Cinnamon Twig Decoction (Gui Zhi Tang, 桂枝汤) is a foundational formula in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), first documented in the Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) by Zhang Zhongjing during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220 CE). This formula is renowned for its ability to harmonize the body's defensive (Wei) and nutritive (Ying) Qi, making it effective in treating various external Wind-Cold invasions, especially in individuals with underlying deficiencies.
Ephedra Decoction, also known as Ma Huang Tang in Chinese and Maoto in Japanese Kampo medicine, is a classical herbal formula originating from the ancient Chinese medical text Shang Han Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage) compiled by Zhang Zhongjing around 220 CE. This formula has been traditionally used to treat external Wind-Cold invasions, particularly when characterized by the absence of sweating.
