by count or used as a vehicle, shown as —.

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

Treats sunstroke with a vacuous weak pulse
Supplements the qi and secures the exterior

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Summerheat stroke with qi vacuity
Vacuous weak pulse after heat exposure

Biomedical correlates

Heat exhaustion
Convalescence after heatstroke

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治中暍脉虛弱. 人參ㆍ白朮ㆍ白茯苓ㆍ甘草ㆍ黃芪ㆍ白芍藥各一錢. 右剉, 入薑三片, 水煎服. 《海藏》

Translation

Treats sunstroke with a vacuous weak pulse. Ginseng, atractylodes, poria, licorice, astragalus and white peony, 1 don each. Cut up, add three slices of ginger and decoct in water. — Haejang 海藏 (Donguibogam · Seo)

Clinical commentary 臨床

The four gentlemen with astragalus and peony added, which is as plain a qi-supplementing formula as the pharmacy has, and the indication is a single sign: sunstroke with a vacuous weak pulse. There is nothing in it for the heat at all, which is the point — once the pulse has gone weak the problem is no longer the heat but what the heat has taken. For the patient recovering from a heat illness, flat and sweating and without appetite, this is the right prescription and the safest in the chapter. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.