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All of the above treatises are the main compatible methods in formulas for relieving exterior syndromes. Generally speaking, formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes, created before the Tang and Song Dynasties, were the main formulas. They not only reflected the great achievements of the Discussion on Cold Damage , compiled by Zhang Zhong-jing in the Eastern Han Dynasty, and the Essentials from the Golden Cabinet on formulating formulas and selecting medicinals in formulas for exterior cold syndromes due to exogenous factors, but also embodied the contributions and improvement made by doctors in the Tang and Song Dynasties to their combinations and medicinals, so that, at present, they still hold important practical value in the clinic. Formulas pungent in flavor and cool in property for relieving exterior syndromes created after the Ming and Qing Dynasties were the mainstream, and they further developed the understanding and treatment of exterior syndromes, and made up for the shortcomings of focusing on formulas warm in property while neglecting formulas cool in property before the Tang and Song Dynasties. These two kinds of formulas show their own characteristics in combination, are not contradictory, and are the important symbols of the maturity of compatible theories in formulas for exterior syndromes. Therefore, although there are distinct differentiations in combinations between formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes, and formulas pungent in flavor and cool in property for relieving exterior syndromes, the two also have a consanguineous relationship. Formulas pungent in flavor and cool in property for relieving exterior syndromes mainly comprise of pungent and cool medicinals for relieving exterior syndromes, but are sometimes combined with pungent and warm medicinals for relieving exterior syndromes, such as jīng jiè (Herba Schizonepetae ) in Yín Qiào Săn (Lonicera and Forsythia Powder). In a similar way, formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes sometimes are also combined with pungent and cool (cold)medicinals, such as shí gāo (Gypsum Fibrosum)in Dà Qīng Lóng Tāng (Major Green-Blue Dragon Decoction). The former is to strengthen the function of inducing sweating to relieve the exterior syndrome, and the latter is to clear heat hidden in the interior. However, the degree and the primary and secondary medicinals of combination in formulas each have their own emphasis.
In this chapter, we comprehensively discussed the compatible methods of formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes. Firstly, it is because formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes are the mainstream in formulas for relieving exterior syndromes, as indicated in the Basic Questions - Great Treatise on the Regular Principles of the Six Origins ( Liù Yuán Zhèng Jì Dà Lùn , 六元政纪大论): “ Relieving exterior syndromes should not be done without heating medicinals ”(发表不远热); secondly, it is because in formulas pungent in flavor and cool in property for relieving exterior syndromes, the issues concerning the combination with medicinals that can disperse the lung and benefit the throat, relieve cough and calm asthma, and those concerning combinations when the other illness and pathogens are combined are all similar to those in formulas pungent in flavor and warm in property for relieving exterior syndromes, hence, we pay more attention to this one aspect.