Ch6 Herbs that relieve coughing and wheezing

Question 1

Xing Ren ***

“apricot kernal”

Answer 1

Bitter, slightly warm, slightly toxic
LU, LI
(#1 herb to) Stops cough and calms wheezing (both warm and cold, gently moistening); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks the bowels
NOT for cough from yin xu or general debility; caution in infants and Pt with diarrhea

Question 2

Xing Ren With Zi Su Zi

Answer 2

Used to descend rebellious LU Qi and moisten intestines to facilitate normal rhythmic bowel movements

Question 3

Xing Ren with Tao Ren

Answer 3

Facilitates peristalsis above by directing LU qi downward and continues into the lower body by moistening and invigorating blood in LI. Also to stop cough and calm wheezing

Question 4

Xing Ren with Yi Yi Ren and Bai Dou Kou

Answer 4

For early damp-warmth d/o with heaviness of head/body, stifling chest, poor appetite, afternoon fever. Opens upper, promote qi of LU/SP to transform phlegm/damp, and leach out damp through lower

Question 5

Xing Ren Vs. Ma Huang

Answer 5

Ma Huang opens pores and interstices, expands exterior
Xing Ren unblocks collaterals of LU, presses down internally
Used together to eradicate EPF disrupting LU qi

Question 6

Zi Wan ***
“Purple aster “
(aster root)

Answer 6

Acrid, bitter, slightly warm
LU
Relieves coughs and expels phlegm; dispersing & draining yet moistening, facilitates urination

Question 7

Zi Wan Vs. Kuan Dong Hua

Answer 7

Zi Wan stronger at opening, draining, directing downward, enters Qi and Blood. For difficult to expectorate phlegm in chest from W-C, with cough and blood in sputum
Kuan Dong Hua, more mild but moistens LU to alleviate cough so it’s good for severe cough

Question 8

Kuan Dong Hua ***
“Winter Flower”
(Tussilago flower, coltsfoot)

Answer 8

Acrid, warm
LU
Moistens the LU, directs Qi downward, stops cough, and transforms phlegm
NOT for Pt coughing blood or pus and blood

Question 9

Kuan Dong Hua with Zi Wan

Answer 9

Mutual necessity: excellent for alleviating cough, disseminating LU qi and transforming phlegm. for difficult to expectorate sputum (chronic or acute, hot or cold, EPF or internal)

Question 10

Kuan Dong Hua preparation:

Mi Zhi and Chao

Answer 10

Mi Zhi - honey prepared is more moistening for cough and wheezing
Chao - dry fried not as commonly used, but good for dry cough because not as dispersing

Question 11

Zi Su Zi ***

perilla fruit seed

Answer 11

Acrid, warm
LI, LU
Stops cough and calms wheezing, redirects Qi downward, and dissolves phlegm (for when exhalation is more labored than inhalation with stifling chest); Moistens the Intestines and unblocks stool

Question 12

Zi Su Zi Vs. Zi Su Geng Vs. Zi Su Ye

Answer 12

All regulate qi
Zi Su Ye harmonizes middle and stops nausea, expels EPF
Zi Su Geng unbinds middle jiao Qi, relieves obstruction in chest and diaphragm
Zi Su Zi directs LU qi downward, transforms phlegm, and moistens phlegm

Question 13

Pi Pa Ye ***

Loquat leaf

Answer 13

Bitter, neutral
LU, ST
Transforms phlegm, clears LU heat, and redirects LU Qi downward; Harmonizes the ST, clears ST heat, and redirects ST Qi downward

Question 14

Pi Pa Ye with Sang Ye

Answer 14

Excellant to rebalance LU-ST. Descend and cool LU, transform phlegm and stop cough. Cool ST, stop nausea. Also ascending and moistening, smooths LV Qi

Question 15

Pi Pa Ye Vs. Zhi Ban Xia

Answer 15

Pi Pa Ye for phlegm heat cough from dryness in LU. Cools ST
Ban Xia helps SP transform phlegm and dampness, thereby helping LU when there’s cough with copious sputum. Transforms phlegm to stop rebellious ST Qi

Question 16

Bai Bu ***
“100 parts”
(Stemona root)

Answer 16

Sweet, bitter, slightly warm
LU
Moistens (not harsh) the LU and stops cough; Expels parasites and kills lice (topical as wash or tincture)

Question 17

Bai Bu With Bai Qian

Answer 17

Use any time LU blocked by copious phlegm with Sx of cough, fullness in the chest, wheezing, regardless of excess/xu, hot/cold

Question 18

Sang Bai Pi***
“white mulberry skin”
(mulberry root bark)

Answer 18

Sweet, cold
LU
Drains heat from the LU, stops cough, calms wheezing; promotes urination and reduces edema; recently used for hypertension

Question 19

Ting Li Zi ***

“Tingli or lepidium seed”

Answer 19

Acrid, bitter, very cold (harsh)
LU, BL
Drains LU, reduces phlegm, and calms wheezing; moves water and reduces edema

Question 20

Ting Li Zi with Da Zao

Answer 20

Ting Li Zi is harshly cold to drain LU, reduce phlegm, move water and reduce edema.
Da Zao is sweetly warm and protects the SP/ST so the combo is more mild than Ting Li Zi alone

Question 21

Ting Li Zi Vs. Ma Huang

Answer 21

both calm wheezing, open upper source of fluids (LU) and facilitate flow of fluids to reduce edema
Ting Li Zi best for excess phlegm and thin mucus leading to cough and wheezing with edema in chest and abdomen
Ma Huang best for W-C binding the LU with cough, wheezing, or Lu Qi failing to mobilize fluids leading to edema (W-water in face)

Question 22

Mu Hu Die **
“Wood butterfly”
(oroxylum seeds)

Answer 22

sweet, bland, cool
LV, LU
Moistens the LU, clears the voice; Comforts the LV and regulates Qi; Also used topically to promote healing of ulcerated suppurative sores

Question 23

Luo Han Guo **
“Men’s fruit/result”
(Gosvenor’s momordica fruit)

Answer 23

sweet, cool
LU, LI
Moistens and cools the LU; Generates fluids to stop thirst; moistens the Intestines to unblock the bowels

Question 24

Gua Di **
“Melon stalk”
(Cucumis melon stalk)

Answer 24

Bitter, cold, slightly toxic
ST
Induces vomiting to relieve phlegm-heat or retained food; Dispels damp-heat and relieves jaundice
NOT in pregnancy or postpartum, debilitated Pt, or with hematemesis or hemoptysis