麻黄（去节，三两） 桂枝（洗净，二两） 杏仁（去皮尖，七十枚） 甘草（一两，
生）
太阳伤寒，头痛发热，身疼腰痛，骨节不利，恶寒无汗而喘，脉来尺寸俱紧者，麻
黄汤主之。
足太阳经，起目内 ，循头背腰 ，故所过疼痛不利；寒邪外束，人身之阳不得宣越，
故令发热；寒邪在表，不复任寒，故令恶寒；寒主闭藏，故令无汗；人身之阳，既不得宣越
于外，则必壅塞于内，故令作喘；寒气刚劲，故令脉紧。麻黄之形，中空而虚；麻黄之味，
辛温而薄，空则能通腠理，辛则能散寒邪，故令为君。佐以桂枝，取其解肌；佐以杏仁，取
其利气；入甘草者，亦辛甘发散之谓。抑太阳无汗，麻黄之用固矣！若不斟酌人品之虚实，
时令之寒暄，则又有汗多亡阳之戒。汗多者宜扑粉，亡阳者宜附子汤。
葛根（四两） 麻黄（去节，三两） 桂枝（洗净，二两） 芍药（二两，炒） 甘草
（二两，
太阳病，项背强，无汗恶风者，名曰刚 ，此方主之。
风寒伤经络之经，则所过但痛而已，未至于强；风寒伤筋骨之筋，则所过筋急强直而成
。 ，痉字之误也。曰刚痉者，无汗之名也。本草云∶轻可去实。葛根、麻黄，形气之轻
者也；此以风寒表实，故加二物于桂枝汤中。又，太阳与阳明合病，必自下利。下利，里证
也，今之庸医皆曰漏底伤寒，不治，仲景则以此方主之。盖以邪气并于阳，则阳实而阴虚，
阴虚故下利也；与此汤以散经中表邪，则阳不实而阴气平，利不治而自止也。斯妙也，惟明
者
麻黄（去除节部，三两） 桂枝（洗净，二两） 杏仁（去皮和尖端，七十枚） 甘草（一两，生用）
太阳伤寒（感受寒邪在太阳经所致的病证），出现头痛、发热、身体疼痛、腰痛、骨节活动不利、怕冷、无汗且伴有气喘，脉象在寸部和尺部都呈现紧象的，用麻黄汤主治。
足太阳膀胱经，起始于目内眦，沿着头部、背部、腰部循行，所以经过的部位会出现疼痛和活动不利；寒邪束缚体表，人体的阳气不能宣发透达，所以导致发热；寒邪在体表，人体不再能耐受寒冷，所以导致怕冷；寒性主闭藏，所以导致无汗；人体的阳气既然不能在体表宣发透达，就必然在体内壅塞阻滞，所以导致产生气喘；寒气性质刚劲猛烈，所以导致脉象紧。麻黄的形态，中间空虚；麻黄的味道，辛温而轻薄，中空就能通达腠理（皮肤纹理及汗孔），辛味就能发散寒邪，所以作为君药（主药）。以桂枝为佐药，取它解除肌表之邪的作用；以杏仁为佐药，取它利降气机的作用；加入甘草，也是符合辛甘发散（辛味与甘味药物配合能发散邪气）的道理。抑且太阳病无汗，麻黄的使用是确定的！如果不斟酌患者体质的虚实，时令气候的冷暖，那么又有出汗过多导致亡阳（阳气脱失）的警戒。出汗过多的适宜扑打爽身粉（收敛止汗），亡阳的适宜用附子汤治疗。
葛根（四两） 麻黄（去除节部，三两） 桂枝（洗净，二两） 芍药（二两，炒制） 甘草（二两，[原文此处似有缺漏，通常指炙甘草或生甘草，依上下文及方剂常规推测]）
太阳病，项背部僵硬强直，无汗、怕风的，名叫刚痉（一种以项背强直、无汗为特征的痉挛性疾病），此方主治。
风寒损伤经络中的“经”部分，那么经过的地方只是疼痛而已，还不至于僵硬；风寒损伤筋骨中的“筋”部分，那么经过的地方筋脉紧急强直而形成痉挛。“痉”字是误写（原文可能作其他形近字）。说它是刚痉，是指无汗的名称。本草记载：轻清的药物可以祛除实邪。葛根、麻黄，是形体和气机都比较轻清的药物；这里是因为风寒表实，所以在桂枝汤中加入这两味药。另外，太阳经与阳明经合病，必定出现自发性腹泻。腹泻，属于里证，现在的庸医都说这是漏底伤寒（指严重腹泻的伤寒），无法治疗，张仲景却用这个方子主治。大概是因为邪气并聚于阳分，则阳实而阴虚，阴虚所以导致腹泻；给予这个汤剂来疏散经络中的表邪，那么阳就不实而阴气平和，腹泻不用专门治疗而自然停止。这真是妙处啊，只有高明的人才能理解。
Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) [removed nodes, 3 liang], Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) [washed, 2 liang], Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Xingren, 杏仁) [removed skin and tips, 70 seeds], Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) [1 liang, raw].
Taiyang Shanghan (Cold Damage affecting the Taiyang channel), characterized by headache, fever, body ache, lower back pain, stiffness and difficulty in moving the joints, aversion to cold, absence of sweating, and wheezing, with a tight pulse at both the Cun (inch) and Chi (cubit) positions, is primarily treated with Mahuang Tang.
The Foot-Taiyang Bladder Channel originates from the inner canthus of the eye and follows the head, back, and waist; therefore, pain and stiffness occur in the areas it traverses. When pathogenic Cold binds the exterior, the body's Yang Qi cannot be dispersed and vented, leading to fever. With Cold pathogen at the exterior, the body loses its ability to withstand cold, resulting in aversion to cold. Cold has the nature of closure and storage, causing anhidrosis (absence of sweating). Since the body's Yang Qi cannot be dispersed outward, it must become congested internally, leading to wheezing. The nature of Cold Qi is rigid and forceful, causing a tight pulse. The morphology of Mahuang is hollow and empty; its flavor is pungent, warm, and light. Being hollow allows it to open the Couli (pores and interstices); being pungent allows it to disperse Cold pathogen; thus, it serves as the Jun (Emperor/Chief) herb. Guizhi is used as a Zuo (Assistant) herb for its ability to resolve the muscle layer; Xingren is used as a Zuo herb for its ability to promote the free flow of Qi; Gancao is added, adhering to the principle that Pungent and Sweet flavors together facilitate dispersion. Indeed, for Taiyang disease with anhidrosis, the use of Mahuang is established! However, if one does not carefully consider the patient's deficiency or excess constitution, nor the seasonal variations in cold and warmth, there is a warning against excessive sweating leading to Wang Yang (collapse of Yang). For excessive sweating, dusting powder is appropriate; for collapse of Yang, Fuzi Tang is appropriate.
Puerariae Lobatae Radix (Gegen, 葛根) [4 liang], Ephedrae Herba (Mahuang, 麻黄) [removed nodes, 3 liang], Cinnamomi Ramulus (Guizhi, 桂枝) [washed, 2 liang], Paeoniae Radix Alba (Shaoyao, 芍药) [2 liang, stir-fried], Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (Gancao, 甘草) [2 liang].
In Taiyang disease, if there is stiffness and rigidity of the neck and back, anhidrosis, and aversion to wind, it is named Gang Jing (Stiff Spasm characterized by lack of sweat), which is primarily treated by this formula.
When Wind-Cold damages the "Jing" (channels/meridians) of the collaterals, the affected area experiences only pain, not yet reaching stiffness. When Wind-Cold damages the "Jin" (sinews/tendons) of the bones and sinews, the affected area exhibits tense, stiff, and straightened sinews, forming spasms. "Jing" (spasm) was a textual error in the original manuscript. Referring to it as Gang Jing indicates the name for cases without sweat. Materia Medica states: "Light substances can remove excess." Gegen and Mahuang are herbs with light morphology and qi; here, because of Exterior Excess due to Wind-Cold, these two are added to Guizhi Tang. Furthermore, when Taiyang and Yangming channels are simultaneously affected (He Bing), spontaneous diarrhea inevitably occurs. Diarrhea is a Interior syndrome. Ordinary physicians of today claim this is "Lou Di Shanghan" (leaky-bottom Cold Damage) and declare it incurable, whereas Zhang Zhongjing treats it with this formula. This is because when pathogenic Qi merges into the Yang aspect, Yang becomes Excess while Yin becomes Deficient; Yin deficiency leads to diarrhea. Administering this decoction to scatter the Exterior pathogen within the channels resolves the Yang Excess and harmonizes Yin, causing the diarrhea to cease spontaneously without specific treatment for the interior. This is truly profound, understood only by the wise.