Diseases of the Lungs
Der gantzen Artzenei, Dryander, 1542|
Western Tradition | Chinese Tradition |
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Licorice Raisins Hyssop Coltsfoot Tabasheer |
Elecampane Almond Plantain Maidenhair |
Licorice Mulberry root Sang Bai Pi Ephedra Ma Huang Ophiopogon Mai Men Dong Schisandra Wu Wei Zi |
Ginseng Eriobotrya Pi Pa Ye Apricot kernel Xing Ren Coltsfoot flower |
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Licorice Shing mngar Raisin Rgun brum Sea Buckthorn Star bu |
Sandal Tsan dan dkar po Costus Ru rta Schisandra Da trig |
Gentiana Spang rgyan Rhododendron Dwa lis Phlomis Lug mur |
Rhodiola Sro lo Tabasheer Cu gang Lungs Glo ba |
Differential Diagnosis and Treatment
Hot Phlegm
Persistent Cough with yellow phlegm, stifling feeling in chest, maybe with fever, red face, a feeling of heat, thirst, fast pulse, red tongue with yellow coating
Simples
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Plantain Violet Tabasheer |
Hyssop Poppy seed |
Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu Tabasheer |
Peuceanum Qian Hu Scutellaria Huang Qin |
Cold Phlegm
Cough with white or clear mucus, heaviness in the chest, wheezing, pale face, white tongue coat, feels cold, slow or slippery pulse.
If Cold Phlegm and Fluid is obstructing the Lungs there is the sound of phlegm in the Lungs, excess watery sputum, and maybe vomiting of watery sputum. In this case, Vomiting is indicated if the person is strong.
Simples
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Ginger Orris Mustard seed Agaric |
Aniseed Elecampane Radish seed Turbith |
Pinellia Ban Xia Arisaema Tian Nan Xing Mustard seed |
Citrus Chen Pi Platycodon Jie Geng Radish seed |
Lung Weakness–Lung Qi Deficiency
Weak cough, low voice, breathless after exertion, poor energy, pale face and weak pulse.
Simples
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Elecampane Raisin Walnut Chebulic Myrobalan Fox Lungs |
Licorice Date Sweet Almond Honey |
Ginseng Atractylodes Bai Zhu Licorice Schisandra Wu Wei Zi |
Codonopsis Dang Shen Astragaus Huang Qi Dioscorea Shan Yao Cordyceps |
Lung Wasting–Lung Yin Deficiency Chronic Dry cough, dry mouth and throat, wheezing, worse at night, night sweats, tiredness, weak pulse or fast and weak pulse, dry tongue with cracks.
Lung dryness is less severe; there is dry cough, dry mouth and throat, and thirst, but without the deficiency, night sweats and tongue cracks of Lung Yin Deficiency. In practice, they are often treated with the same formulas, for example, Bai He Gu Jin Tang or Mai Men Dong Tang.
Simples
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Marshmallow rot Comfrey root Tragacanth |
Pine nut Asparagus root Tabasheer |
American Ginseng Ophiopgon Mai Men Dong Glehnia Sha Shen |
Lilium Bai He Asparagus Tian Men Dong Soloman’s Seal (Yu Zhu) |
The Pectoral Formulas
The Pectoral formulas are medicines appropriated to the Lungs. By definition, they are beneficial for the Lungs and may be viewed as tonics. They nourish Lung Yin and strengthen Lung Qi, clear Phlegm and sooth the Throat. They are a first-line treatment for Cough, Bronchitis and as a supportive in more chronic Lung diseases.
1. Species Pectoral (Lung Powder)
i. Marshmallow root (8), Licorice (3), Orris root (1), Coltsfoot leaf (4), Mullein (2), Aniseed (2) (German)
ii. Marshmallow leaf (40), Licorice (30), Marshmallow root (10), Barley (1), Flowers of Mullein, Mallow, Red Poppy (1 each) (Austria)
iii. Marshmallow root (40), Licorice (25), Mullein flower (10), Mallow leaf (10), Linden tree flower (10), Fennel seed (5). (Helv.)
2. Pectoral Decoction (Lung Decoction)
There are many variations, the following being a good representation which may be modified as needed:
Coltsfoot
Maidenhair
Hyssop 2 handfuls each
Licorice
Raisins 2 oz. each
Barley 1 ½ oz,
Figs
Dates 12 of each
Blanched Almonds 40
Prepare a syrup with sugar. This is useful for Cough, Wheezing, and as an adjunct in chronic Lung diseases.
Dose: 2 oz. morning and night. (Natura exenterata, Philiatros, 1655)
In many instances Pectoral Decoction has the fruit, Barley, Licorice with only one of either Hyssop, Maidenhair or Coltsfoot, also omitting the Almonds. The above is a more elborate version.
Primary Tibetan Herbs for Lung Diseases
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Rhodioa Chebula Licorice Asparagus root Raisin |
Safflower Costus Aster tartarticus flower Fritillaria White Sandalwood |
Ephedra Gentiana algida Tinospora Gymnadenia |
Lung Abscess
Cough with expectoration of foul sputum, sputum with pus, chest pain, fast pulse, red tongue with yellow coat.
1. Core an Apple, put Frankincense in and seal with the apple piece removed; bake, and eat. 2. Coltsfoot with Barley, Hyssop 3. Coltsfoot with Violet, Dandelion 4. Coltsfoot with Hyssop, Figwort root. 5. Dandelion, Violet, Plantain, Hyssop, Raisin and Licorice Pectoral Decoction (London) Decoction of Hyssop Troches Bechi Nigra Death Healing Nectar (Tibetan Medicine) |
1. Bletilla Bai Ji with Fritillaria Chuan Bei Mu 2. Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren, Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao and Platycodon Jie Geng 3. Coix Yi Yi Ren with Violet (Zi Hua Di Ding) and Apricot kernel (Xing Ren) 4. Lonicera Jin Yin Hua with Platycodon Jie Geng, Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao, Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian Ru Jin Jiao Du San Jie Geng Xing Ren Tang Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang |
Lung Ulcers
Lung Ulcers can include Lung Cancer.
2. Burdock root with Pine nuts (Dioscorides) 3. Elecampane, Licorice, Comfrey 4. Sarsaparilla with Currants 5. Mastic powder mixed with Honey. 6. Galbanum taken with Honey. 7. Comfrey root (1 oz.), Tragacanth Cooling Powder (2 scruples), Conserve of Rose, Mastic, Nutmeg, Storax, Frankincense (1 scruple each). 8. Coltsfoot with Melon seed, Rosemary, Borage, Violet Syrup of Licorice (Mesue) Syrup of Snails Syrup of Horehound (Fernelius) Powder for the Lungs (Wirtzung) Troches of Amber (Mesue) Troches of Poppy seed (Unani) |
Special formulas
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BARLEY WATER FOR ALL DISEASES OF THE LUNGS Barley half pound Licorice half oz. Fennel seed Violet Parsley seed Rose 2 drams each. Hyssop Sage a pennyweight each Hart’s Tongue 6 leaves Figs or Raisins 2 drams Boil in a gallon of water. Decoct until the water has reduced 2 fingerbreadths. This clears Heat from the Lungs and Liver, promotes expectoration, reduces Thirst, purges the Lungs, Spleen, Kidneys and Bladder, (Brunschwig, 1561) |