This is frequent bouts of non-productive coughing, other accompanied symptoms include cough-induced chest pain, a flushed face, throat and mouth dryness. The symptoms usually fluctuate along with emotional changes. The tongue is red and covered by dry and yellow fur; the pulse is taut and rapid.
The remedy should clear the lungs, soothe the liver, smooth qi flow and check fire.
Sample prescription: Modified Purging Lung Powder plus Indigo and Clam Shell Powder plus baical skullcap root
In the prescription, the indigo and clam shell clear liver-heat and resolve phlegm; the baical skullcap root, mulberry root-bark and wolfberry root-bark clear the lung-heat; the rice and liquorice root nourish the stomach so as to replenish body fluids. Additional herbs are necessary when certain symptoms are obvious, for example:
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clam shell |
wolfberry root-bark |
baical skullcap root |
When there are symptoms like a flushed face and irritability, extra herbs are necessary to clear the liver-fire.
zhi zi |
gardenia fruit |
Fructus Gardeniae |
mu dan pi |
peony root bark |
Crotex Moutan |
Severe chest tightness and breath shortness can be relieved by smoothing lung qi with herbs like:
ting li zi |
pepperweed seed |
Semen Lepidi |
gua lou |
snakegourd peel |
Fructus Trichosanthis |
zhi ke |
bitter orange peel |
Fructus Aurantii |
TCM believes that chest or rib pain is a sign of stagnation in the liver meridian, and if this is the case other herbs should be added:
yu jin |
turmeric root-tuber |
Radix Curcumae |
si gua luo |
loofah |
Retinervus Luffae Fructus |
Excessive heat usually leads to sticky mucus which is difficult to expectorate; some herbs can help clear heat and promote expectoration.
hai fu shi |
pumice stone |
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zhe bei |
thunberg fritillary bulb |
Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii |
dong gua ren |
winter gourd kernel |
Semen Benincasae |
Persistent coughing accompanied with excessive dryness in the throat and mouth, indicate that the lungs are damaged, and need proper nourishment. Suitable herbs include:
bei sha shen |
coastal glehnia root |
Radix Glehniae |
bai he |
lily bulb |
Bulbus Lilii |
mai dong |
dwarf lily-turf tuber |
Radix Ophiopogonis |
tian hua fen |
snakegourd root |
Radix Trichosanthis |
he zi |
myrobalan fruit |
Fructus Chebulae |
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