On December 21, 1965 a twenty one-year old female presented at the clinic. The previous day she had contracted a common cold manifesting with symptoms of headache, dizziness, generalized body pain, lumbar pain, nausea with a desire to vomit, aversion to cold, and frequent abdominal pain with loose bowel movements. Her pulse was floating-rapid, and she had a thin white tongue coating.

The white tongue coat, floating-rapid pulse, aversion to cold, headache, generalized body pain, and lumbar pain signify Tài Yáng cold damage. The frequent abdominal pain with loose bowel movements indicates Tài Yīn (disease). The dizziness, and nausea with desire to vomit show that there is interior rheum invading upwards, which is a bàn xià (Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum) presentation.

Comprehensive analysis: This is a Tài Yáng Tài Yīn combination disease, which fits with a gé gēn jiā bàn xià tāng (Kudzu Decoction with Pinellia) presentation.

Formula:

gé gēn (Kudzu Radix) 12g
má huáng (Ephedrae Herba) 10g
guì zhī (Cinnamomi Ramulus) 10g
shēng jiāng (Zingiberis Rhizoma recens) 10g
bái sháo (Paeoniae Radix alba) 10g
dà zǎo (Jujubae Fructus) 4 pieces
zhì gān cǎo (Glycyrrhizae Radix preparata) 6g
bàn xià (Pinelliae Rhizoma preparatum) 12g

Results: After taking 1 package of the formula, her symptoms decreased, and after 2 packages, her symptoms had completely resolved.