The Uses of Mahuang Formula

If the patient has symptoms of Taiyang meridian like chills, headache, neck and shoulder pain, floating pulse, but the patient is not sweating at the same time, it is the syndrome of Mahuang formula. Guizhi is used to treat patients with similar symptoms but, with one important distinction. Guizhi is used for patients who are already sweating. While Mahuang should be used for patients who are not sweating.

While one could use over the counter medicine to treat these symptoms, these products can lead to adverse side effects. Many over the counter products can potentially cause over sweating, which leads to fluids loss. Loss of fluids can be harmful to the patient’s health and should be avoided. The goal of Mahuang is to precisely target the amount of sweating that the patient needs. Mahuang helps to treat the symptoms while avoiding unwanted side effects from over sweating.

Mahuang formula includes Mahuang (Ephedra), Guizhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi), Zhigancao (Licorice), and Xingren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum). After taking the Mahuang formula, the patient should sweat slightly with the alleviation of the symptoms. When this occurs, that is when the medication should be stopped.

There are cases where Mahuang should not be used. Listed below are some examples:

1. The patient has Mahuang formula symptoms like chills, neck and shoulder pain, floating pulse, and no sweat. However, if the patient has a dry throat, it means the patient shows a deficiency of Yin and fluids. This condition is different than Mahuang formula syndrome. In this instance, Mahuang formula should not be prescribed to the patient.

2. If the patient has frequent urination, urgent urination and astringent pain in the urethra, that means a deficiency of Yin and fluids and the patient is accumulating heat abnormally. In this instance, Mahuang formula cannot be used.

3. Skin diseases such as ulcers should not be treated using Mahuang formula.

4. Patients who have frequent nose bleeding should not use Mahuang formula.

5. People who, in general, have frequent bleeding should not use Mahuang formula.

6. People who usually sweat easily should not use Mahuang formula.

There are many other prohibitions for Mahuang Formula, too many to list all of them here. Overall, a patient who has a deficiency of Yin, blood and fluids cannot use Mahuang Formula. Chinese medicine specialists should use Mahuang very carefully.

History of Mahuang

Using Mahuang as a weight-loss tool is strongly discouraged. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Mahuang was used as a weight-loss tool in the United States. Weight-loss is not the intended use of Mahuang and led to severe consequences and even death. While these side effects are due to the misuse of the herb, the FDA ruled that Mahuang is prohibited from use in the United States except by certified practitioners. Nevertheless, we follow the FDA’s direction and no longer use Mahuang and replace it with other pungent warm herbs.

(Note: Traditional Chinese medicine should be used under the guidance of a licensed professional specialized in Chinese medicine).