【Source】

“Essentials of Medical Understanding”

 【Composition】

Fritillary Bulb, Trichosanthes Fruit, Trichosanthes Seed, Poria, Tangerine Peel, Platycodon Root
(6)

 【Classification】

<Regulating Qi>: Tangerine Peel

<Tonifying Spleen and Promoting Urination>: Poria

<Resolving Phlegm>: Trichosanthes Fruit, Platycodon Root, Fritillary Bulb

<Clearing Heat and Reducing Fire>: Trichosanthes Seed

【Formula Meaning】

“Formulas of Traditional Chinese Medicine Studies” Chapter Tang: Fritillary Bulb moistens the lungs, clears heat, resolves phlegm, and stops cough, serving as the principal herb in the formula. Trichosanthes Seed moistens the lungs, clears heat, regulates qi, and resolves phlegm, serving as the secondary herb. Trichosanthes Seed moistens dryness, generates fluids, clears heat, and resolves phlegm; Tangerine Peel regulates qi and resolves phlegm; Poria strengthens the spleen and promotes urination; Platycodon Root disseminates the lungs and benefits the throat, all serving as assistant herbs in the formula.

 【Functions】

Clears heat and resolves phlegm, moistens the lungs and stops cough.

 【Indications】

Deficiency of lung yin, fire damaging fluids, cough with expectoration of phlegm, difficulty in expectorating phlegm, dry throat, shortness of breath, red tongue with little coating.

 【Syndromes】

Injury of the lungs by dry heat.

 【Mnemonic】

Formula name + sending red envelopes makes it auspicious (Hua Hong Ling Jie).

 【Modifications】

(1) For severe cough, add Apricot Kernel, Loquat Leaf, Mulberry Bark to disseminate and descend lung qi, stop cough, and relieve asthma. (2) For more severe dry heat, dry throat, and sore throat, add Adenophora Root, Ophiopogon Tuber, Anemarrhena Rhizome to enhance the effect of moistening dryness. (3) If accompanied by invasion of external wind into the lungs, cough, dry and itchy throat, and mild aversion to cold, add Mulberry Leaf, Apricot Kernel, Peucedanum Root, Burdock Seed to dispel wind, disseminate the lungs, and benefit the throat. (4) For dry damage to lung collaterals, cough with bloody phlegm, and hoarse voice, remove Tangerine Peel and add Ass-hide Gelatin, Adenophora Root, Ophiopogon Tuber, Agrimony to nourish yin and stop bleeding. (5) Remove Trichosanthes Seed, Poria, and Platycodon Root, and add Pinellia Rhizome, Scutellaria Root, Coptis Rhizome, Licorice Root, and Gardenia Fruit, this also becomes 貝母栝蔞散/’>Fritillary Bulb and Trichosanthes Powder from “Essentials of Medical Understanding, Chapter on Stroke-like Syndromes”, mainly treating stroke-like syndromes due to lung fire obstruction.