【Source】

“Collection of Medical Formulas”

 【Ingredients】

Poria (Fú Líng), Licorice Root (Gān Cǎo), Tangerine Peel (Jú Hóng), Platycodon Root (Jié Gěng), Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén), Fritillary Bulb (Bèi Mǔ), Schisandra Fruit (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ), Fresh Ginger (Shēng Jiāng)
(8)

 【Categories】

<Regulating Qi>: Tangerine Peel (Jú Hóng)

<Tonifying Spleen and Middle Jiao>: Licorice Root (Gān Cǎo)

<Pungent-Warm to Release the Exterior>: Fresh Ginger (Shēng Jiāng)

<Tonifying Spleen and Draining Dampness>: Poria (Fú Líng)

<Resolving Phlegm>: Platycodon Root (Jié Gěng), Fritillary Bulb (Bèi Mǔ)

<Astringing>: Schisandra Fruit (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ)

<Stopping Cough and Relieving Asthma>: Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén)

【Formula Explanation】

From “Medical Formulas”: This is a medicine for the Lung Channel of Hand-Taiyin, a general agent for treating the Lung. (1)Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén): Resolves muscle surface and disperses cold, descends Qi and moistens dryness. (2)Fritillary Bulb (Bèi Mǔ): Clears fire and disperses nodules, moistens the lung and resolves phlegm. (3)Schisandra Fruit (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ): Astringes the lung and calms cough. (4)Poria (Fú Líng): Eliminates dampness and regulates the spleen. (5)Tangerine Peel (Jú Hóng): Promotes Qi circulation. (6)Licorice Root (Gān Cǎo): Harmonizes the middle Jiao. (7)Platycodon Root (Jié Gěng): Clears the lung and benefits the diaphragm, carries medicine upwards, and can also open stagnation and release the exterior.

 【Functions】

Clears the Lung and resolves phlegm, supplements Qi and moistens dryness.

 【Indications】

Cough due to phlegm-dampness and rebellious Qi. From “Medical Formulas”: Cough due to phlegm-dampness and rebellious Qi.

 【Clinical Applications】

Influenza cough, bronchial asthma with wheezing, tuberculosis cough, chronic pharyngitis with hoarseness.

 【Mnemonic】

Clear Concubine (Qīng Fèi, a homophone for ‘Clear Lung’) — ‘Wu Ji Hu Bei Xing Gan’ (舞技幾乎倍性感), a phonetic mnemonic for seven of the ingredients: Schisandra Fruit (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ), Platycodon Root (Jié Gěng), Tangerine Peel (Jú Hóng), Poria (Fú Líng), Fritillary Bulb (Bèi Mǔ), Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén), Licorice Root (Gān Cǎo).

 【Modifications】

From “Medical Formulas”: (1) For cough due to wind-cold in spring, with clear nasal discharge, it is appropriate to clear and release: add Mentha (Bò He), Saposhnikovia (Fáng Fēng), Perilla Leaf (Zǐ Sū), fried Scutellaria Root (Chǎo Qín). (2) For excessive fire-heat in summer, it is appropriate to clear and descend: add Mulberry Bark (Sāng Pí), Ophiopogon Root (Mài Dōng), Scutellaria Root (Huáng Qín), Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhī Mǔ), Gypsum (Shí Gāo). (3) For damp-heat in autumn, it is appropriate to clear heat and drain dampness: add Atractylodes Rhizome (Cāng Zhú), Mulberry Bark (Sāng Pí), Saposhnikovia (Fáng Fēng), Gardenia Fruit (Zhī Zǐ), Scutellaria Root (Qín). (4) For wind-cold in winter, it is appropriate to release the exterior and resolve phlegm: add Ephedra (Má Huáng), Cinnamon Twig (Guì Zhī), Dried Ginger (Gān Jiāng), Fresh Ginger (Shēng Jiāng), Pinellia Tuber (Bàn Xià), Saposhnikovia (Fáng Fēng). (5) For fire cough: add Indigo Naturalis (Qīng Dài), Trichosanthes Fruit (Guā Lóu), Pumice (Hǎi Shí). (6) For phlegm due to food stagnation: add Cyperus Rhizome (Xiāng Fù), Hawthorn Fruit (Shān Zhā), Immature Bitter Orange (Zhǐ Shí). (7) For damp phlegm: remove Fritillary Bulb (Bèi Mǔ), add Pinellia Tuber (Bàn Xià), Arisaema Rhizome (Nán Xīng). (8) For dry phlegm: add Trichosanthes Fruit (Guā Lóu), Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhī Mǔ), Asparagus Root (Tiān Dōng). (9) For morning cough due to stomach fire, it is appropriate to clear the stomach: add Gypsum (Shí Gāo), Coptis Rhizome (Huáng Lián). (10) For evening cough due to floating fire in the lung: use Galla Chinensis (Wǔ Bèi Zǐ), Schisandra Fruit (Wǔ Wèi Zǐ), Chebula Fruit (Hē Zǐ), to astringe and descend. (11) For afternoon cough due to Yin deficiency, it is appropriate to nourish Yin and descend fire: add Szechuan Lovage Rhizome (Chuan Xiong), Angelica Sinensis Root (Dāng Guī), White Peony Root (Bái Sháo), Rehmannia Root (Dì Huáng), Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhī Mǔ), Phellodendron Bark (Huáng Bò), Ophiopogon Root (Mài Dōng) and Asparagus Root (Tiān Dōng), Bamboo Sap (Zhú Lì), Ginger Juice (Jiāng Zhī). (12) For consumptive cough with blood, mostly due to the lung being affected by heat evil: it is appropriate to add Angelica Sinensis Root (Dāng Guī) and White Peony Root (Bái Sháo), Donkey-Hide Gelatin (Ē Jiāo), Asparagus Root (Tiān Dōng), Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhī Mǔ), Coltsfoot Flower (Kuǎn Dōng), Aster Root (Zǐ Wǎn). (13) For chronic cough with lung deficiency: add Ginseng (Rén Shēn), Astragalus Root (Huáng Qí). (14) For lung heat: remove Ginseng (Rén Shēn), and use Glehnia Root / Adenophora Root (Shā Shēn).