Phragmites Stem Decoction

Phragmites Stem Decoction

Caulis Phragmites/Phragmites Rhizoma (Wei Jing/Lu Gen) 2 sheng (60g), Coicis Semen (Yi Yi Ren) 0.5 sheng (30g), Semen Benincasae (Gua Ban/Dong Gua Ren) 0.5 sheng (24g), Persicae Semen (Tao Ren) 30 pcs (9g)

Grind the medicinals into crude powder. Decoct one dose of the formula with phragmites stem juice, and boil it until the volume shrinks to about two sheng (400 ml). Take one sheng (200 ml) first. Then after taking the other one sheng (200 ml) of the decoction, the patient will surely spit pus. (Modern use: use water to decoct the medicinals.)

Clears lung heat, dissolves phlegm, expels stasis, and dissipates masses.

This formula is indicated for lung abscesses, and patterns of accumulation and obstruction of heat toxins, binding of phlegm, and blood stasis. The symptoms are coughing with profuse phlegm, coughing or spitting up of foul smelling pus and blood, dull pain in the chest, a red tongue with a greasy yellow coating, and a slippery, rapid pulse.

The pattern of lung abscess, which is caused by the accumulation and obstruction of heat toxins, binding of phlegm, and blood stasis, is mainly seen in the stage when an abscess is formed in the lung. Phlegm-heat accumulates in the lung, and the lung qi fails to purify, causing a cough with profuse phlegm. Pathogenic heat invades the lung, burns the blood vessels, and causes an accumulation of heat and blood stasis. The prolonged accumulation of heat and blood stasis leads to the formation of the lung abscess as flesh and blood rot. The abscess breaks and pus exits body through the mouth, causing a cough or the spitting up of smelly pus and blood. Phlegm-heat and blood stasis bind with each other in the chest and causes dull pain in the chest. A red tongue body with a greasy yellow coating and a slippery, rapid pulse are signs of intense phlegm-heat. Therefore, the therapeutic method is to clear lung heat, dissolve phlegm, and expel stasis and pus.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Wei Jing Tang is a commonly used formula used to treat lung abscess, whether pus has formed or not. This clinical pattern is marked by fullness and pain in the chest, cough and breathlessness, coughing or spitting up of thick yellow or yellow-green phlegm, fishy smell in the throat, red tongue with greasy yellow coating, and slippery rapid pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of binding heat, dampness, and blood stasis in the lung: pulmonary abscess, pneumonia, acute bronchitis, secondary infection on the basis of chronic bronchitis, acute suppurative tonsillitis, and nasosinusitis.

Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction, 桔梗湯)