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Flushing phlegm

涤痰 〔滌痰〕 dí tán

Also flushing stubborn phlegm. A method of treatment used to eliminate stubborn phlegm or phlegm-rheum.

Medicinal therapy: Phlegm-flushing medicinals include chlorite/mica (Chloriti seu Micae Lapis, 礞石 méng shí), niter (Nitrum, 硝石 xiāo shí), bile arisaema (Arisaema cum Bile, 胆星 dǎn xīng), bamboo sugar (Bambusae Concretio Silicea, 天竹黄 tiān zhú huáng), and aquilaria (Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, 沉香 chén xiāng). Phlegm-rheum gathering in the rib-side with cough causing rib-side pain and expectoration of phlegm with a glossy tongue fur and stringlike sunken pulse is treated by the method of flushing phlegm with Ten Jujubes Decoction (十枣汤 shí zǎo tāng). Old phlegm in repletion heat patterns causing mania and withdrawal patterns, thick phlegm, constipation, a thick yellow slimy tongue fur, and a forceful rapid slippery pulse can be flushed with Chlorite/Mica Phlegm-Rolling Pill (礞石滚痰丸 méng shí gǔn tán wán). Thick copious phlegm with cough and qì ascent can be flushed with gleditsia (Gleditsiae Fructus, 皂荚 zào jiá) that has been subjected to nature-preservative burning taken with a decoction of jujubes. Many phlegm-flushing medicinals are drastic and harsh in action, and should be used with care in vacuity. They are contraindicated in pregnancy or expectoration of blood.

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