九味羌活汤

• Effects: Induces sweating to dispel dampness, while also clearing interior heat.
• Core pathomechanism: External contraction of wind-cold-damp with internal accumulated heat. Wind-cold-damp evils bind the exterior, obstructing defensive yang and blocking the channels and network vessels; at the same time, there is pre-existing accumulated heat within, or cold-damp stagnates and transforms into heat, forming a pattern of exterior cold with interior heat.

1. When it is used

This formula embodies the concept of "treatment according to the channel affected," and is a commonly used formula for common colds due to wind-cold-damp evils in any season.

2. Pattern and presentation

• Main symptoms:
  1. Aversion to cold with fever, no sweating: wind-cold binding the exterior.
  2. Headache and stiff nape, generalized soreness and pain of the limbs: cold-damp lodging in the channels, impairing the free flow of qi and blood.
• Key differentiating point: bitter taste in the mouth with slight thirst, a sign of internal accumulated heat.
• General and accompanying symptoms: white or slightly yellow tongue coating.

3. Tongue and pulse

• Tongue: white or slightly yellow coating.
• Pulse: floating, or floating and tight.

4. Granule conversion and dose

• Calculation of the total raw herb weight of the original formula (based on the classical dosage):