the symptoms and formulae for each Level would be as follows.
Defensive-Qi Level
Pain, redness and swelling of the joints with acute onset, the skin feeling hot to the touch, fever,
sore throat, shivering. This corresponds to the acute, beginning stage of Heat Painful Obstruction
Syndrome.
Use Yin Qiao San Lonicera-Forsythia Powder plus Luo Shi Teng Caulis Trachelospermi
jasminoidis and Si Gua Luo Fasciculus Luffae vascularis. If the upper limbs are affected add
Sang Zhi Ramulus Mori albae and Bo He Herba Menthae. If the lower limbs are affected add
Niu Xi Radix Achyranthis bidentatae seu Cyathulae.
Qi Level
Painful, red, hot, swollen joints, worse with movement, feeling of heat, thirst, constipation, dark
urine, Rapid pulse and Red tongue with yellow coating. If there is Dampness the joints would be
very swollen and there would be a feeling of heaviness.
This could correspond to acute attacks of chronic Heat Painful Obstruction Syndrome.
The formula to use for Heat is Bai Hu Tang White Tiger Decoction plus Huang Qin Radix
Scutellariae baicalensis, Zhi Zi Fructus Gardeniae jasminoidis, Lian Qiao Fructus Forsythiae
suspensae, Qin Jiao Radix Gentianae macrophyllae, Si Gua Luo Fasciculus Luffae vascularis
and Ren Dong Teng Caulis Lonicerae japonicae.
For Damp-Heat use Lian Po Yin Coptis-Magnolia Decoction plus Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae
baicalensis, Huang Bo Cortex Phellodendri, Yi Yi Ren Semen Coicis lachryma jobi, Fu Ling
Sclerotium Poriae cocos, Zhu Ling Sclerotium Polypori umbellati, Xi Xian Cao Herba
Siegesbeckiae orientalis and Ren Dong Teng Caulis Lonicerae japonicae. If the upper limbs are
affected add, Huo Xiang Herba Agastachis and Pei Lan Herba Eupatorei fortunei. If the lower
limbs are affected add Cang Zhu Rhizoma Atractylodis lanceae, Niu Xi Radix Achyranthis
bidentatae seu Cyathulae and Fang Ji Radix Stephaniae tetrandae.
Nutritive-Qi Level
Maculae on the legs, low-grade fever or a feeling of heat, irritability, Rapid and Fine pulse and
Red tongue without coating.
Use Qing Ying Tang Clearing Nutritive Qi Decoction plus Dang Gui Radix Angelicae sinensis,
Sang Zhi Ramulus Mori albae, Ji Xue Teng Caulis Millettiae seu Caulis Spatholobi, Xi Xian