Library

Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Licorice Root), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium).

For cases of asthma caused by Qi deficiency and phlegm, this formula is the primary treatment.
When Qi is robust, phlegm moves freely; when Qi is deficient, phlegm stagnates. Phlegm obstructing the airway causes asthma. Sweet substances can tonify Qi; Ren Shen, Fu Ling, Bai Zhu, and Gan Cao are all sweet in nature. Pungent substances can treat phlegm; Ban Xia and Chen Pi are both pungent in nature. Using sweet substances ensures Qi does not become deficient; using pungent substances ensures phlegm does not stagnate. With smooth Qi flow and moving phlegm, recovery follows naturally.

Take one piece of Qing Pi (Citri Reticulatae Viride Pericarpium), unfold it, remove the pith, insert one Jiang Zi (Crotonis Fructus, Croton Seed), tie it securely with hemp thread, and burn it over fire until the smoke disappears, retaining its medicinal property. Grind into powder. Mix with fresh ginger juice and a cup of wine, and take by sipping slowly.
*Famous Doctors' Records* states: Li Hanlin, a native of Tiantai, had a patient named Mr. Mo suffering from asthma who sought medical help. Li Hanlin said, "The illness has persisted for a long time; I will treat him." He used the aforementioned formula, and the asthma ceased immediately upon ingestion. It is truly a miraculous prescription. Kun opines that patients with chronic asthma have stubborn phlegm and qi stagnation in the lung region. Qing Pi can break qi stagnation, and Jiang Zi can attack phlegm. However, their nature is fierce and aggressive, tending to descend downwards, so they are generally unsuitable for treating upper body conditions. By using the method of burning to ash while retaining medicinal properties, the major toxicity is removed, leaving only minimal potency. The newly generated fire nature rises upward, allowing success at the diaphragm level; assisted by ginger juice, stubborn phlegm becomes easy to eliminate; propelled by wine, the medicinal effect reaches everywhere. Once the actions of ginger and wine facilitate the descending nature of these two herbs, the affliction of chronic asthma can be cured overnight. Is this not an excellent formula?

Preface: New-onset coughs are easy to cure, while chronic coughs are difficult to cure. The reason for the difficulty lies in the transmission and deepening of pathogenic factors. The Classics state: "The diseases of the five zang organs and six fu organs can all cause cough in humans, not just the lungs." Therefore, the origins of contracting pathogens are numerous; how can they be treated lightly? Herein, fifteen formulas are examined, merely listing the major ones. Regarding mixed pathogenic factors, the assessment of severity, urgency, root, and branch depends on the physician's judgment; how can they be fully exhaustively recorded in books?

Jing Jie (Schizonepetae Herba), Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, de-segmented), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, without white pith), Cang Zhu (Atractylodis Rhizoma, soaked in rice wash water for seven days), Bai Zhi (Angelicae Dahuricae Radix), Gan Cao (Licorice Root, equal parts).
For coughs caused by wind-cold injury, this formula is the primary treatment.
Symptoms such as headache, fever, nasal congestion, aversion to cold, and heavy voice indicate cough due to wind-cold injury. Wind-cold injury requires releasing the muscle layer; cough requires promoting qi movement. Jing Jie, Bai Zhi, and Ma Huang can release the muscle layer; Chen Pi, Cang Zhu, and Gan Cao can promote qi movement. The Classics state: "Pungent and sweet substances disperse and belong to Yang." Since all six herbs are pungent and sweet, they all possess dispersing properties. However, dispersion facilitates qi movement; facilitating qi movement aids dispersion. Their principles are inherently interconnected.