Herbs That Transform Phlegm-Heat and Phlegm-Cold

Vocabulary style flashcards reviewing TCM herbs that transform Phlegm-Heat and Phlegm-Cold, including proper pinyin, Latin names, actions, dosages, characteristics, and visual identification.

Substantial Phlegm

Phlegm that can be seen or felt, such as coughing up sputum or physical swellings like a goiter or lipoma.

Insubstantial Phlegm

A sticky pathogenic substance that cannot be seen or palpated directly, such as phlegm misting the mind.

Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix)

Latin: Peucedani Radix. English: Hogfennel Root. Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Slightly Cold. Channels: Lung. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Directs Qi and Fire downwards, dispels turbid thick sputum, and disperses wind-heat.

Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus)

Latin: Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus. English: Sichuan Fritillaria Bulb. Properties: Bitter, Sweet, Slightly Cold. Channels: Heart, Lung. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Cools, moistens, directs Lung/Heart Qi downward to transform phlegm, alleviate chronic cough with Yin Xu, and dissipate nodules.

Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus)

Latin: Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus. English: Zhejiang Fritillaria Bulb. Properties: Bitter, Cold. Channels: Heart, Lung. Dosage: $4.5-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Cold, drains heat, transforms phlegm-heat, and is stronger than Chuan Bei Mu at dissipating neck/breast nodules, fibroids, scrofula, and goiter.

Gua Lou (Trichosanthis Fructus)

Latin: Trichosanthis Fructus. English: Trichosanthes Fruit. Properties: Sweet, Cold. Channels: Stomach, Large Intestine, Lung. Dosage: $9-21\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Whole fruit combination (skin, flesh, seed) that cools/transforms Phlegm-Heat, unbinds the chest for Chest Bi, moistens Intestines, and guides turbid phlegm downward.

Gua Lou Pi (Trichosanthis Pericarpium)

Latin: Trichosanthis Pericarpium. English: Trichosanthes Peel. Properties: Sweet, Cold. Channels: Lungs, Stomach, Large Intestine. Dosage: $6-12\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Cools and transforms Phlegm-Heat, facilitates Qi flow in the chest, and disperses constrained clumping; stronger than the whole fruit at clearing phlegm in the Lungs.

Gua Lou Ren (Trichosanthis Semen)

Latin: Trichosanthis Semen. English: Trichosanthes Seed. Properties: Sweet, Cold. Channels: Lung, Stomach, Large Intestine. Dosage: $9-15\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Slippery, moistens both Lungs and Intestines, cools Phlegm, expands the chest, and is most effective at treating dry constipation with Phlegm-Heat.

Zhu Ru (Bambusae Caulis In Taeniam)

Latin: Bambusae Caulis In Taeniam. English: Bamboo Shavings. Properties: Sweet, Slightly Cold. Channels: Lung, Stomach, Gallbladder. Dosage: $4.5-9\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Cools Lungs, Stomach, and Gallbladder, scours phlegm, releases constraint, and stops vomiting or hiccups due to Stomach/Gallbladder Heat.

Kun Bu (Eckloniae Thallus)

Latin: Eckloniae Thallus. English: Kelp. Properties: Salty, Cold. Channels: Kidney, Liver, Stomach. Dosage: $6-15\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Reduces phlegm, softens areas of hardness (goiter, scrofula, nodules), promotes urination, and eliminates edema. Incompatible with Gan Cao.

Hai Zao (Sargassum)

Latin: Sargassum. English: Seaweed. Properties: Bitter, Salty, Cold. Channels: Kidney, Liver, Lung, Stomach. Dosage: $6-15\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Softens hardness, clears damp-heat, and reduces edema; bitter taste clears more heat and damp-heat than Kun Bu. Incompatible with Gan Cao.

Zhi Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum)

Latin: Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum. English: Pinellia Rhizoma. Properties: Acrid, Warm and Toxic. Channels: Lung, Spleen, Stomach. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{grams}$. Characteristics: Dries dampness, transforms phlegm, causes rebellious Stomach Qi to descend to stop vomiting, and dissipates nodules. Must be used prepared.

Zhi Tian Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum)

Latin: Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparatum. English: Jack in the Pulpit prepared with water, alum, and ginger. Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Warm, Toxic. Channels: Liver, Lung, Spleen. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Very acrid and drying; eliminates Wind-Phlegm in channels/collaterals to stop spasms, lockjaw, facial paralysis, and seizures.

Dan Nan Xing (Arisaema Cum Bile)

Latin: Arisaema Cum Bile. English: Jack in the Pulpit prepared in Bile. Properties: Bitter, Cool, Slightly Toxic. Channels: Liver, Lung, Spleen. Dosage: $2-5\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Prepared with bovine bile to become cooling and less toxic/drying; clears Heat, dissolves Phlegm, calms Wind, and stops infantile convulsions/seizures.

Bai Jie Zi (Sinapis Semen)

Latin: Sinapis Semen. English: White Mustard Seed. Properties: Acrid, Warm. Channels: Lung. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Warms Lungs, expels phlegm, penetrates to the Yin to restore Yang movement, disperses clumps in channels/collaterals, and treats subcostal phlegm.

Jie Geng (Platycodi Radix)

Latin: Platycodi Radix. English: Balloon Flower Root. Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Neutral. Channels: Lung. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Opens up and disseminates Lung Qi, benefits the throat, pushes out pus in abscesses, and acts as a boat to guide other herbs to the Upper Jiao.

Xuan Fu Hua (Inulae Flos)

Latin: Inulae Flos. English: Inula Flower. Properties: Bitter, Acrid, Salty, Slightly Warm. Channels: Liver, Lung, Stomach, Spleen. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Directs Qi downward to stop cough, vomiting, hiccups, and belching; reduces phlegm and softens hard phlegm. Must be bagged in gauze when decocting.

Bai Qian (Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma)

Latin: Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma. English: Cynanchum Root and Rhizome. Properties: Acrid, Sweet, Slightly Warm. Channels: Lung. Dosage: $3-9\,\text{g}$. Characteristics: Redirects Lung Qi downward, dispels Phlegm, and stops cough with copious sputum and gurgling in the throat.

Qian Hu and Bai Qian Pair

A synergistic Dui Yao pairing that works together to improve functions of treating abundant phlegm that is difficult to expectorate accompanied by cough, itchy throat, and chest oppression.

Jie Geng and Zhi Ke Pair

A combination where one herb ascends (Jie Geng) and the other descends (Zhi Ke), regulating the Qi flow of both the Upper and Middle Jiao.