[Source]

Yi Fang Ji Jie

 [Composition]

Shu Di Huang (prepared Rehmannia root), Sheng Di Huang (raw Rehmannia root), Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria bulb), Bai He (lily bulb), Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis), Bai Shao (white peony root), Gan Cao (licorice root), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia root), Jie Geng (Platycodon root), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon japonicus tuber), Feng Mi (honey)
(11)

 [Categorization]

<Blood-tonifying>: Shu Di Huang, Dang Gui, Bai Shao

<Yin-tonifying and Nourishing Yin>: Mai Men Dong

<Heat-clearing and Blood-cooling>: Sheng Di Huang

<Spleen-tonifying and Middle-jiao-tonifying>: Feng Mi, Gan Cao

<Phlegm-transforming>: Chuan Bei Mu, Jie Geng

<Heat-clearing and Fire-purging>: Xuan Shen

<Cough-stopping and Wheezing-relieving>: Bai He

[Explanation of Formula]

From Yi Fang: Uses herbs that enter the Lung and Kidney channels. (1) Metal does not generate Water; fire burns and dries Water. Therefore, the two types of Di Huang (Rehmannia root) are used to tonify the Kidney, nourish Water, and reduce heat, serving as the chief herbs. (2) Bai He: Pacifies the Lung and calms the spirit. (3) Mai Men Dong: Clears heat and moistens dryness. (4) Xuan Shen: Assists the two Di Huang in generating Water. (5) Chuan Bei Mu: Disperses Lung constraint and eliminates phlegm. (6) Dang Gui and Bai Shao: Nourish blood and also pacify the Liver. (7) Gan Cao and Jie Geng: Clear the Lung and are successful in benefiting the upper body. All are used with cooling and sweet properties to nourish the original Qi and clear the root, avoiding bitter and cold herbs that might damage the Qi’s ability to generate and grow. From Cheng Fang Du Xie: Bai He, being white, its form resembles the Lung, thus it can enter the Lung channel alone, serving as a herb for pacifying the Lung, calming the spirit, clearing the Lung, and moistening dryness. Furthermore, the Lung and Kidney are mother and child organs. As stated in Yi Guan, the mother organ (Kidney) stores the child (Lung), and the child resides within the mother. Therefore, when Water is deficient, Metal is afflicted by fire. Di Huang and Xuan Shen strengthen Water; Mai Men Dong and Chuan Bei Mu clear the disturbances of the Lung; Bai Shao pacifies the Liver to protect the Lung; Dang Gui guides blood back to its channels; Gan Cao and Jie Geng are from a famous formula and can benefit the throat and resolve stagnation and heat in the upper body.

 [Functions]

Nourishes Yin, clears heat, moistens the Lung, transforms phlegm, nourishes Yin, stops cough, and benefits the throat.

 [Indications]

Deficiency of Lung and Kidney Yin with rising of virtual fire, presenting as dry and sore throat, dry and hot cough, wheezing, phlegm streaked with blood, vexation and heat in hands and feet, red tongue with little coating, and a thready, rapid pulse. From Yi Fang: Lung injury with sore throat, wheezing cough, and phlegm with blood.

 [Approved Indications]

Tuberculosis, chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, silicosis, and pneumonia in the middle to late stages characterized by Lung and Kidney Yin deficiency. Laryngitis, laryngeal tuberculosis with aphonia, hemoptysis due to phthisis, chronic pharyngitis, and prolonged cough in children.

 [Mnemonic]

(1) Bao Bei Ming Ji Xiang Mai Gan Tian Hao Mi (Chuan Bei Mu, Jie Geng, Mai Men Dong, Gan Cao, Feng Mi), Er Di Xian Zhe Gui Jia (Shu Di Huang, Sheng Di Huang, Xuan Shen, Gui Zhi, Bai Shao). (2) Er Di Mai Cao Yao, Bai Yuan Chao Piao Jie Gui Mu (Sheng Di Huang, Shu Di Huang, Mai Men Dong, Gan Cao, Bai Shao, Bai He, Jie Geng, Dang Gui, Feng Mi).

 [Modifications]

(1) For severe cough and wheezing, add Xing Ren (apricot kernel), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra fruit), Kuan Dong Hua (Coltsfoot flower) to stop cough and relieve wheezing. (2) For excessive yellow phlegm, add Dan Xing (processed Pinellia rhizome), Huang Qin (Scutellaria root), Gua Lou Pi (Trichosanthes peel) to clear the Lung and transform phlegm. (3) For severe hemoptysis, remove Jie Geng and add Bai Ji (Bletilla rhizome), Bai Mao Gen (Imperata rhizome), Xian He Cao (Agrimonia herb) to stop bleeding. (4) For severe dry and painful throat, increase the dosage of Sheng Di Huang and Xuan Shen, and add Qing Guo (Green Fruit) to clear heat. (5) Add Shi Gao (Gypsum), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhena rhizome), Gua Lou (Trichosanthes fruit), Zi Su Zi (Perilla seed), Sha Shen (Glehnia root), and reduce Shu Di Huang and Dang Gui, to treat Lung Yin cough, thirst with yellow phlegm, phlegm streaked with blood, dull complexion, and emaciation.

 [Pharmacology]

The individual herbs in this formula possess antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, sedative, analgesic, expectorant, antitussive, and anti-wheezing effects.