CLASSIC FORMULAS: LING GUI ZHU GAN TANG, SAN HUANG XIE XIN TANG AND MA HUANG

Course overview

In this course, Dr. Zhang Wen-Quan, long time student of Dr. Liu Du-Zhou, goes deeply into 3 essential Shang Han Lun formulas: Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang, San Hua Xie Xin Tang and Ma Huang Tang. As he discusses each formula he lists the diseases it can be used for. For each disease, he emphasizes the key signs that must be present in order to consider the formula as a treatment for the disease. In addition, for each disease, Dr. Zhang illustrates the use of the formula and the possible modifications by giving examples from either his own practice or from his observation and notes from the practice of Dr. Liu Du-Zhou. Dr. Zhang often refers to and remains aligned with the clauses of the Shang Han Lun as he discusses Dr. Liu’s common modifications of these formulas. However, he also discusses modifications that are his own or Dr. Liu’s inspiration and experience. Students of this course will come away with a very good understand as to how to use these formulas and their offshoot formulas safely and effectively. San Huang Xie Xin Tang is perhaps the coldest and most bitter formula in the Shang Han Lun while Ma Huang Tang is very pungent, warm, stimulating and dispersing. Often we are timid to use such formulas yet, it is their strength that makes them so effective. When we grasp the underlying pattern associated with these formulas, we can feel confident in being able to use them safely.