Ma Huang Xing Ren Gan Cao Shi Gao Tang麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤

Ephedra, Apricot Kernel, Licorice and Gypsum Decoction

Releasing the Exterior 解表剂Release Wind-Heat 辛凉解表

Ingredients4 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

麻Ma Huang麻黄去节Ephedrae Herba9g君 ChiefOpens the Lung to vent trapped heat and relieve the wheeze 杏Xing Ren杏仁去皮尖Armeniacae Amarum Semen9g臣 DeputyDirects Lung qi downward against the wheeze 甘Zhi Gan Cao甘草炙Glycyrrhizae Radix Praeparata6g佐使 Assistant–EnvoyProtects the Stomach from Shi Gao's cold and harmonizes 石Shi Gao石膏碎，绵裹Gypsum Fibrosum18g君 ChiefClears Lung and Stomach heat and turns Ma Huang's action from warming to venting

Indications

Diffuses the Lung and clears heatCalms wheezing and stops coughVents lingering exterior wind

Heat lodged in the Lung after an exterior wind pattern: the surface no longer holds the pathogen, but the Lung is congested with heat and its qi will not descend.

Clinical Manifestations

Wheezing and rapid breathing with fever
Cough with thick sputum and a hot chest
Children's cough and wheeze after a fever
Nasal flaring and laboured breathing

TongueThin white or yellow coating

PulseFloating and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthCold & Flu Relief

Modern Applications

Pneumonia Acute bronchitis Asthma Bronchiolitis Fever with cough

Common adjustments

Thick yellow sputum — add Huang Qin 黄芩, Zhe Bei Mu 浙贝母 and Yu Xing Cao 鱼腥草
Heat marked, high fever and great thirst — increase Shi Gao 石膏 and add Zhi Mu 知母
Throat sore and swollen — add Jie Geng 桔梗 and Niu Bang Zi 牛蒡子
Wheeze severe with chest fullness — add Ting Li Zi 葶苈子 and Sang Bai Pi 桑白皮

Contraindications

Not for wheezing from wind-cold with clear watery phlegm and no thirst, and not for the weak, wheezing breath of Lung and Kidney deficiency. The Shi Gao must stay well above the Ma Huang in dose; reverse that ratio and the formula heats the very Lung it should be cooling.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Contraindicated in pregnancy. Even though the formula is cooling overall, Ma Huang remains the chief herb and is not used in pregnancy; a practitioner will treat a hot Lung cough in pregnancy from different material.

Related Formulas

Yue Bi Tang越婢汤

References

Source Shang Han Lun 《伤寒论》 · Eastern Han

「发汗后，不可更行桂枝汤，汗出而喘，无大热者，可与麻黄杏仁甘草石膏汤。」
— 《伤寒论》(classical source, public domain)

Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.