Library

Tuoli Xiaodu San (Decoction for Supporting the Interior and Disinfecting; see Men of Swelling and Ulcers)
Jingfang Baidu San (Decoction of Schizonepeta and Saposhnikovia for Resolving Toxins; see Men of Seasonal Toxins)
Chansu Bingzi (Toad Venom Cake; see Men of Ding Sores)
Renshen Yangrong Tang (Ginseng Decoction for Nourishing the Nutritive Qi), Tuoli Jianzhong Tang (Decoction for Supporting the Interior and Strengthening the Middle), Yiqi Yangrong Tang (Decoction for Boosting Qi and Nourishing the Nutritive Qi), Shiquan Dabu Tang (Great Tonifying Decoction with Ten Ingredients; all see Men of Carbuncle, Fungus, Ulceration, and Healing)
Fangfeng Tongsheng San (Decoction of Saposhnikovia for Unblocking the Viscera; see Men of Seasonal Toxins)

Although the throat belongs to the Lung, the causes of disease vary, naturally distinguishing between Deficient Fire and Excess Fire, as well as Jinhou Feng (Tight Throat Wind) and Manhou Feng (Slow Throat Wind). Furthermore, the pharynx is the gateway for respiration for the Heart, Lung, Liver, and Kidney, and the pathway for diet, voice, and breathing. This relates to the whole body, causing harm rapidly; thus it is said: "One must examine the throat as quickly as a horse running by, not delaying for even a moment." If it is caused by Deficient Fire, the affected area appears pale and slightly swollen, the pulse is fine and subtle, urination is clear and white, and defecation is normal and unimpeded. This is due to excessive overthinking, leading to insufficiency of Middle Qi, where Spleen Qi fails to protect in the middle, allowing Deficient Fire to easily flare upward. This ailment begins with dryness of the pharynx, obstruction to eating and drinking, coughing up phlegm-saliva, and difficult breathing. White moss-like coating may appear on the tongue, accumulating like shrimp skin, or feeling like straw constantly pricking the throat, as if a hard object is stuck down the throat. There may be vomiting of sour water, and belching out sweet saliva; severely, there may be white fur on the tongue, lips appearing chalky-white, hoarseness, panting with much phlegm. All the above symptoms stem from Deficient Fire and insufficiency of Yuan Qi (Original Qi). Treatment of this condition must not mistakenly administer cold-natured medicines. Pain occurring in the morning belongs to Qi deficiency; treat with Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Decoction for Supplementing the Middle and Boosting Qi) added with Maidong (Ophiopogon Root), Wuweizi (Schisandra Fruit), Niuzi (Arctii Fructus), and Xuanshen (Scrophulariae Radix). Pain occurring in the afternoon belongs to Yin deficiency; treat with Siwu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Huangbai (Phellodendri Cortex), Zhimu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Jiegeng (Platycodon Root), and Xuanshen. If there is no effect after taking these, Ginger (Shengjiang) and Aconite (Fuzi) must be added as guiding agents; this is also an auxiliary treatment method. If it is caused by Excess Fire, excessive consumption of rich wine, indulgence in fatty and sweet foods, sleeping under heavy quilts, and eating spicy and pungent substances often lead to heat accumulation in the interior. Over time, fire stirs and phlegm generates, manifesting as throat swelling. In severe cases, wind-phlegm surges upward, blocking the throat gate, so that within moments, neither soup nor water can enter, and no voice can be produced. This is Hou Bi (Throat Closure) or Jinhou Feng (Tight Throat Wind). When medication cannot act in time, first prick the throat area to release toxic blood, then use a chicken feather dipped in tung oil to induce vomiting of thick phlegm. It is essential to ensure all phlegm-toxin is expelled, the throat gate relaxes, allowing medicine to enter and voice to emerge, before stopping. Internally administer Qingyan Lige Tang (Decoction for Clearing the Throat and Benefiting the Diaphragm) to disperse residual toxins. If the jaw is tightly closed making oral administration difficult, one must first prick Shaoshang (LU-11) to bleed; the closure will naturally open. If needling and induced vomiting yield no phlegm, and the voice sounds like sawing wood, with nasal flaring, phlegm-panting, inability to take fluids, and loss of voice, this is a true death prognosis. There are also conditions such as Hou Yong (Throat Abscess), Hou Bi (Throat Obstruction), Ru'e (Mandarin Duck's Gland/tonsillar hypertrophy), and Shang Ying (Upper Palatal Abscess). Although the affliction involves swelling, the throat gate is half-blocked and half-open; although the disease is fierce, the throat passage is both wide and swollen. These are all branch diseases (Biao Bing); although serious, they are not fatal. One should use Jin Suo Chi (Golden Lock Key) to expel phlegm-saliva, and Lige Tang (Diaphragm-Benefiting Decoction) to push out accumulated heat and pus. For distending pain, incise and drain; for damage-related pain, tonify and benefit. The affliction will naturally settle. Any case of Hou Bi not being bled, Hou Feng not having phlegm induced, Hou Yong not having pus drained, or Hou Bi/Ru'e not being treated with needle-cauterization, constitutes illegal treatment methods. Furthermore, cases of phlegm-fire consuming essence leading to emaciation, and cough-damage causing throat pain, have no curative method.