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Dryness-Clearing Lung-Rescuing Decoction
清燥救肺汤 〔清燥救肺湯〕qīng zào jiù fèi tāng
Source: Yī Mén Fǎ Lǜ 医门法律
Ingredients:
- Pí pá yè (枇杷叶 Eriobotryae Folium, loquat leaf) 6g
- Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]) 3g
- Xìng rén (杏仁 Armeniacae Semen, apricot kernel) 2g
- Sāng yè (桑叶 Mori Folium, mulberry leaf) 9g
- ē jiāo (阿胶 Asini Corii Colla, ass hide glue) 3g
- Hú má rén (胡麻仁 Sesami Semen Nigrum, black sesame [seed]) 3g
- Rén shēn (人参 Ginseng Radix, ginseng) (or Dǎng shēn (党参 Codonopsis Radix, codonopsis [root])) 3g
- Shí gāo (石膏 Gypsum Fibrosum, gypsum) 15g
- Gān cǎo (甘草 Glycyrrhizae Radix, licorice [root]) 2g
Action: Clears dryness and moistens the lung.
Indication: Damage to the lung by warm dryness, manifesting as heat effusion, headache, dry cough without phlegm, qì counterflow and panting, dry throat and nose, and vexation and thirst. Tongue: Dry without fur. Pulse: Fine and rapid.
Category: Dryness-relieving formulas / External dryness formulas
Method: Decoct with water. Note that
Rationale: Sāng yè is a cool, sweet, clear, light, effusing and dispersing agent that both outthrusts the dryness evil and can clear lung heat. Shí gāo is a cold sweet agent that clears lung heat and can resolve the flesh and outthrust evils. The two agents are therefore complementary. ē jiāo, Mài dōng, and hemp moisten the lung and enrich humor. In accordance with the maxim in detriment to the lung, boost qì,
Rén shēn —or Dǎng shēn— and Gān cǎo are used to boost qì and engenders liquid. In accordance with the imperative when lung qì ascends counterflow, quickly drain it with bitterness,
Xìng rén and Pí pá yè are included drain lung qì and relieve cough.
Variations:
- Copious thick phlegm that is difficult to expectorate: Add Bèi mǔ (贝母 Fritillariae Bulbus, fritillaria [bulb]) and Guā lóu (瓜蒌 Trichosanthis Fructus, trichosanthes [fruit]).
- Blood-streaked phlegm: Cè bǎi yè (侧柏叶 Platycladi Cacumen, arborvitae leaf) and Xiān hè cǎo (仙鹤草 Agrimoniae Herba, agrimony).
Yīn vacuity andblood heat : Add Shēng dì huáng (生地黄 Rehmanniae Radix Exsiccata seu Recens, dried/fresh rehmannia [root]) and Bái wēi (白薇 Cynanchi Atrati Radix, black swallowwort).- Lung-stomach dryness-heat: Add Shā shēn (沙参 Adenophorae seu Glehniae Radix, adenophora/glehnia [root]), Mài dōng (麦冬 Ophiopogonis Radix, ophiopogon [root]), and Yù zhú (玉竹 Polygonati Odorati Rhizoma, Solomon's seal [root]).