Promotes Qi movement, dissipates clumps, directs rebellious Qi downwards, and transforms Phlegm

• A feeling of something stuck in the throat that can’t be shifted (globus)
• A stifling sensation in the chest and hypochondria
• Nausea, vomiting or coughing
• A moist or greasy white tongue coating
• A wiry, slow or wiry, slippery pulse

• Ban Xia (chief) transforms Phlegm, directs rebellious Qi downwards, dissipates clumps and harmonises the Stomach.
• Huo Po (deputy) eliminates the stifling sensation and assists the chief in directing rebellious Qi downwards and dissipating clumps.
• Fu Ling (deputy) leaches Dampness from the middle Jiao and aids Ban Xia in transforming Phlegm.
• Sheng Jiang (assistant) harmonises the Stomach and Spleen.
• Zi Su Ye (envoy) is light, warm and dispersing in nature and focuses the formula on the Lung channel and helps relieve coughing.

• Severe Qi stagnation: add Chai Hu, Yu Jin, Xiang Fu and Qing Pi
• Vomiting: add Sha Ren, Ding Xiang and Bai Dou Kou
• Severe stifling sensation in the chest: add Yu Jin and Zhi Ke
• Chest pain; add Xie Bai and Gua Luo
• Abdominal distension: add Sha Ren and Mu Xiang
• Hypochondriac pain: add Jin Ling Zi and Yan Hu Suo
• Pain and swelling in the throat: add Xuan Shen and Jie Geng

• This is ‘plum-stone Qi’, usually caused by an emotional upset that the patient can’t swallow or vocalise. However, it’s also possible for Qi or Blood deficiency, or Fire from constraint to cause this condition.
• The Qi becomes constrained and the Stomach and Lungs become unable to move Qi downwards.
• The constrained Qi dynamic disrupts the Spleen function of fluid transformation and transport, leading to Phlegm formation.
• The Phlegm clashes with the Qi, lodges in the throat and causes a stifling sensation in the chest and hypochondria. The Phlegm obstructing the Qi mechanism in the middle Jiao causes a stifling sensation in the chest, nausea, vomiting or cough.
• The moist or greasy white tongue coating and a wiry, slippery pulse reflect the presence of Phlegm.
• With the appropriate presentation, this formula may be used for hysteria, functional gastrointestinal disorders, Globus, oesophageal spasms, chronic laryngitis, and tracheitis.

• Contraindicated when patients have a flushed face, bitter taste and red tongue with little coating
• The herbs are warm, acrid and fragrant, that dry and disperse, which will easily injure Yin and fluids