前胡 旋复花(各一两) 赤芍药(炒) 甘草(各一钱) 半夏(五钱,制) 荆芥
穗(一两
半) 赤茯苓(六钱半)
因风咳嗽生痰者,此方主之。
风盛则气壅,气壅则痰上,痰上则咳嗽。前胡、旋复,治风而兼行痰;荆芥、甘草,
消风而兼利气;半夏治痰,兼破气逆;赤芍调荣,兼能制急;茯苓用赤,入丙丁也。
茯苓 猪苓 泽泻 白术 桂心
水寒射肺而成咳者,此方主之。
上焦有火,渴饮凉水,水为火格,不得润下,停留于膈,水寒射肺,故令人咳。淡足以
渗水,故用茯苓、猪苓、泽泻、白术;辛温足以散寒,故用桂心。向非水寒为患,则五苓非
所宜矣。有表证者,以伤寒门小青龙汤主之。
槟榔(三钱) 细辛 干姜(炒) 人参(各五钱) 丁香 半夏(各一两)
脾胃虚寒,痰饮积于胸膈之间,令人咳嗽者,此方主之。
脾胃温暖,则能营运痰饮;脾胃虚寒,则痰饮停于胸膈,肺气因之不利,乃作咳嗽。咳
是有声,嗽是有痰,有声有痰,名曰咳嗽。经曰∶治病必求其本。证本于脾胃虚寒,则脾胃
为本,咳嗽为标。故半夏之辛,所以燥脾,人参之甘,所以养胃,脾胃治则不虚;丁、姜之
温,所以行痰;细辛之辛,所以散饮。辛温用则不寒,不虚不寒,则脾胃治而痰饮散,咳嗽
止矣,用槟榔者,取其性重,可以坠痰,经所谓高者抑之是也。
[Jinfei Cao San (Golden Whorl Grass Powder)]
Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Xuanfuhua (Inulae Flos) (each 1 liang), Chishao Yao (Red Peony Root, stir-fried), Gancao (Licorice Root) (each 1 qian), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma, processed) (5 qian), Jingjie Sui (Schizonepetae Spica) (1.5 liang), Chi Fuling (Red Poria) (6.5 qian).
This formula is the primary treatment for cough with phlegm generation caused by wind pathogen.
When wind is excessive, qi becomes congested; when qi is congested, phlegm rises upward; when phlegm rises upward, it induces coughing. Qianhu and Xuanfuhua treat wind while simultaneously moving phlegm; Jingjie and Gancao eliminate wind while benefiting qi; Banxia treats phlegm and simultaneously breaks qi rebellion; Chishao harmonizes Ying (Nutritive Qi) and can relieve urgency; using Chi Fuling is because the red color enters the Heart (Bing-Ding corresponds to Fire, which governs the Heart).
[Wuling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria)]
Fuling (Poria), Zhuling (Polyporus), Zexie (Alisma Rhizome), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Guixin (Cinnamon Twig Bark/Cortex Cinnamomi).
This formula is the primary treatment for cough resulting from cold-water invading the Lung.
There is fire in the Upper Jiao, causing thirst and a desire to drink cold water. However, the water is blocked by the fire and cannot moisten and descend, remaining stagnant in the diaphragm region. The cold water then invades the Lung, causing cough. Bland flavors are sufficient to leach out dampness/water, hence Fuling, Zhuling, Zexie, and Baizhu are used; Acrid-warm flavors are sufficient to disperse cold, hence Guixin is used. If the pathology were not due to cold-water, Wuling San would not be appropriate. For cases with exterior syndrome, Xiao Qinglong Tang (Minor Green Dragon Decoction) from the Shanghan Lun chapter should be used as the primary treatment.
[Dingxiang Banxia Wan (Clove and Pinellia Pill)]
Binglang (Arecae Semen) (3 qian), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Jiang (Stir-fried Ginger), Renshen (Ginseng Radix) (each 5 qian), Dingxiang (Caryophylli Flos), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma) (each 1 liang).
This formula is the primary treatment for cough caused by phlegm-fluid retention accumulating between the chest and diaphragm due to deficiency-cold of the Spleen and Stomach.
When the Spleen and Stomach are warm, they can transport and transform phlegm-fluids; when the Spleen and Stomach are deficient and cold, phlegm-fluids stagnate in the chest and diaphragm, causing Lung Qi to become obstructed, thereby inducing cough. "Ke" (cough sound) refers to having a sound, "Sou" (phlegm expectoration) refers to having phlegm; having both sound and phlegm is termed "Ke Sou" (cough). The Classics state: "In treating disease, one must seek the root." Since the root of the syndrome lies in Spleen-Stomach deficiency-cold, the Spleen and Stomach are the root, and cough is the branch. Therefore, the acridity of Banxia is used to dry dampness and strengthen the Spleen; the sweetness of Renshen is used to nourish the Stomach Qi, so that the Spleen and Stomach, once treated, will not remain deficient; the warmth of Dingxiang and Jiang is used to move phlegm; the acridity of Xixin is used to dissipate fluid retention. When acrid-warm herbs are used, cold is dispelled; without deficiency and cold, the Spleen and Stomach are regulated, phlegm-fluids dissipate, and cough ceases. Binglang is used because its nature is heavy, capable of descending phlegm turbidity, which aligns with the Classic's principle: "For pathogens located high, use suppression/descending methods."