Minor Chest-Draining Decoction

Minor Chest-Draining Decoction

Coptidis Rhizoma (Huang Lian) 1 liang (6g), Pinelliae Rhizoma (Ban Xia) 0.5 liang (12g), Trichosanthis Fructus (Gua Lou) 1 piece (20g)

Decoct gua lou with water in advance, and then add the other medicinals. It is best to take the formula while it is warm.

Clears heat and dissolves phlegm, loosens the chest, and dissipates masses.

Xiao Xian Xiong Tang is suitable for pattern of binding phlegm and heat. The symptoms are pi and oppression of the chest and abdomen, painful heart and chest distention, cough with sticky, thick and yellow sputum. The tongue is red with yellow and greasy coating. The pulse is slippery and rapid.

Mistreatment from using purgatives for exterior cold diseases leads to invasion of pathogenic heat binding with phlegm-turbidity which obstructs the epigastrium and causes minor chest bind disease. Phlegm-heat obstructs either the epigastrium or diaphragm and blocks qi so the patient may complain of pi and oppression of the stomach or chest. Phlegm-heat accumulates in the lung causing cough with sticky, thick and yellow sputum. The tongue and pulse qualities support the diagnosis of phlegm-heat accumulation. The treatment principle is to clear heat and dissolve phlegm, loosen the chest, and dissipate masses.

1. Essential pattern differentiation Xiao Xian Xiong Tang serves as a common formula applicable to patterns of accumulation of phlegm and heat in the chest. This clinical pattern is marked by oppression, pain and tenderness of the chest and diaphragm, red tongue with yellow and greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse. 2. Modern applications This formula may be used in the following biomedically defined disorders when the patient shows signs of binding of phlegm and heat in the epigastrium, chest and diaphragm: acute gastritis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, acute bronchitis, pleuritis, and adhesion of pleurae.

Chai Hu Xian Xiong Tang (Bupleurum Chest-Draining Decoction 柴胡陷胸汤)