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Treats damage and ulceration of the lung tissue, or impending formation of Lung Abscess (pulmonary suppurative lesion), or coughing up pus and blood; also treats Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Raw Resina Incense (Sanqi) Raw Resina Olibanum (Sanqi) Powdered Licorice Root (Sanqi) Raw Astragalus Root (Sanqi) Scrophularia Root (Sanqi) Glehnia Root (Sanqi) Arnebiae Semen / Acanthopanacis Senticosi Fructus? *Correction: Niu Bang Zi is Arctii Fructus* (Sanqi, stir-fried and crushed) Fritillaria Bulb (Sanqi) Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (Sanqi) Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma (Liangqi, finely powdered, taken with decoction juice)

For cases where Lung Abscess is about to form, remove Astragalus Root and add Honeysuckle Flower (Sanqi).

A patient, aged forty-eight, coughed up sputum with a very foul and fishy odor, sweated at night, and became increasingly emaciated. Physicians stated it was incurable, so he sought my consultation. The pulse was rapid, reaching six beats per respiration (approx. >120 bpm), and felt weak upon deep pressure. I administered this decoction, adding Raw Dragon Bone (Liangqian), and doubled the dosage of Anemarrhenae Rhizoma in the formula. After two doses, sweating ceased; after ten more doses, full recovery was achieved.

The treatment for Pulmonary Tuberculosis was detailed previously under the entry for Ginseng and Ophiopogon Decoction (Shenmai Tang). However, that discussion concerned the treatment of Lao Zhai (Consumption Syndrome) resulting from Pulmonary Tuberculosis. This formula and the following one are intended for Pulmonary Tuberculosis that has not yet progressed to Consumption Syndrome.

Treats Lung Qi stagnation with phlegm-fire, and cough caused by Lung deficiency heat; also treats Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Young Mulberry Leaf (Liang) Child's Tea (Liang) Borax (Liang) Perilla Seed (Liang, stir-fried and crushed) Powdered Licorice Root (Liang)

Grind the above five herbs into a fine powder. Make pills weighing Sanqian each using honey. Take one pill morning and evening, washed down with boiled water.

The Lung possesses the mechanism of dispersing (Xuan) and descending (Su). Medicines for treating the Lung, if too dispersing, will hinder its descending function; if too astringent, they will hinder its dispersing function. The mulberry tree grows by absorbing the essence of Earth (the yellowish-brown root bark adapting to summer is clear evidence); thus, it excels in treating Lung diseases, adhering to the principle of "Earth generating Metal." As for its leaves, they are cool and promoting circulation, best resolving Wind-Heat in the Lung; their dispersing nature is evident. Furthermore, they are good at consolidating Qi transformation, treating metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, and rectal prolapse (if Lung Qi is vigorous, these ailments do not occur); their astringent nature is also evident. The subtle interplay of astringency and dispersion particularly harmonizes with the Lung's mechanism of dispersing and descending. Borax is cool and slippery, capable of unblocking the Lung orifices; Child's Tea is cool and astringent, capable of stabilizing and astringing the Lung lobes. The combination of these two herbs aligns well with the Lung's dispersing and descending functions. Additionally, assisted by Perilla Seed to direct Qi downward and calm wheezing, Licorice Root to tonify Earth and generate Metal (Pei Tu Sheng Jin), and Honey to moisten the Lung and clear dryness, this combination is highly effective for treating cough.

Note: Physicians often consider Borax and Child's Tea as specialized medicines for sores and ulcers. They fail to realize that both are essential items for resolving phlegm and calming cough. Moreover, when applied externally, they detoxify, resolve putrefaction, and promote flesh regeneration; therefore, when taken internally, they are also effective for treating Pulmonary Tuberculosis or ulceration within the Lung.