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Ass Hide Glue Decoction
补肺阿胶汤 〔補肺阿膠湯〕bǔ fèi ē jiāo tāng
Source: Xiǎo ér Yào Zhèng Zhí Jué 小儿药证直诀
Alternate Chinese names:
Ingredients:
- ē jiāo (阿胶 Asini Corii Colla, ass hide glue) (melted) 9–12g
- Mǎ dōu líng (马兜铃 Aristolochiae Fructus, aristolochia fruit) 6–9g
- Niú bàng zǐ (牛蒡子 Arctii Fructus, arctium [seed]) 6–9g
- Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel) 6–9g
- Nuò mǐ (糯米 Oryzae Glutinosae Semen, glutinous rice)
- Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) (mix-fried) 15–30g
Action: Nourishes yīn and supplements the lung; relieves cough and stanches bleeding.
Indication: Lung vacuity with exuberant fire manifesting as cough, panting, small amounts of sticky phlegm, sometimes containing blood, and dry throat. Tongue: Red with scant fur. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Category: Supplementing formulas / Yīn-supplementing formula
Method: Decoct with water. Note, however, that the formula was originally prepared as a powder.
Rationale: ē jiāo is yīn in both qì and flavor; it enters the kidney to enrich kidney water, while also entering the lung to nourish lung yīn. For this reason, it is the sovereign agent in the formula. Xìng rén (the sweet kind in this case) is sweet, balanced, and fatty; it moistens lung dryness, relieving cough and panting. Mǎ dōu líng is cold, bitter and acrid; it clear lung heat and downbears lung qì. Niú bàng zǐ diffuses the lung and disinhibits the throat, clear lung heat and eliminates phlegm. It also helps the Xìng rén and Mǎ dōu líng to transform phlegm and relieve cough. Glutinous rice and Zhì gān cǎo supplement spleen earth to protect lung metal.
Variations:
- Exuberant fire
cough : Add Sāng yè (桑叶 Mori Folium, mulberry leaf) and Pí pá yè (枇杷叶 Eriobotryae Folium, loquat leaf). - Exterior patterns: Add Sāng yè (桑叶 Mori Folium, mulberry leaf) and Bò hé (薄荷 Menthae Herba, mint).
Coughing of blood : Add Bái máo gēn (白茅根 Imperatae Rhizoma, imperata [rhizome]), ǒu jié (藕节 Nelumbinis Rhizomatis Nodus, lotus root node), and Sān qī (三七 Notoginseng Radix, notoginseng [root]).- Dry
sore throat : Add Tiān huā fěn (天花粉 Trichosanthis Radix, trichosanthes root) and Xuán shēn (玄参 Scrophulariae Radix, scrophularia [root]). Constipation : Add Fān xiè yè (番泻叶 Sennae Folium, senna [leaf]) and Huǒ má rén (火麻仁 Cannabis Fructus, cannabis fruit).