Source: Records of Proven Formulas Past and Present (627)
Category: Formulas that Treat Abscesses and Sores
Pattern: Lung abscess from Wind-Heat Toxin, Phlegm and Blood stasis
Key Symptoms: Cough with foul smelling sputum, blood streaked sputum
Secondary Symptoms: Mild chest pain, slight fever, dry scaly skin
Tongue: Red body, yellow greasy coating
Pulse: Slippery, rapid
Ingredients
Lu Gen
| 60g | |
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Pinyin: Lu Gen
Chinese: 芦根
Pharmaceutical: Rhizoma Phragmitis
English: Reed Rhizome
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Tastes: Sweet and cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Stomach
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat and irritability from the Lungs and Stomach and generates fluids
Internal Heat patterns with high fever, irritability and thirst, dry mouth and throat.
Lung Heat (especially when acute) , Lung carbuncle, Lung abscess
- Clears Stomach Heat, regulates Stomach Qi, relieves thirst and stops vomiting
Stomach Heat (especially when accompanied by rebellious Qi)
- Clears Heat and promotes urination
Dark, scanty urine and hematuria especially when accompanied by irritability and thirst
- Vents rashes
Wind-Heat rashes that are not completely expressed
- Relieves food poisoning
Relieves food poisoning due to ingestion of fish and crabs
Alcohol poisoning
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Standard Dosage: 15-30g in decoction.
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Yi Yi Ren
| 30g | |
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Pinyin: Yi Yi Ren
Chinese: 薏苡仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Coicis
Taxonomy: Coix lacryma-jobi
English: Job's Tears / Chinese Pearl Barley
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Tastes: Sweet, Bland, Slightly Cold
Meridians Entered: Spleen, Stomach and Lung
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Actions & Indications:
- Strengthens the Spleen and resolves Dampness
Dampness Stagnation or Spleen Deficiency Dampness with diarrhoea, leg Qi, painful urinary dribbling
Damp-Warmth (treats root and manifestations)
- Expels Wind-Dampness and relieves pain
Wind-Damp Bi (increases joint mobility and decreases spasms in chronic cases) for stiffness of the muscles, severe arthralgia and joint immobility
- Clears Heat and expels pus
Soft, pustulated carbuncles, Lung and Intestinal abscess
- Clears Damp-Heat
Any Damp-Heat condition at any level with a greasy, white tongue coat and digestive problems
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Standard Dosage: 9-30g in decoction.
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Dong Gua Zi
| 24g | |
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Pinyin: Dong Gua Zi
Chinese: 冬瓜子
Pharmaceutical: Semen Benincasae
Taxonomy: Benincasa hispida
English: Chinese Waxgourd Seed / Winter Melon Seed
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Tastes: Sweet, slightly cold
Meridians Entered: Lung and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Clears Heat, expels Phlegm, expels pus and moistens the Lungs
Lung Heat with expectoration of thick, yellow sputum
Intestinal Heat
Damp-Heat with Phlegm Obstruction in the Upper or Lower Jiao as in Intestinal abscess
- Clears Heat and drains Dampness
Damp-Heat vaginal discharge
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Standard Dosage: 10-15g in decoction.
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Tao Ren
| 9g | | |
Pinyin: Tao Ren
Chinese: 桃仁
Pharmaceutical: Semen Persicae
Taxonomy: Prunus persica
English: Peach Seed
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Tastes: Bitter, sweet, neutral, lightly toxic
Meridians Entered: Heart, Liver, Lung and Large Intestine
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Actions & Indications:
- Breaks up Blood Stasis and invigorates Blood circulation
Menstrual disorders, abdominal pain, traumatic injury, flank pain, Lung abscess and Intestinal abscess with fixed abdominal masses associated with Blood Stasis
- Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
Constipation due to dry Intestines
- Drains abscesses
Lung and Intestinal abscesses
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Standard Dosage: 5-10g in decoction.
Cautions: Prohibited for pregnant women. Use with cautions for loose stool. Not overuse because of its toxicity. |
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Subsitutions:
The original formula calls for Wei Jing after which it is named but since it is generally substituted for Lu Gen due to availability.
There is also debate as to whether Dong Gua Zi should be Tian Gua Zi as the source text only states Gua Zi.
Preparation: Decoction.
Actions: Clears Heat from the Lungs, transforms Phlegm, drives out Blood stasis, discharges Pus
Contraindications: Pregnancy
Notes:
Originally for lung abscesses it is now adapted to treating the tail end of Heat disorders where there is cough and copious phlegm by substituting Tao Ren for Goa Lou Pi.
In dermatology it can be adapted to treat pustular skin lesions such as folliculitis, acne and pustular psoriasis when there are signs of Lung Heat by adding other Toxic Heat clearing herbs as appropriate.
Research Links:
Reference Notes: (click to display)
Most formulas are found in Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet (2009): Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies and Chen & Chen (2015) Chinese Herbal Formulas and Applications. Others are from translations of primary sources. It is recommended that the original material is cross-referenced for mistakes and additional information.
Substitutions have been taken from Ken Lloyd & Prof. Leung (2004): Mayway UK Substitution List or the above publications and are intended as suggestions to help navigate the tight restrictions in the UK quickly. More applicable substitutions may be appropriate in specific situations.
Individual herb information has initially been sourced from TCM Wiki and American Dragon for basic data and then updated manually with my own notes.
These pages are intended to assist clinicians and are not intended for self-diagnosis or treatment for which a qualified professional should be consulted.