🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Chronic pharyngitis is a common chronic condition. Patients often feel discomfort in the throat, with a burning sensation, as if something were stuck in the throat—neither spit out nor swallowed down. Coughing is typically dry with no phlegm, sometimes producing white foamy sputum or small white gel-like substances. Examination reveals dark red throat mucosa, numerous round, elevated follicles on the posterior pharyngeal wall (from 3–4 to over 10). The pharyngeal reflex is highly sensitive; touching this area triggers vomiting. TCM believes chronic pharyngitis results from insufficient body fluids failing to moisten the throat. Conventionally, nourishing yin and moistening dryness is prescribed—this matches the syndrome perfectly—but clinical results are often unsatisfactory. TCM experts in otolaryngology argue: “Moisturizing the throat can be achieved through various methods, not solely relying on nourishing yin. Like flowers, if branches and leaves are withered, gardeners should not just keep watering; they must loosen the soil, drain excess moisture, and expose roots to sunlight—this is the best approach. As stated in *The Plain Questions: Classification of Yin and Yang*: ‘Dryness of the throat indicates disease in the spleen’—this is precisely what we mean.” Therefore, when nourishing yin and moistening dryness fails, I often follow Dr. Gan’s method of strengthening the spleen and fortifying the earth, achieving remarkable results.
Case Examples
1. A female patient suffered from throat pain and dryness for two years, fluctuating in severity. She constantly felt a foreign body sensation in her throat—like a rice grain or peanut skin—impossible to spit out or swallow. Eating and drinking caused no obstruction. Dry cough with no phlegm, hoarseness, loose stools. Physical examination: dark red throat, congestion, hyperplasia of posterior pharyngeal follicles. White, scanty coating, weak pulse. Syndrome: Spleen deficiency impairing transportation, dampness stagnating in the middle jiao, preventing fluid upward nourishment to the throat. She had previously received treatment with Western antibiotics (e.g., Hexicon, Cefradine) and nourishing yin agents, but with poor results. Thus, following Dr. Gan’s method of strengthening the spleen and fortifying the earth, the prescription was: Prince Ginseng 10g, Atractylodes 10g, Lablab Bean 10g, Poria 10g, Chinese Yam 10g, Scrophularia 15g, Red Peony Root 10g, Fungus 5g, Platycodon 5g, Honeysuckle 10g, Forsythia 10g, Licorice 3g. After five doses, the patient felt significant relief in the throat. Continued adjustment for two weeks led to full recovery.
2. Zhou, female, 43 years old. Throat pain for seven years, diagnosed at a hospital as “chronic pharyngitis.” She took antibiotics like Cefradine, Hexicon, Amoxicillin, and lozenges such as Watermelon Frost Lozenges and Jinzi Gao, but saw no improvement. Later, she took multiple doses of nourishing yin, clearing heat, and soothing the throat herbs, still ineffective. She then sought my treatment. Symptoms included dry, itchy, painful throat with a foreign body sensation, hoarseness, dry cough with no phlegm, poor appetite, dry mouth without thirst, loose stools, pale tongue, slow, soft pulse. Examination: moderate edema of pharyngeal mucosa, hyperplasia of posterior pharyngeal follicles. Syndrome: Spleen deficiency unable to transform fluids upward to the throat. Following Dr. Gan’s method of strengthening the spleen and fortifying the earth, the prescription was based on *Shen Ling Bai Zhu San* with modifications: Prince Ginseng 15g, Poria 10g, Atractylodes 10g, Lablab Bean 10g, Chinese Yam 15g, Fungus 6g, Scrophularia 15g, Forsythia 10g, Honeysuckle 10g, Platycodon 6g, Licorice 6g. After five doses, the throat felt comfortable, and stools became formed. Without changing the prescription, continued adjustments for two weeks resulted in complete recovery.
Ancient physicians traditionally avoided using *Er Zhi* (Atractylodes and White Atractylodes) for throat diseases. Dr. Gan believes that when dietary overindulgence damages the spleen and stomach, leading to such conditions, qi deficiency is common. As long as the syndrome involves spleen deficiency and internal dampness, one need not fear violating traditional prohibitions. Using drying herbs to treat "dry" conditions is appropriate. Key diagnostic points: No need for overall emaciation or weak pulses throughout; simply observe dry mouth without desire to drink, swollen throat without redness, and treatment may proceed. Of course, integrating comprehensive syndrome differentiation enhances accuracy.