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Source: Hé Jì Jú Fāng 和剂局方

Ingredients:

• Sū zǐ (苏子 Perillae Fructus, perilla fruit) 9–12g
• Bàn xià (半夏 Pinelliae Rhizoma, pinellia [rhizome]) 6–9g
• Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) (mix–fried) 3–4.5g
• Ròu guì (肉桂 Cinnamomi Cortex, cinnamon bark) 1.5–3g
• Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) 6–9g
• Qián hú (前胡 Peucedani Radix, peucedanum [root]) 6–9g
• Hòu pò (厚朴 Magnoliae Officinalis Cortex, officinal magnolia bark) 3–6g
• Chén pí (陈皮 Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, tangerine peel) (with white pitch removed) 6–9g (optional)
• Shēng jiāng (生姜 Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens, fresh ginger) 2 slices
• Dà zǎo (大枣 Jujubae Fructus, jujube) 1 piece
• Zǐ sū yè (紫苏叶 Perillae Folium, perilla leaf) 5 pieces

Action: Downbears qì and calms panting; transforms phlegm-rheum.

Indication: Phlegm-rheum cough with shortness of breath and hasty rapid panting, oppression in the chest and copious phlegm. Tongue fur: White and moist.

Category: Qì-rectifying formulas / Qì-downbearing formulas

Method: Decoct with water.

Warnings: Contraindicated in dual vacuity of the lung and kidney and center vacuity with copious phlegm.

Rationale: Zǐ sū zǐ precipitates qì and disperse phlegm, relieving cough and calming panting. It is the main agent in this formula. Bàn xià, Chén pí, Hòu pò, and Qián hú act as the minister agents by downbearing qì and calming panting, and by loosening the chest and disinhibiting the diaphragm. Dāng guī on the one hand helps the Zǐ sū zǐ loosen the bowels and free the stool, and to enhance the qì-downbearing and panting-calming action, and on the other to warm and supplement kidney yáng, thereby enhancing the kidney's qì-absorption function. Gān cǎo is simply used to harmonize all the agents in the formula.

Variations:

• Phlegm-drool with cough and panting preventing the patient form lying down: Add Chén xiāng (沉香 Aquilariae Lignum Resinatum, aquilaria [wood]).
• Additional presence of wind-cold exterior pattern: Omit Dāng guī (当归 Angelicae Sinensis Radix, Chinese angelica) and Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig), and add Má huáng (麻黄 Ephedrae Herba, ephedra), Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel), and Zǐ sū yè (紫苏叶 Perillae Folium, perilla leaf).
• Qì vacuity: Add Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root]) and Wǔ wèi zǐ (五味子 Schisandrae Fructus, schisandra [berry]).
• Phlegm-heat congesting in the upper body, omit Guì zhī (桂枝 Cinnamomi Ramulus, cinnamon twig) and add Sāng bái pí (桑白皮 Mori Cortex, mulberry bark).
• Exuberant phlegm turbidity: Add Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel) and Bèi mǔ (贝母 Fritillariae Bulbus, fritillaria [bulb]).
• Vomiting: Add Zhě shí (赭石 Haematitum , hematite).

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