Clears and nourishes the Lungs and Stomach, generates fluids and moistens Dryness

• Dry throat and thirst
• A hacking cough with scanty sputum
• Wheezing
• A red tongue with little coating

• Sha Shen and Men Dong (chiefs) moisten the Lungs, nourish the Stomach Yin, generate Fluids, clear Heat and stop coughs. They moisten and restore Lung and Stomach Yin, following Yang Ming Stage or Qi Level disorders that involve profuse sweating.
• Yu Zhu (deputy) supports the chief herbs by Nourishing Yin and moistening the Lungs and Stomach.
• Sang Ye (assistant) clears Heat from the Lungs, stops cough and moistens Dryness.
• Tian Hua Fen (assistant) generates Fluids, drains Lung Heat, moistens Lung Dryness and generates Fluids.
• Bai Bian Dou (assistant) harmonises the middle Jiao to promote the Qi dynamic.
• Gan Cao (envoy) harmonises the actions of the other herbs while assisting in moistening the Lungs and stopping coughs.

• Profuse, thick, sticky sputum: add Chuan Bei Mu and Gua Lou Ren
• Blood streaked sputum: add Sheng di Huang and Ce Bai Ye
• Constipation: add Huo Ma Ren

• This is a milder version of Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction) which treats injury to the Yin and fluids (but not the Qi) following an attack of Warm-Dryness.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for post-viral cough, upper respiratory tract infection, influenza, bronchitis, emphysema, pneumonia, and asthma.

The formula has rich and cloying substances and should be used with caution in cases with Spleen and Stomach deficiency.

Nourishes the Yin, moistens the Lungs, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing

• Coughing with blood-streaked sputum, wheezing
• A dry, sore throat
• Hot palms and soles, night sweats
• A red tongue with little coating
• A thin, rapid pulse

• Bai He (chief) moistens and nourishes Lung dryness and clears Heat.
• Sheng di (chief) strongly enriches the Yin and tonifies the Kidneys and cools the Blood to stop bleeding.
• Shu di (chief) strongly tonifies the Liver and Kidney Yin, and with Sheng di, treats Fire arising from Yin deficiency.
• Mai Men Dong (deputy) tonifies Yin, especially in the upper Jiao, and supports the actions of Bai He on the Lungs and the Yin tonifying actions of the other herbs.
• Xuan Shen (deputy) helps Kidney water to ascend to the Lungs and effectively clears Fire from deficiency and ‘steaming bone’ disorder.
• Chuan Bei Mu (assistant) moistens the Lungs, transforms Phlegm and stops coughing.
• Jie Geng (assistant) facilitates the movement of Lung Qi and stops coughing, particularly in combination with Chuan Bei Mu.
• Bai Shao and Dang Gui (assistants) nourish Blood to support the Yin, and soften the Liver to protect the Lungs from violation.
• Gan Cao (envoy) harmonises the actions of the other herbs, and with Jie Geng, improves the throat.

• Copious sputum: add Gua Lou Ren and Sang Bai Pi
• Coughing of profuse blood: omit Jie Geng and add bai Mao Gen and Xian He Cao
• Pronounced fever and dark-yellow sputum: add Zhi Mu and Yu Xing Cao
• Lung cancer with Yin deficiency: add Yu Xing Cao, Chi Shao, Bai Hua She and Ban Zhi Lian

• The formula focuses on moistening the Lungs and is used when the dryness is more severe than the Phlegm and the Yin is already deficient.
• Bu Fei E Jiao Tang (Tonify the Lungs with Ass-Hide DEcoction) also moistens the Lungs but focuses more on clearing Heat and stopping bleeding.
• Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Eliminate Dryness and Rescue the Lungs Decoction) augments the Qi and has a slight Exterior-releasing function, augmenting both Qi and Yin.
• Bei Mu Gua Lou San (Fritillaria and Trichosanthes Fruit Powder) primarily transforms Phlegm and is used when the Phlegm is severe, the dryness is not intense and the Yin is intact.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pharyngitis, pneumothorax, silicosis, pulmonary tuberculosis and pulmonary heart disease.

• Most of the herbs in the formula have a sweet, cold and cloying nature, and it should be used with caution (and modified with Qi regulating and QI tonifying herbs) in cases with Spleen and Stomach deficiency or diarrhoea and indigestion will result.
• Contraindicated for patients with Exterior conditions

Benefits the Stomach, generates fluids, and directs rebellious Qi downwards

• Coughing and spitting of saliva or a thick viscous sputum that lodges in the throat
• A dry mouth and a dry, uncomfortable sensation in the throat
• Shortness of breath
• A dry, red tongue with little coating
• A deficient, rapid pulse

• Mai Men Dong (chief) clears deficiency Heat from the Stomach and generates fluids in the Stomach and Lungs and is very useful for Lung atrophy (some sources recommend doses up to 45g).
• Ren Shen (deputy) augments the Qi, generates fluids and revives the Qi and Yin, and with Mai Dong powerfully revive Lung and Stomach Qi and Yin.
• Geng Mi (nonglutinous rice) is unavailable from the pharmacy, and with Da Zo and Gan Cao (assistants) work together to support the Stomach Qi and generate fluids, with Gan Cao improving the throat.
• Ban Xia (assistant) is warm, acrid and drying, but the other herbs moderate this nature (and the dose is low). It facilitates the flow of Stomach Qi and directs the Qi downwards, enabling it to distribute nourishment from the middle Jiao to the upper Jiao, redirect the flow of Qi and encourage fluids in the Lungs.

• Severe depletion of fluids: add Sha Shen and Yu Zhu
• Tidal fever: add Yin Chen Hao and Di Gu Pi
• Severe cough: add Chuan Bei Mu and Gua Lou Ren

• The formula focuses on generating fluids and nourishing Stomach Yin to support Lung Yin
• The source text indicates its use for rebellious Fire with rising Qi and dysfunction of the throat, however, it is now most commonly used for Lung atrophy with incessant coughing and spitting of saliva, a dry throat and thirst.
• It’s also used for belching, nausea and vomiting due to Stomach Yin deficiency.
• With the appropriate presentation, the formula may be used for gastritis, peptic ulcer, oesophageal reflux, acute or chronic pharyngitis, asthma, chronic bronchitis and pulmonary tuberculosis.

• Use with caution in patients with high fever and irritability, where the pathogen remains in the Exterior and the Qi and Yin are not yet affected.
• Contraindicated in cases with Dampness or Lung atrophy due to Cold from deficiency.