诃子仁 百药煎 荆芥穗（等分）
共为末，蜜丸噙化。
久咳失气，此药亦宜用之；新咳者不宜用也。
《内经》曰∶薄之劫之。薄者，雷风相薄之薄，药病摩荡之名也。劫者，曹沫劫盟之劫
，取之不以正也。久咳失气，不用补剂，而用诃子、药煎之涩；肺有火邪，不用润剂，而用
荆芥穗之辛，故曰劫也。
蚌粉（新瓦炒红） 青黛（少许）
用淡齑水滴麻油数点调服。
绶带李防御，京师人，初为入内医官。值嫔御阁妃苦痰嗽，终夕不寐，面浮如盘，时方
有甚宠。徽宗幸其阁，见之以为虑，驰遣呼李。先数用药弗应。诏令往内东门供状，若三日
不效，当诛。李忧技穷，与妻对泣，忽闻门外叫云∶咳嗽药一文钱一帖，吃了今夜得睡。李
使人市药十帖，其色浅碧，用淡齑水滴麻油数点调服。李疑草药性厉，并三为一自试之，既
而无他，于是取三帖合为一，携入禁庭授妃，请分两服以饵。是夕嗽止，比晓面肿亦消。内
侍走白，天颜绝喜，锡金帛厥值万缗。李虽幸其安，而念必宣索方书，何辞以对？殆亦死尔。
命仆侍卖药人过，邀入坐，饮以巨盅。语之曰∶我见邻里服嗽药多效，意欲得方，倘以传我
诸物，为银百两，皆以相赠不吝。曰∶一文药，安得其值如此？防御要得方，当便奉告，只
蚌粉一物，新瓦炒令通红，拌青黛少许耳。扣其所从来。曰∶壮而从军，老而停汰，顷见主
帅有此，故剽得之，以其易办，姑借以度余生，无他长也。李给之终身焉。昆谓∶蚌粉咸而
枯，能软坚痰而燥湿；青黛寒而苦，能清肺膈而除热；齑汁酸咸，亦以软痰；麻油之加，欲
其就火而为向导之驱尔。
Hezi Ren (Pericarpium Arecae Catechuae), Baiyaojian (Fermented Tea Cake), Jingjie Sui (Cacumen Schizonepetae) (equal parts)
Grind all into powder, form pills with honey, and hold in the mouth to dissolve.
For chronic cough accompanied by loss of qi, this medicine is also suitable; however, it is not suitable for new-onset cough.
The *Huangdi Neijing* (Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon) states: "Bo zhi jie zhi" (Press and Rob). "Bo" refers to the pressing/striving as in "Lei Feng Xiang Bo" (thunder and wind striving against each other), denoting the mutual agitation between medicine and pathogen. "Jie" refers to the robbery/coercion as in "Cao Mo Jie Meng" (Cao Mo coercing the alliance), implying taking by unorthodox means. For chronic cough causing lung qi depletion, instead of using tonifying agents, astringent herbs like Hezi and Baiyaojian are used; for fire pathogens in the lung, instead of moistening agents, acrid herbs like Jingjie Sui are used. Hence, it is called "Jie" (Robbing).
Bangfen (Clam Shell Powder) (stir-fried on a new tile until red-hot) Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis) (a small amount)
Mix with light vinegar solution and a few drops of Sesame Oil (Sesami Oleum), then take orally.
Li Fangyu (Defender Li) of Shoudai was from the capital city, initially serving as an Internal Medical Officer. At that time, a consort in the Pin Yu Pavilion suffered severely from phlegm-cough, unable to sleep throughout the night, with her face swollen as large as a plate. She was currently highly favored by the emperor. Emperor Huizong visited her pavilion, saw her condition, and felt concerned. He urgently dispatched someone to summon Li. Initially, several doses of medication failed to produce results. An imperial edict ordered him to report at the Inner East Gate; if there were no effect within three days, he would be executed. Li was worried that his skills were exhausted and wept with his wife. Suddenly, they heard a cry outside selling medicine: "Cough medicine, one wen per packet; eat it and you will sleep tonight." Li sent someone to buy ten packets. The medicine was pale greenish-blue. The usage was to mix with light vinegar solution and a few drops of sesame oil. Suspecting that the herbal medicine might have harsh properties, Li combined three packets and tested them on himself. Finding no adverse reactions, he took the three packets, combined them into one, carried them into the forbidden palace, and gave them to the consort, requesting she divide them into two doses. That night, the cough stopped, and by dawn, the facial swelling had subsided. A eunuch ran to report this, and the Emperor's countenance was extremely joyful. He bestowed gold and silk worth over ten thousand min. Although Li was relieved that the consort was safe, he feared the emperor would inevitably demand the prescription book. What excuse could he offer? It would likely lead to his death. He instructed his servant to bring the medicine seller past the residence, invited him inside to sit, and treated him to a large cup of wine. Li said, "I have seen many neighbors benefiting greatly from this cough medicine. I wish to obtain the formula. If you transmit it to me, I will generously gift you various items worth one hundred taels of silver." The seller replied, "Medicine costing one wen, how can it be worth so much?" Insisting on obtaining the formula, Li finally got the answer: It is merely Bangfen (Clam Shell Powder), stir-fried on a new tile until thoroughly red-hot, mixed with a small amount of Qingdai (Indigo Naturalis). When asked about its origin, the seller said, "I joined the army when young and was discharged when old. Recently, I saw my commander using this, so I stole/learned it. Since it is easy to prepare, I borrowed it to survive my remaining years; I have no other special skills." Li deceived him, providing for him for life. Kun (Wu Kun) states: Bangfen is salty and drying, capable of softening hard phlegm and drying dampness; Qingdai is cold and bitter, capable of clearing the lung and diaphragm and removing heat; vinegar juice is sour and salty, also used to soften phlegm; the addition of sesame oil aims to use its lubricating nature as a guiding agent to direct the medicinal power to the site of the disease.