🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Respiratory diseases are common in clinical practice. Using classic formulas from Zhang Zhongjing often yields excellent results. Summary follows:
I. Acute and Chronic Bronchitis with Infection
Formula composed of Shè Gān Má Huáng Tāng, Mài Mén Dōng Tāng, and Xiǎo Qīng Lóng Jiā Shí Gāo Tāng: Platycodon, Ephedra, Asarum, Purple Gromwell, Winterflower, Schisandra, Pinellia, Ophiopogon, Codonopsis, Licorice, Cinnamon Twig, Dried Ginger, Gypsum, Fresh Ginger, Jujube. This formula has clearing qi, promoting lung function, resolving phlegm, stopping cough, and anti-infective effects—commonly effective for acute and chronic bronchitis with infection. A 46-year-old woman had recurrent cough, cold sensitivity, frequent colds, and spontaneous sweating for over ten years. Recently, she suffered repeated respiratory infections, presenting with cough, sore throat, low-grade fever, aversion to wind, shortness of breath, and headache. She improved with the above formula, but recently relapsed with worsened sweating and shortness of breath, accompanied by palpitations, hand tremors, facial flushing, cold feet, and heart failure. Tongue pale dark with thin yellow dry coating, fine weak pulse—indicating deficiency of qi and yin in heart, lung, and kidney, with floating yang. Remove Ephedra and Asarum from the original formula, add Aconite, Ginseng, Oyster Shell, and Tortoise Shell. After five doses, symptoms controlled. Continue with the original formula in pill form for over two months—no recurrence.
II. Severe Asthma
Formula derived from Xiao Qing Long Tang and Guālóu Xièbái Bànxià Tāng: Ephedra, Cinnamon Twig, Asarum, Licorice, Pinellia, Dried Ginger, Loquat Peel, Garlic Chives, Codonopsis, Ligusticum, Perilla Seed, Fritillary Bulb, Corydalis. This formula has warming yang, expelling fluid, promoting qi, resolving phlegm, and enhancing immunity—effective for stubborn asthma caused by multiple factors or allergies. A 45-year-old woman had asthma for over ten years with over twenty allergens. This episode recurred due to weather change and eating shrimp, presenting with breathing difficulty, severe shortness of breath, pale face, cyanotic lips, red tongue with thin yellow coating, wiry fine weak pulse. Diagnosis: deficiency of lung and kidney qi, latent phlegm-fluid, external pathogen triggering. Added Artemisia, Agastache, and Talc to the formula—27 doses taken, now two years without recurrence.
III. Interstitial Pneumonia
Formula derived from Zhǐshí Xièbái Guìzhī Tāng and Xiao Chai Hu Tang: Whole Trichosanthes, Fried Licorice, Garlic Chives, Pinellia, Citrus Aurantium, Codonopsis, Scutellaria, Cinnamon Twig, Magnolia Bark, Fritillary Bulb, Salvia, Five-Lingzhi, Cortex Moutan, Artemisia, Prepared Softshell Turtle. This formula has eliminating stagnation, opening blockages, and harmonizing nutritive and defensive qi. Suitable for phlegm-heat stagnation in lung and stomach, disharmony of nutritive and defensive qi. A 17-year-old girl had recurrent cough for five years, with worsening cough and shortness of breath and low-grade fever recently. X-ray confirmed interstitial pneumonia, presenting with chest tightness, shortness of breath, copious thick phlegm, poor appetite, bloating, belching, loose stools, easy sweating and catching colds, red tongue with purple tinge, black greasy coating on front half, yellow greasy coating on back half, slippery weak pulse. After 15 doses of the formula, complete recovery.
IV. Spontaneous Pneumothorax
Formula derived from Gui Zhi Tang with Magnolia Bark, Apricot Kernel, and Guālóu Xièbái Bànxià Tāng: Cinnamon Twig, Magnolia Bark, Licorice, Fresh Ginger, Red Peony, Loquat Peel, Garlic Chives, Citrus Aurantium, Apricot Kernel, Pinellia, Salvia, Scutellaria, Codonopsis, Polygala. This formula has promoting lung qi, regulating qi, unblocking meridians, and resolving fluid retention. Used for spontaneous pneumothorax presenting with rapid breathing and chest tightness and pain. A 45-year-old man, after excessive physical labor and accidental injury to the sternum, suddenly heard a strange sound in his chest, followed by shortness of breath, chest tightness and pain, rapid breathing, pale face, cold sweat. X-ray revealed “large right-sided pneumothorax with minor pleural effusion.” After emergency treatment, breathing eased slightly, other symptoms remained. Tongue pale red with thin yellow coating, fine weak pulse. After 15 doses of the formula, condition stabilized.
V. Severe Chronic Pulmonary Heart Disease
Formula derived from Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang, Zhǐshí Xièbái Guìzhī Tāng, and Xiao Xian Xiong Tang: Stephania, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Licorice, Coptis, Whole Trichosanthes, Pinellia, Citrus Aurantium, Garlic Chives, Magnolia Bark, Cinnamon Twig, Ginseng, Five-Lingzhi, Salvia, Perilla Seed. This formula strengthens heart and lung, resolves phlegm turbidity, activates blood vessels. Indicated for pulmonary heart disease with blood stasis, qi stagnation, and phlegm-dampness obstruction. A 53-year-old woman had recurrent shortness of breath and cough with edema for over ten years. Recently, cold weather worsened chest tightness and shortness of breath, breathlessness, exacerbated by exertion, cold intolerance, cyanosis, facial and foot edema, poor appetite, bloating, pale dark purple tongue with thin yellow coating, prominent purple sublingual veins, deep wiry fine weak pulse—diagnosed as chronic cor pulmonale. After 12 doses of the formula, condition improved. Then, the formula was made into pills and taken for three months—no recurrence for over three years.
VI. Cough and Shortness of Breath with Hypertension
Formula derived from Mài Mén Dōng Tāng, Xuán Fù Huā Tāng, and Xiao Xian Xiong Tang: Ginseng, Ophiopogon, Pinellia, Inula Flower (wrapped), Coptis, Whole Trichosanthes, Apricot Kernel, Cortex Moutan, Prepared Softshell Turtle, Earthworm, Five-Lingzhi. This formula nourishes heart and lung, reduces phlegm-fire, calms cough and shortness of breath. Indicated for severe cough and shortness of breath with hypertension due to heart-lung deficiency, liver qi reversal, and phlegm transforming into fire. A 55-year-old man had cough and shortness of breath for over twenty years, with choking cough and throat irritation, worse when angry, accompanied by headache, dizziness, head fullness, tinnitus, facial flushing, chest and rib fullness, blood pressure consistently around 160/110 mmHg. Tongue purple-red with tender texture, thin yellow peeled coating, wiry slippery weak pulse, left guan pulse deep and涩. After 15 doses of the formula, improvement occurred. Then, the formula was made into honey pills and taken for three months—no recurrence for three years.
Respiratory diseases, especially severe and difficult cases, often result from viral, bacterial, allergic causes leading to phlegm, fluid, qi, blood, and fire stagnation, with deficiency of righteous qi and excess of pathogenic factors, causing cough, asthma, edema, etc. Therefore, treatment should follow principles like “warming herbs to harmonize” and “stopping reverse flow and descending qi.” Using these classic formulas to warm yang, resolve fluid, open and resolve phlegm, nourish yin, and unblock meridians can yield excellent results.