Chinese: 麻黄汤
Pinyin: Má Huáng tāng
Other names: Ephedra Decoction, Ma Huang Jie Ji Tang
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Cold
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: AsthmaEczemaRhinitis and twenty four other conditions
- Releases exterior cold
- Treats wheezing
Contraindications: contraindicated for patients with debility and copious urination, and for... contraindicated for patients with debility and copious urination, and for patients who can easily bleed from nose. Patients with hypertension should take particular caution when taking this formula due to its adrenergic effects. Also, the formula should not be use for a long period of time. see more
Source date: 220 AD
Source book: Discussion of Cold Damage
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Ma Huang Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Ephedra (Ma Huang) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in 220 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Cold. Its main actions are: 1) releases exterior cold and 2) treats wheezing.
In Chinese Medicine health conditions are thought to arise due to "disharmonies" in the body as a system. These disharmonies are called "patterns" and the very purpose of herbal formulas is to fight them in order to restore the body's harmony.
In this case Ma Huang Tang is used by TCM practitioners to fight patterns like Wind-Cold invading the Lungs, Wind-Cold or Greater Yang Attack of Cold. From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as influenza, rheumatic fever or pneumonia for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Ma Huang Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Ma Huang Tang helps treat.
The four ingredients in Ma Huang Tang
Ma Huang is a king ingredient in Ma Huang Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Ephedra (Ma Huang)
Ma Huang is warm and acrid. It is an especially strong diaphoretic which also disperses Lung Qi and treating wheezing.
Gui Zhi is a deputy ingredient in Ma Huang Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Cinnamon Twigs (Gui Zhi)
Gui Zhi releases the exterior, especially the muscle layer. It also warms and invigorates the flow in the channels. Like the key ingredient Ephedra, It is also a diaphoretic. When the two ingredients are combined, they are very effective in releasing the exterior.
Xing Ren is an assistant ingredient in Ma Huang Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. Apricot Seeds (Xing Ren)
Part used: Dried ripe seeds
Nature: Warm
Meridian affinity: Large intestineLung
Category: Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing
Xing Ren is bitter and slightly warm. It assists the chief ingredient Ephedra to treat wheezing and release the Cold Wind Evil by leading the Lung Qi downward. It also protects the Lungs from the acridity of the two main diaphoretic herbs thanks to it oily nature.
Gan Cao is an envoy ingredient in Ma Huang Tang. This means that it directs the formula towards certain area of the body and/or harmonizes the actions of other ingredients.
4. Liquorice (Gan Cao)
Part used: Dried root and rhizome
Nature: Neutral
Taste(s): Sweet
Meridian affinity: HeartLungSpleenStomach
Category: Tonic herbs for Qi Deficiency
Gan Cao balances the actions of the other herbs by harmonizing the diaphoretic effect of Ephedrae, and counterbalancing the slight toxicity of Apricot seed.
Conditions and patterns for which Ma Huang Tang may be prescribed
It's important to remember that herbal formulas are meant to treat patterns, not "diseases" as understood in Western Medicine. According to Chinese Medicine patterns, which are disruptions to the body as a system, are the underlying root cause for diseases and conditions.
As such Ma Huang Tang is used by TCM practitioners to treat five different patterns which we describe below.
But before we delve into these patterns here is an overview of the Western conditions they're commonly associated with:
Influenza Rheumatic fever Pneumonia Rhinitis Pharyngitis Otitis media Traumatic arthropathy Cervical spine disease Lumbar strain Periarthritis of the shoulder Rheumatoid arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis Raynaud's disease Sciatica Trigeminal neuralgia Migraine Sinusitis Scleroderma Asthma Chronic bronchitis Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Hay fever Pericardial effusion Eczema Urticaria Chilblains Common cold
Again it wouldn't be correct to say "Ma Huang Tang treats influenza" for instance. Rather, Ma Huang Tang is used to treat patterns that are sometimes the root cause behind influenza.
Now let's look at the five patterns commonly treated with Ma Huang Tang.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Tongue shape: Partially swollen
Symptoms: Fever Chills Sneezing Headaches Runny nose Body aches Itchy throat Blocked nose Aversion to cold Lack of sweating Shortness of breath White and watery sputum Coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
Ma Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold invading the Lungs. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, itchy throat and shortness of breath. Patients with Wind-Cold invading the Lungs typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
The Defensive Qi layer of the Lungs is invaded by the external Wind-Cold. The battel between these two takes place and gives rise to fever. This is similar to how the immune system reacts to the external bacterial or virus according to the Western Medicine. Please be aware that there aren't always... read more about Wind-Cold invading the Lungs
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Wind-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills Sneezing Coughing No sweat Headaches No thirst Runny nose Body aches Sore throat Blocked nose Itchy throat Aversion to cold White watery mucus Occipital headaches Occipital stiffness
Ma Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Wind-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, sneezing and coughing. Patients with Wind-Cold typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This pattern is similar to Wind-Heat, but the Wind is combined with Cold rather than Heat. The shared symptoms are aversion to cold, sneezing, coughing, runny nose (with different mucus color), fever, occipital stiffness and ache. The different symptoms are the white watery mucus, no thirst, no... read more about Wind-Cold
'Cold' as a body pattern in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Cold pattern in Chinese Medicine
Greater Yang Attack of Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Sneezing Stiff neck Runny nose Slight fever Breathlessness Aversion to cold Occipital headaches Absence of sweating
Ma Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Greater Yang Attack of Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as occipital headaches, aversion to cold, slight fever and absence of sweating. Patients with Greater Yang Attack of Cold typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This is one of the four patterns of the Greater Yang stage, the second stage of the Six Stages theory.
As opposed to Attack of Wind, another pattern of the Greater Yang stage, there is an emphasis on Cold rather than Wind. As such when a key symptom of Attack of Wind is the sweating, in this... read more about Greater Yang Attack of Cold
The Exterior in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Exterior in Chinese Medicine
Exterior-Cold
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever Chills No sweat No thirst Stiff neck Loose stools Feeling of heat Clear urination Aversion to cold Generalized body pain
Ma Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Exterior-Cold. This pattern leads to symptoms such as aversion to cold, fever, generalized body pain and stiff neck. Patients with Exterior-Cold typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
This pattern is classified as ‘Exterior’ not because it derived from an external pathogenic factor but because its manifestations are located in the ‘Exterior’ of the body (the skin, muscles and channels).
'Cold' here is an exterior pathogenic factor. Spontaneous 'Fever' and aversion to cold are... read more about Exterior-Cold
The Exterior in Chinese Medicine is one of the so-called "Eight Principles". Learn more about Exterior in Chinese Medicine
Exterior-Full
Pulse type(s): Tight (Jin), Floating (Fu)
Symptoms: Fever No sweat Headaches Body aches Aversion to cold
Ma Huang Tang is sometimes prescribed by TCM practitioners to treat Exterior-Full. This pattern leads to symptoms such as fever, no sweat, body aches and aversion to cold. Patients with Exterior-Full typically exhibit tight (Jin) or floating (Fu) pulses.
An Exterior pattern, by definition, is a Full pattern, because it is characterized by the invasion of an external Pernicious Influence, which then fight with the Body's Defensive Qi. The battle of the two elements gives rise to 'fever', like how our immune system reacts to bacteria and virus... read more about Exterior-Full
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