Formulas · Release the Exterior 解表 · Gukbang (局方)

Cimicifuga and Pueraria Decoction

Seungmagalgeun-tang

한글 승마갈근탕 · Pinyin Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang

升麻葛根湯

Cited across several chapters of the Bogam; registered here, in 寒門, where the composition is given.

Composition 構成

Galgeun Ge Gen
葛根 갈근 · Kudzu Root

8 g
Chief 君
Seungma Sheng Ma
升麻 승마 · Cimicifuga

4 g
Chief 君
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
Chongbaek Cong Bai
蔥白 총백 · Scallion White

—
Envoy 使

two stalks

Total 20 g per packet (첩) · representative dosage — verify against source texts. Excludes 2 ingredients 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

Releases the exterior and vents rashes
Clears heat from the yangming

Indications 主治

Pattern-based

Warm disease and seasonal colds
Rash that will not come out with fever and thirst

Biomedical correlates

Measles and other exanthems
Febrile illness with incomplete rash

Source text 原文

Donguibogam 東醫寶鑑

治溫病及時令感冒. 葛根二錢, 白芍藥ㆍ升麻ㆍ甘草各一錢. 右剉, 作一貼, 薑三, 葱二, 煎服. 《局方》

Translation

Treats warm disease and seasonal colds. Pueraria, 2 don; white peony, cimicifuga and licorice, 1 don each. Cut up, make one packet, add three slices of ginger and two stalks of scallion and decoct. — Gukbang 局方 (Donguibogam · Han, lower)

Clinical commentary 臨床

One of the most-cited formulas in the whole Bogam and the standard answer to a rash that has not fully erupted. Cimicifuga and pueraria both lift and vent — they carry heat outward through the skin rather than draining it down — which is exactly what an incomplete eruption needs; peony holds the blood and stops the venting from going too far, and licorice moderates. Four drugs, and still the base formula for measles and the other childhood exanthems in East Asian practice. The ginger and scallion are the Bogam's addition for the seasonal cold reading of the indication. — Eui Young (Justin) Chung, L.Ac., Dipl. O.M.