Source: Beiji Qianjin Yaofang (Valuable Prescriptions for Emergency).

Ingredients:
No.1  Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) 12 g (to be decocted later)
No.2  Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparatae) 9 g
No.3  Ganjiang (Rhizorna Zingiberis) 6 g
No.4  Renshen (Radix Ginseng) 9 g
No.5  Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) 6 g

Administration:
Decoct the above drugs in water for oral application.

Actions:
Eliminating cold accumulation, warming and invigorating spleen-yang.

Clinical Application:
This recipe is used to treat syndrome of cold accumulation due to yang deficiency, marked by abdominal pain, constipation, or protracted diarrhea with pus and blood, cold limbs, pale tongue with thin whitish fur, deep and taut pulse. It is applicable to acute simple ileus, incomplete ileus, chronic dysentery, the acute onset of chronic appendicitis, and other diseases, chief symptoms of which are abdominal pain, constipation, lassitude, aversion to cold with preference for warmth and pertain to the syndrome of interior cold accumulation due to deficiency of yang-qi.

In case of severe abdominal pain, add Rougui (Cortex Cinnamomi) and Muxiang (Radix Aucklandiae) to enhance the effect of warming yang to promote the flow of qi and relieve pain. If concomitant with vomiting, add Zhibanxia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Praeparatae) and Sharen (Fructus Amomi) to regulate the stomach and relieve vomiting. In case of protracted dysentery with damp heat marked by yellowish greasy fur, add Jinyinhua (Flos Lonicerae) and Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) to clear the bowels for arresting dysentery.

Elucidation:
The syndrome results from deficiency of spleen-yang, leading to the generation of cold and its accumulation in the intestine. It should be treated by means of purging away cold accumulation and warming and invigorating spleen-yang. The first two ingredients achieve the results of warming the interior to dispel cold and purging away accumulated mass, and function as monarch drug, with the former relaxing the bowels and the latter strengthening spleen-yang. Ingredient No. 3 helps ingredient No. 2 warm the middle-energizer and dispel cold, acting as minister drug. The last two ingredients, with the functions of replenishing qi and regulating the middle-energizer, and reinforcing the spleen together with ingredients No. 2 and No. 3, are used as adjuvant drug. Besides, the last ingredient also serves as guiding drug to mediate the properties of other drugs.
    
Dahuang Fuzi Tang and Wenpi Tang are both composed chiefly of Dahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) and Fuzi (Radix Aconiti Praeparatae) with the functions of warming the interior to dispel cold and relieving constipation. They are both indicated in such symptoms as abdominal pain with preference for warmth, constipation and cold limbs due to interior accumulation of cold. The former includes also Xixin (Herba Asari), which is effective in dispelling cold and relieving pain, and is fit for excess syndrome of interior cold accumulation with quick progress of the disease. While the latter also comprises Renshen (Radix Ginseng), Ganjiang ( Rhizoma Zingiberis ) and Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae), which bear the function of replenishing qi and invigorating the spleen, and is fit for syndrome of deficiency in the root and excess in the branch due to interior cold accumulation with slow progress of the disease.