Chinese: 升麻葛根汤
Pinyin: Shēng Má Gé Gēn Tāng
Other names: Cimicifuga and Kudzu Decoction
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Formula category: Formulas that clear Wind-Heat
Conditions for which it may be prescribed: MeaslesChickenpoxHerpes zoster and one other condition
- Releases the muscle layer
- Vents rashes
Source date: Craft of Medicines and Patterns for Children
Source book: 1119 AD
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.
Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang is a 4-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula with Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma) as a principal ingredient.
Invented in Craft of Medicines and Patterns for Children, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Heat. Its main actions are: 1) releases the muscle layer and 2) vents rashes.
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.
From a Western Medicine standpoint, such patterns can give rise to a range of conditions such as measles, herpes zoster or herpes simplex for instance.
On this page, after a detailed description of each of the four ingredients in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang, we review the patterns and conditions that Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang helps treat.
The four ingredients in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang
Sheng Ma is a king ingredient in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang. Like the name indicates, it means it has more power than other ingredients in the formula.
1. Bugbane Rhizomes (Sheng Ma)
Sheng Ma disperses Wind in the Yang Brightness Channel and lifts the clear Yang of the Stomach, and vents rashes.
Ge Gen is a deputy ingredient in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang. This means it helps the king ingredient(s) treat the main pattern or it serves to treat a coexisting pattern.
2. Kudzu Roots (Ge Gen)
Ge Gen stimulates and disperses functioning in the superficial body levels and hence unblocks the pores and interstices to assist in ventig the rash. It also raises the Body Fluids for expelling the Heat.
Gan Cao is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
3. 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 stregthens the Qi and remove Toxins thus helping the key and deputy berbs clearing Heat and venting the rash. The substitution of untreated Liquorice is common due to its ability to resolve toxicity at a higher extent in comparison that of the honeyfried variety.
Chi Shao is an assistant ingredient in Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang. This means that it either serves to reinforces the effect of other ingredients or it moderates their toxicity.
4. Red Peony Roots (Chi Shao)
Part used: Dried root
Nature: Cool
Taste(s): Bitter
Meridian affinity: Liver
Category: Herbs that invigorate the Blood
In general Chi Shao's main actions are as follows: "Moves Blood, relieves pain and reduces swelling. Cools the Blood and the Liver."
In the context of Sheng Ma Ge Gen Tang, it is used because it cools the Blood and targets the issues from the interior.
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