🌿 Folk Prescriptions

This disease occurs when human resistance is reduced due to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Traditional Chinese medicine regards external causes as "tuberculous worms" transmission, which are the conditions for illness; internal causes refer to weakness of vital energy and depletion of essence, resulting in insufficient righteous qi. Commonly effective folk and empirical prescriptions used clinically are listed below. [Formula One] 9 grams each of Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, Poria cocos, 8 grams of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 9 grams of Adenophora stricta, 5 grams of Tangerine peel, 9 grams each of Stemona tuberosa and Apricot Kernel. Decoct and take once daily, divided into two doses. This formula strengthens the spleen and benefits the lungs, suitable for tuberculosis caused by combined deficiency of lung and spleen, commonly seen in early-stage tuberculosis. [Formula Two] 9 grams each of Lily Bulb, Fresh Rehmannia, Ginseng, Prepared Rehmannia, Ophiopogon japonicus, 10 grams each of White Peony Root and Fritillaria bulb, 9 grams of Stemona tuberosa, 1 gram of Platycodon grandiflorum. Decoct and take once daily, divided into two doses. This formula nourishes yin and moistens the lungs, suitable for tuberculosis caused by lung-kidney yin deficiency. [Formula Three] 9 grams each of Gentiana scabra, Silverleaf False Chrysanthemum, 6 grams of Lycium bark, 15 grams of Fried Softshell Turtle Shell, 9 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 6 grams each of Angelica sinensis and Purple Aster, 9 grams each of Stemona tuberosa and Colla Corii Asini Pearls, 6 grams each of Anemarrhena asphodeloides and Fritillaria bulb. Decoct and take once daily, divided into two doses. This formula nourishes yin, clears heat, calms yang, and protects the lungs, suitable for tuberculosis caused by yin deficiency with fire excess. [Formula Four] 75 grams of Softshell Turtle Shell, 50 grams of Asparagus cochinchinensis, 35 grams each of Gentiana scabra, Lycium bark, Bupleurum chinense, 50 grams of Fresh Rehmannia, 30 grams each of Mulberry Bark, Pinellia ternata, Anemarrhena asphodeloides, Purple Aster, Astragalus membranaceus, Red Peony Root, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 50 grams of Codonopsis pilosula, 20 grams each of Poria cocos and Platycodon grandiflorum. Powder into fine particles. Take 2 grams each time, twice daily, with warm water. This formula is effective for pulmonary tuberculosis and aids recovery. [Formula Five] One live softshell turtle (about 500 grams), 10 grams of Cordyceps sinensis, 20 jujubes, appropriate amounts of green onion, ginger, garlic, salt, monosodium glutamate, chicken broth, cooking wine. Place the turtle on its back; when the head extends, cut it off quickly and let the blood drain completely. Put it in a pot with sufficient water and cook until the shell edges can be pried open. Remove, cool in cold water, extract internal organs, clean thoroughly, chop into six pieces, then re-cook in clean water until about 60% done, then cool in cold water for 10 minutes. Wash Cordyceps sinensis with clean water; soak jujubes in boiling water. Place the turtle in a bowl, top with Cordyceps sinensis, jujubes, cooking wine, salt, green onion segments, ginger slices, garlic cloves, monosodium glutamate, and chicken broth, cover with a round lid, steam (or water bath steam) for 2 hours. Remove, discard green onions, ginger, and garlic before eating. This formula functions: nourish yin, reduce fever, tonify qi, generate body fluids, supplement kidney and consolidate essence. It can assist in treating waist and knee soreness, premature ejaculation, impotence, fatigue, pulmonary tuberculosis, uterine prolapse, menstrual irregularities, excessive leukorrhea, and restlessness. [Formula Six] One turtle, appropriate amounts of green onion, Sichuan pepper, soy sauce, salt, vegetable oil. Remove the turtle’s head, scald in boiling water, remove shell, peel off outer skin, rinse clean, cut into small pieces. Heat vegetable oil in a wok, fry the turtle meat until well done, then add green onion, Sichuan pepper, soy sauce, salt, water, simmer gently for half an hour. This dish has the effect of nourishing yin and reducing fire. Suitable for deficiency labor with bone-steaming fever, chronic cough with hemoptysis, or bloody stools. This prescription comes from "Convenient Recipes for Daily Use," named later. Originally used for "deficiency labor with bleeding, coughing with chills and fever, nourishing yin and reducing fire." It is a commonly used formula for nourishing yin and reducing fire. After prolonged illness, yin fluid is secretly depleted, leading to yin deficiency with fire excess, causing bone-steaming fever and bleeding. The treatment principle is nourishing yin and reducing fire. This formula heavily uses turtle, which greatly replenishes yin and blood and clears deficient fire, thus suitable for various symptoms of deficiency labor with bone-steaming fever. Due to its ability to nourish yin and reduce fire, it may also be used for general conditions of yin deficiency with internal heat. Additionally, adding pig trotters stewed with this recipe forms a folk diet, enhancing its nourishing power. [Formula Seven] 500 grams of dried sea cucumber, 60 grams each of chicken meat, ham, fresh bamboo shoots, several meatballs, several egg dumplings, a small amount of mushrooms, 60 grams of cooking oil, salt, cooking wine, a little wet starch. Clean sea cucumber, slice, chicken without skin, slice, ham and bamboo shoots also sliced. Boil 250 grams of water, once boiling, add sea cucumber, a little salt, and cooking wine, briefly cook for a few minutes, then remove. Discard original water, refill with 250 grams of fresh water, add a little cooking wine and salt, boil for a few minutes, then turn off heat and keep ready. Mix chicken and ham lightly with a little wet starch. Heat oil in a pan, add ham and chicken, stir-fry until slightly changed color, then remove. Add bamboo shoots, meatballs, egg dumplings, salt, etc., into the sea cucumber broth, then add the previously fried ham and chicken, stir well, and serve. This formula strengthens the kidneys and yang, benefits the stomach and appetite. Can be used for poor digestion and fatigue due to spleen-stomach deficiency, and waist and knee soreness due to kidney deficiency, including tuberculosis. [Formula Eight] 250 grams of shad fish, 5 grams of ham slices, 10 grams of winter bamboo shoots, 3 grams of mushrooms, appropriate amounts of cooking wine, sugar, salt, shrimp roe, chicken broth, white pepper powder, monosodium glutamate, lard, green onion, ginger. Remove scales from the shad fish, wash away blood, clean thoroughly, pat dry. Blanch briefly in boiling water to remove fishy smell and dirt, then rinse again. Place the fish on a plate with the scale side up. Arrange ham slices, bamboo shoots, salt, shrimp roe, chicken broth on top of the fish. Place green onion and ginger strips on top of lard, steam over high heat until cooked. Pour out the fish juice, add monosodium glutamate and white pepper powder, mix well, pour over the fish. Consume during main meals, once daily. Tonifies qi and blood. Mainly assists in treating anemia, malnutrition, tuberculosis, cerebrovascular diseases, and gastritis. [Formula Nine] 25 grams of Deer Antler Gelatin, 12 grams of Calcined Oyster Shell, 10 grams of Cuttlefish Bone, 25 grams of Ginseng, 10 grams of Astragalus membranaceus, 30 grams of Angelica sinensis, 25 grams each of White Peony Root and Cyperus rotundus, 12 grams of Asparagus cochinchinensis, 6 grams of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, 50 grams each of Softshell Turtle Shell, Fresh Rehmannia, Prepared Rehmannia, 11 grams of Ligusticum chuanxiong, 5 grams of Silverleaf False Chrysanthemum, 25 grams each of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Chinese Yam, 12 grams of Euryale ferox, 10 grams of Deer Antler Frost, 1000 grams of cuttlefish, 15 kilograms of chicken meat, ginger, green onion, cooking wine, refined salt, monosodium glutamate. Soak ginseng until soft, slice, dry and crush into fine powder. Other herbs placed in a cloth bag. Clean cuttlefish with warm water, combine with chicken feet and wings and herbs, boil in water until boiling, then cook for one hour. Wash chicken, blanch in boiling water, then clean, cut into chunks, place in 100 bowls, add green onion sections, ginger blocks, salt, cooking wine, and appropriate amount of herb broth, steam until tender. After removing from steamer, remove green onion and ginger, invert the chicken into bowls, pour the original soup into a pot, add more broth, season with cooking wine, salt, monosodium glutamate, bring to a boil, skim off foam, pour over the chicken. This soup evolved from Sheng Yu Tang in "Lan Shi Mi Cang." Sheng Yu Tang has effects of tonifying qi and blood, regulating liver and kidney, and promoting blood circulation and menstruation. Adding Softshell Turtle Shell, Fresh Rehmannia, Asparagus cochinchinensis, Silverleaf False Chrysanthemum nourishes yin and reduces deficiency heat; Euryale ferox, Chinese Yam, Cuttlefish Bone, Deer Antler Frost, Oyster Shell tonify spleen and kidney, stop leukorrhea; Cyperus rotundus moves qi and stops leakage; Salvia miltiorrhiza promotes blood circulation and regulates menstruation; Deer Antler Gelatin tonifies kidney yang and enriches yin blood. Combined use of these herbs, along with inkfish that nourishes blood and yin, and chicken that supplements liver and kidney, benefits qi and blood, treats deficiency labor. When used medicinally and nutritionally, it provides tonifying qi and blood, regulating menstruation, and stopping leukorrhea. This soup is suitable for those with qi deficiency, yin insufficiency, and weak constitution. It shows therapeutic effects for women with menstrual irregularities, neurasthenia, and tuberculosis patients. [Formula Ten] 1000 grams each of pear, white radish, ginger, condensed milk, honey, 250 grams each. Wash pears, radishes, and ginger, chop finely, separately squeeze juice through clean gauze. Combine pear juice and radish juice in a pot, first boil over high heat, then reduce to low heat until concentrated into a paste-like consistency. Add ginger juice, condensed milk, and honey, stir well, continue heating until boiling, then stop. Cool and store in bottles. Take one tablespoon each time, dissolve in boiling water, or add a little rice wine, drink all at once, twice daily. Applicable for weakness, low-grade fever in tuberculosis, and persistent cough. This formula comes from "Compendium of Experiences," the name was added later. Originally used for treating dysphagia. Pears, radishes, condensed milk, and honey are all sweet-tasting, having tonic effects. Pears also nourish yin, clear heat, moisten lungs, and stop cough; radishes help relieve cough and phlegm, offering preventive effects against common cold, influenza, meningitis, diphtheria, and other infectious diseases; ginger, with pungent and slightly warm properties, induces sweating, resolves exterior patterns, warms the lungs, and stops cough; condensed milk effectively treats post-illness deficiency and various types of deficiency labor; honey tonifies the middle energizer and moistens dryness. Thus, made into a honey paste, it treats chronic weakness. Caution: Avoid for those with spleen deficiency and loose stools. [Formula Eleven] 15–30 grams of Goji berries, 6–8 red dates, 2 eggs. Boil all together. After eggs are cooked, remove shells and re-cook briefly before eating. Usually effective after 3 sessions, consume once daily or every other day. This formula applies to tuberculosis, with effects of tonifying deficiency, benefiting qi and blood, strengthening the spleen and stomach, nourishing the liver and kidneys. [Formula Twelve] 10 grams each of Imperata cylindrica root, Artemisia annua root, 6 grams each of green onion and Chinese Arborvitae leaf. Burn all herbs into ash, grind finely, wrap in paper and place on ground overnight to eliminate fire toxicity. When using, mix crushed lotus root juice or radish juice with 15 grams of the powder and take orally. This formula comes from "Simple Methods of Traditional Chinese Medicine," applicable for hemoptysis in tuberculosis. [Formula Thirteen] Equal parts of White Root, Stemona tuberosa, Oyster Shell, and Prepared Pangolin Scale. Grind into powder. If lesion is active, double the dose of Stemona tuberosa. Take 3–5 grams each time, twice to three times daily. This formula originates from Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, suitable for tuberculosis patients. [Formula Fourteen] 2–3 grams of Gallnut, 1–1.5 grams of Cinnabar (flying). Mix with water to form a paste, spread on plastic film, apply to navel, secure with adhesive tape. Replace every 24 hours. This formula comes from "Journal of Zhejiang College of Traditional Chinese Medicine," 1989, Issue 13, suitable for night sweats in tuberculosis. [Formula Fifteen] One healthy pig lung, 30 grams of raw White Root, 15 grams each of Stemona tuberosa, Ophiopogon japonicus, Fritillaria bulb, Astragalus membranaceus, Sweet Almond. Grind herbs into powder, mix with honey to form a thin paste, inject into pig lung, tie off trachea, cook until fully done, eat. Add a little salt, divide into two portions, consume twice daily. This formula comes from "Folk Remedies with Great Effect," suitable for all stages of tuberculosis. [Formula Sixteen] 5 grams of Tremella fungus, 1 egg, 60 grams of rock sugar, appropriate amount of lard. Soak Tremella in a bowl with warm water for about 30 minutes until fully expanded, remove stems, clean debris, tear into pieces, place in a clean aluminum pot, add sufficient water, bring to boil over high heat, then simmer over low heat for 2–3 hours until tender. In another pot, dissolve rock sugar in water over low heat, filter through gauze. Break egg, separate egg white, mix with a little water, stir well, pour into the pot, bring to boil, skim off foam, pour the sugar solution into the Tremella pot, add a little lard just before serving. Consume in appropriate amounts daily. This formula comes from "Popular Medicinal Cuisine," function: nourishes yin, moistens lungs, stops bleeding, kills parasites, suitable for tuberculosis. [Formula Seventeen] 100–150 grams of dried Chinese yam powder, 100 grams of white flour, 10 grams of Heavenly Gate Wintergreen, 15 grams of Lily Bulb, 10 grams of White Ginseng, 5 jujubes. First, boil Heavenly Gate Wintergreen, Lily Bulb, White Ginseng, and jujubes in a clay jar, strain, collect juice, mix with Chinese yam and white flour, cook into porridge. Just before serving, add a little brown sugar, cook for one or two boils. Serve warm, once or twice daily. This formula nourishes yin, moistens lungs, strengthens spleen, suitable for tuberculosis caused by yin deficiency and weak spleen. [Formula Eighteen] 200 grams of walnut kernels, 150 grams of water chestnuts, one old duck, 100 grams of chicken paste, appropriate amounts of spinach, green onion, ginger, salt, monosodium glutamate, cooking wine, wet cornstarch, peanut oil. After slaughtering the duck, remove feathers and internal organs, wash clean. Blanch briefly in boiling water, place in a bowl. Add green onion, ginger, salt, cooking wine. Steam until fully cooked, cool, remove bones, cut into two pieces. Prepare a mixture of chicken paste, egg white, warm cornstarch, monosodium glutamate, cooking wine, salt. Chop walnuts and water chestnuts finely, mix into the paste, spread inside the duck cavity. Place duck in a pot, fry in clean warm oil until crisp, remove, drain excess oil, cut into long strips, arrange on a plate, sprinkle spinach around. Consume during main meals, once daily. This formula comes from "Dietary Therapy for Various Diseases," suitable for tuberculosis caused by lung-kidney yin deficiency. [Formula Nineteen] Several live large eels, wash clean with clear water. Boil water in a pot, then add live eels, cover and cook for 2–3 hours. When eels float to surface, remove them, add a little salt, take half a spoonful each time, twice daily, after meals. This formula nourishes lung yin, suitable for tuberculosis with lung yin deficiency, main symptoms include dry cough, no phlegm or blood-tinged sputum, afternoon fever, night sweats, flushed cheeks, dry mouth, red tongue with little coating, fine rapid pulse. [Formula Twenty] 120 grams each of white radish juice, autumn pear juice, fresh lotus root juice, sugarcane juice, Chinese yam juice, frost-dried persimmon cake, raw walnut kernels, honey. First extract sufficient juice from each ingredient. Then mash frost-dried persimmon cake into paste, crush raw walnut kernels into paste. Dissolve honey, dilute, mix with persimmon paste and walnut paste, stir well, gently heat until blended, remove from heat, cool slightly, then mix in the remaining four juices while still warm (not too hot). Store in a ceramic jar. Take 2 teaspoons each time, 3–4 times daily. This formula clears deficiency heat, stops cough and bleeding, suitable for tuberculosis of lung yin deficiency type. [Formula Twenty-One] 1000 grams of lamb leg meat, 60 grams of white radish, 2 dried tangerine peels, 3 slices of ginger, appropriate amounts of plant oil, fine salt, cooking wine. First wash lamb, cut into slices, stir-fry in oil for 5 minutes, add ginger slices and cooking wine, add half bowl of cold water, boil for 10 minutes, then transfer to a clay pot with radish and tangerine peels, add enough cold water to submerge, bring to boil. Add one spoon of cooking wine, appropriate fine salt, reduce heat and simmer slowly until lamb and radish are tender. Eat with meals. This formula strengthens spleen and benefits lungs, suitable for tuberculosis caused by spleen-lung qi deficiency. Main symptoms include cough, little phlegm or blood streaks in sputum, fatigue, shortness of breath, flushed cheeks, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, dry throat and mouth, poor appetite, red tongue with white or peeled coating, fine rapid and weak pulse. [Formula Twenty-Two] 500 grams of Schisandra chinensis, 20 fresh eggs, a little sugar. Quickly wash Schisandra, soak in cold water for 2 hours, decoct twice into concentrated liquid, combine both decoctions, cool, then immerse washed eggs until submerged. After 7–10 days, when eggshells soften, remove, add water and sugar, simmer gently until cooked. Take 1–2 eggs each time, empty stomach in the morning. This formula tonifies qi and nourishes yin, suitable for tuberculosis caused by qi-yin deficiency. [Formula Twenty-Three] One turtle. Tie the turtle tightly with rope, seal with yellow clay, burn over fire until charred, remove clay, grind entirely into fine powder. Take 6 grams each time, twice daily. This formula nourishes yin and blood, treats tuberculosis. Main indications: pulmonary tuberculosis cavities, bone-joint tuberculosis. Characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis cavities: purulent sputum, often with blood, dull chest pain occasionally. [Formula Twenty-Four] 9 grams each of Asparagus cochinchinensis, Ophiopogon japonicus, Fresh Rehmannia, Prepared Rehmannia, Colla Corii Asini (dissolved), Fritillaria bulb, Stemona tuberosa, Sweet Almond. Decoct and take once daily, divided into two doses. This formula is a famous experience prescription by renowned TCM physician Yin Huihe for treating tuberculosis, function: nourishes yin and moistens lungs, suitable for tuberculosis with both qi and yin deficiency. [Formula Twenty-Five] 9 grams of Gentiana scabra, 30 grams of Softshell Turtle Shell (decoct first), 9 grams of Silverleaf False Chrysanthemum, 15 grams of Lycium bark, 9 grams each of Stemona tuberosa, Artemisia annua, Colla Corii Asini, Prunus mume. Decoct and take once daily, twice daily. This formula is suitable for tuberculosis caused by yin deficiency with fire excess. [Formula Twenty-Six] 50 grams each of Fortune's Leaf and Hemp Grass. Decoct and take once daily. This formula is suitable for tidal fever in tuberculosis. [Formula Twenty-Seven] 100 grams each of Chinese Arborvitae Leaf and Prunella vulgaris. Decoct and take once daily. This formula is effective for tuberculosis. [Formula Twenty-Eight] 30–50 grams of Polygonatum sibiricum, half to one whole old duck. Remove feathers and intestines, wash clean, place in a clay pot, add water, simmer over low heat for over one hour, season, drink soup and eat duck. This formula nourishes yin and moistens dryness, suitable for dry cough in tuberculosis. [Formula Twenty-Nine] 30–60 grams of Polygonatum, 30–50 grams of rock sugar. Add one bowl of clean water, place in a steamer, steam over water for 2 hours, consume with meals. This formula is suitable for tuberculosis with cough and blood in sputum. <Treatment of Tuberculosis>