🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Emphysema
Emphysema refers to excessive air accumulation in the lungs, causing distension or rupture of the terminal bronchioles (including respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli), leading to impaired lung function and obstructive lung disease. It commonly follows chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma, and pulmonary fibrosis.
Emphysema develops slowly, beginning with cough, sputum production, and gradually progressing to shortness of breath, prolonged exhalation, worsening over time, eventually leading to loss of work capacity. Commonly used effective clinical prescriptions and folk remedies include:
[Prescription One]
Pomelo peel 10g, glutinous rice flour 500g, granulated sugar 200g. Grind pomelo peel into fine powder, mix evenly with sugar to form filling. Moisten glutinous rice flour slightly with water, place on a steamer cloth, steam until cooked. Cool, press flat, cut into square blocks with filling. Eat as desired, at any time.
This prescription dries dampness, transforms phlegm, regulates Qi, and strengthens the spleen. Suitable for emphysema caused by phlegm-dampness obstructing the lungs. Symptoms include dyspnea with chest tightness, extreme suffocation requiring reclining to breathe, cough with sticky, white phlegm difficult to expel, nausea, poor appetite, sticky mouth without thirst, white greasy tongue coating, and slippery pulse.
[Prescription Two]
Raw gypsum 30g, apricot kernel paste 10g, winter melon seed 20g, fresh bamboo leaf 10g, bamboo juice 20–30g. Boil raw gypsum, apricot kernel paste, winter melon seed, and fresh bamboo leaf (washed) in a sandpot, strain, then mix in bamboo juice in several portions. Drink twice daily.
This prescription clears lung heat, transforms phlegm, and descends rebellious Qi. Suitable for emphysema due to phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs. Characteristics include rapid, forceful coughing and dyspnea with chest distension and pain, thick yellow or blood-tinged phlegm, chest discomfort, fever with sweating, preference for cold drinks, flushed face, dry throat, red urine, yellow or greasy tongue coating, and rapid, slippery pulse.
[Prescription Three]
Radix astragali 30g, Atractylodes macrocephala 20g, Poria 30g, young pigeon 1. Clean the young pigeon (unfeathered), drown in water, remove feathers and internal organs, place in a stew pot with adequate water, add Radix astragali, Atractylodes macrocephala, and Poria (washed), steam over water until tender. Add a little salt and monosodium glutamate. Consume during main meals, once daily.
This prescription tonifies the lungs and stops dyspnea. Suitable for emphysema due to lung deficiency. Features include shortness of breath, weak respiration, feeble voice, white moist or greasy tongue coating, and weak, soft pulse.
[Prescription Four]
Radix codonopsis 10g, Radix astragali 9g, Atractylodes macrocephala 12g, Poria 10g, licorice root and Pinellia each 6g, aged tangerine peel 12g, perilla seed and radish seed each 9g, white mustard seed 12g, ten jujubes. Decoct all herbs except jujubes and aged tangerine peel. Strain, then simmer jujubes and aged tangerine peel in the decoction for ten minutes after boiling. Eat jujubes, drink the broth, discard aged tangerine peel.
This prescription strengthens the spleen, tonifies Qi, transforms phlegm, and relieves dyspnea. Suitable for emphysema due to spleen deficiency. Main features include shortness of breath, weak respiration, feeble speech, abundant thin phlegm, fatigue, poor appetite, abdominal distension, loose stools, pale tongue, white greasy or thinly coated tongue, and weak, soft pulse.
[Prescription Five]
Walnut kernels 50g, powdered radish seed and rock sugar each 10g.
Melt rock sugar first, then mix in the above ingredients, form into candy blocks. Dissolve and suck daily.
This prescription tonifies the kidneys and relieves dyspnea. Suitable for long-standing dyspnea due to kidney deficiency. Features include persistent cough and dyspnea, short breath unable to continue, worse with exertion, phlegm expulsion with cough, accompanied by soreness in waist and knees, and weak, fine pulse.
[Prescription Six]
Black perilla seed, aged tangerine peel, Pinellia, Angelica, Magnolia bark each 9g, powdered musk (added separately), Cinnamomum cassia each 2.5g, Qianhu, apricot kernel each 9g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, divided into two servings.
This prescription removes stagnation and descends Qi, suitable for emphysema.
[Prescription Seven]
Scutellaria root, Trichosanthes seed, Pinellia, bear bile star, aged tangerine peel, apricot kernel paste, Citrus reticulata, ginger-scratched bamboo shoot each 9g.
Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription clears lung heat and transforms phlegm, suitable for emphysema due to phlegm-heat.
[Prescription Eight]
Adenosma root 12g, Ophiopogon tuber, Schisandra berry, apricot kernel, Polygonatum root, Fritillaria bulb each 9g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, divided into two servings.
This prescription tonifies Qi and generates body fluids, suitable for emphysema due to combined Qi and fluid deficiency.
[Prescription Nine]
Rehmannia glutinosa (cooked), Cornus officinalis, Schisandra berry each 9g, Cinnamomum cassia 2.5g, Psoralea corylifolia, walnut meat each 9g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription tonifies the kidneys and consolidates Qi, suitable for emphysema due to kidney failure.
[Prescription Ten]
Perilla seed 10g, white mustard seed 9g, radish seed 10g, yam 60g, ginseng 30g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription strengthens the body and dispels pathogenic factors, descends Qi, and transforms phlegm, suitable for emphysema due to abundant phlegm and sputum.
[Prescription Eleven]
Appropriate amount of radish seed, 2 taels of glutinous rice. Roast radish seed, grind into powder. Take 10–15g each time, mix with glutinous rice to cook porridge.
This prescription transforms phlegm, relieves dyspnea, promotes digestion. Suitable for emphysema with frequent cough, excessive phlegm, chest tightness, dyspnea, poor appetite, belching, and abdominal distension.
[Prescription Twelve]
60g glutinous rice, 5–10g Fritillaria bulb, appropriate amount of rock sugar. First, cook glutinous rice and rock sugar into porridge. When nearly done, add finely powdered Fritillaria bulb (5–10g), cook for another two or three boils. Serve warm.
Moistens lungs, nourishes stomach, transforms phlegm, stops cough. Suitable for chronic bronchitis, emphysema, cough, and dyspnea in the elderly.
[Prescription Thirteen]
Sticky rice 10g, Ephedra 10g, white mustard seed 9g, radish seed 10g, yam 60g, ginseng 30g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription strengthens the body and dispels pathogenic factors, descends Qi, transforms phlegm, suitable for emphysema due to phlegm obstruction in the lungs. Main symptoms include dyspnea with chest tightness, suffocation requiring reclining to breathe, cough with sticky, white phlegm difficult to expel, nausea, poor appetite, sticky mouth without thirst, white greasy tongue coating, and slippery pulse.
[Prescription Fourteen]
Scutellaria root, white mulberry bark, buckwheat each 10g, apricot kernel, Pinellia each 9g, winter flowering fritillary 12g, perilla seed, Fritillaria bulb, Coptis, Gardenia each 9g. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription clears phlegm-heat, lowers Qi and relieves dyspnea, suitable for emphysema due to phlegm-heat obstructing the lungs. Main symptoms include rapid, forceful coughing and dyspnea with chest distension and pain, thick yellow or blood-tinged phlegm, chest discomfort, fever with sweating, preference for cold drinks, flushed face, dry throat, red urine, yellow or greasy tongue coating, and rapid, slippery pulse.
[Prescription Fifteen]
Radix codonopsis 9g, Radix astragali 10g, Adenosma root, Ophiopogon tuber each 9g, Rehmannia glutinosa (cooked) 10g, Schisandra berry, white mulberry bark, purple perilla each 12g. If shortness of breath and dyspnea are prominent, add Cordyceps sinensis, calcined stalactite, licorice; if dyspnea is severe and cough produces thin phlegm, remove white mulberry bark and add winter flowering fritillary, calcined stalactite; if aversion to wind and spontaneous sweating are obvious, add Atractylodes macrocephala, Saposhnikovia divaricata; if dyspnea worsens with exertion, add Cornus officinalis, walnut meat; if poor appetite and loose stools with abdominal heaviness, add Astragalus membranaceus, Bupleurum chinense, simultaneously increase dosage of Radix astragali and Radix codonopsis; if dry cough with irritability and thirst, red tongue with little coating, add Polygonatum, lily, Dendrobium, Chebulic myrobalan. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription tonifies Qi and nourishes Yin, soothes the lungs and stops dyspnea, suitable for emphysema due to lung deficiency. Main manifestations include shortness of breath, weak respiration, weak voice, low cough, thin white phlegm, spontaneous sweating, fear of wind, frequent colds, pale red tongue, weak pulse; if dry cough with little sticky phlegm, irritability and thirst, sore throat, flushed face, red tongue with little coating, fine rapid pulse.
[Prescription Fifteen]
Radix codonopsis 10g, Radix astragali, Atractylodes macrocephala each 9g, Poria 12g, licorice root, aged tangerine peel each 9g, Pinellia 6g. If phlegm is abundant, sticky, and hard to expel, with fullness in the epigastrium and greasy coating, add Atractylodes lancea, Atractylodes macrocephala; if stools are easily loose, add Coix seed, Job’s tears, baked costus root, cardamom, or regularly take Xiangsha Liujunzi Wan, Jianpi Wan, Lǐzhōng Wán, etc.; if limbs feel cold, body feels chilly and lies curled up, add Aconite, Cinnamomum cassia, walnut meat, Purple River Carps, or take Jin Kui Shenqi Wan. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription strengthens the spleen and tonifies Qi, transforms phlegm, and relieves dyspnea, suitable for emphysema due to spleen deficiency. Main symptoms include long-term cough and dyspnea, short breath unable to continue, worse with exertion, phlegm with foam, dizziness, tinnitus, soreness in waist and knees, cold extremities, spontaneous sweating, pale face, cyanotic lips, pale white or black moist tongue coating, weak or deep weak pulse; or flushed face, restlessness, dry mouth and throat, sticky sweat, red tongue with little coating, fine rapid pulse.
[Prescription Sixteen]
Rehmannia glutinosa (cooked) 10g, Cornus officinalis 12g, yam 15g, Purple River Carps 6g, walnut meat, Psoralea corylifolia each 9g, deer antler slice 6g, Cinnamomum cassia 9g, Aconite 6g, Schisandra berry 9g. For those with more exhalation than inhalation, add magnetite, musk, cinnabar, Schisandra berry, Cordyceps sinensis; for severe dyspnea, take Shenha San; for cough with sticky phlegm, add perilla seed, Pinellia, Poria, aged tangerine peel; for dyspnea, cough, palpitations, limb edema, and poor urination, add Poria, Atractylodes macrocephala, white peony; for flushed face resembling rouge, restlessness, add dragon bone, oyster shell; regularly take Purple River Carps powder, Jin Kui Shenqi Wan, or Liuwei Dihuang Wan; for flushed face, restlessness, red tongue with little coating, add Ophiopogon tuber, Angelica, tortoise shell glue. Decoct and take orally, one dose daily, twice daily.
This prescription tonifies the kidneys and consolidates Qi to relieve dyspnea, suitable for emphysema due to kidney deficiency. Main clinical symptoms include dyspnea, short breath, abundant phlegm, facial and foot edema, emaciation, weak pulse, pale tongue.
[Prescription Seventeen]
Five-flavor fruit 250g, ten eggs. Boil five-flavor fruit in water for half an hour, cool, place eggs in, soak for ten days. Each morning take one egg, dissolve in sugar water or warm yellow wine.
This prescription is suitable for emphysema.
<Treatment for Emphysema>