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1. 葛根汤  = 桂枝汤 + 麻黄 + 葛根

Based on the herbs included, 葛根汤 is a variation on 桂枝汤.

However, let’s look at the original text:

“太阳病，项背强几几，无汗 恶风，葛根汤主之。”

It is clear that the person suffering from this Greater Yang illness has an exterior which is not deficient. So he’s not a 桂枝人, but rather a 麻黄人.

So let’s try making sense of the formula again.

葛根汤  = 麻黄汤 - 杏仁 + 芍药 + 葛根 + 姜枣

To make sense of this, see the explanation that follows:

1. 麻黄汤：essentially 麻黄 and 桂枝 to break open the pores, and 甘草 to provide balance against 麻桂’s strength.
2. no 杏仁：usually used to accompany 麻黄 when there is 喘, it’s not necessary here.
3. 芍药：缓急止痛, pain relief
4. 葛根：缓急止痛, pain relief
5. 姜、枣：外和营卫，内和脾胃

The Most Valuable Players here are 芍药 and 葛根. This is because they solve the additional problem of 项背强几几. And so, we can actually morph this formula into one that solves the exterior problem by using 麻、桂 for the 麻黄-type person, and 桂枝 alone for the 桂枝-type person.

What else?