Source: Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Exogenous Febrile Diseases).

Ingredients:
No.1  Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparatae) 15 g
No.2  Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis) 9 g
No.3  Zhigancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Praparatae) 6 g

Administration:
Decoct the above drugs in water for oral application.

Actions:
Recuperating depleted yang to rescue the patient from collapse.

Clinical Application:
This recipe is used to treat syndrome of hyperactivity of yin due to yang exhaustion, marked by cold limbs, aversion to cold, lying huddling up, vomiting, absence of thirst, abdominal pain, diarrhea, mental fatigue and sleepiness, whitish and slippery fur, feeble and thready pulse. It is applicable to myocardial infarction, acute cardiac failure, excessive vomiting from acute or chronic gastroenteritis, or to shock as a result of profuse perspiration in some critical cases, which pertain to yin excess due to yang exhaustion, or collapse from yang depletion.

In case of predominant yin rejecting yang manifesting flushed face and cold syndrome with pseudo-heat symptoms, add the dosage of the first two ingredients to enhance the effect of recuperating depleted yang and promoting blood circulation, namely Tongmai Sini Tang. In case of dampness accumulating in the interior due to yang deficiency accompanied by edema in the limbs, add Dangshen (Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae), Zexie (Rhizoma Alisrnatis) and Fuling (Poria) to reinforce the spleen for removing dampness and relieving swelling. This recipe is also made in the form of injection for first aid treatment of shock from various factors.

Elucidation:
The syndrome results from depletion of yang-qi and excessive yin-cold in the interior, and should be treated by recuperating yang. Ingredient No. 1, extremely pungent and hot in nature, acts as monarch drug to recuperate depleted yang. Ingredient No. 2 functions as minister drug and in compatibility with No. 1, strengthens the efficacy of recuperating depleted yang and dispelling cold. For this reason, there goes the saying "Without Ganjiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis), the hot property of Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparatae) can not be brought into play." The last ingredient is meant to replenish qi and restore yang of the middle-energizer and serves as adjuvant drug, which helps bring about the efficacy of the first two ingredients on the one hand, and reduces the toxic substances of No. 1 on the other hand.

It also reduces the side effect of the first two drugs because they are pungent, warm and dry in nature and apt to consume qi and impair body fluid, and mediates the efficacy of various drugs. The three ingredients, simple in compatibility but effective in results, ensure an immediate effect of recuperating depleted yarn to rescue the patient from collapse.

Cautions:
The syndrome of yang deficiency and yin excess often manifests cold syndrome with pseudo-heat symptoms as seen in predominant yin rejecting yang syndrome or yang-floating syndrome. Prescriptions for clearing away heat should never be used in the above cases. In case of vomiting after application of this recipe, it is advisable to add in small dosage drugs of cold or cool nature (e. g. pork bile) for the purpose of corrigent, or take the decoction cool to prevent rejection of the drugs.