The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Contents
- Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
- A herbal formula that might help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
- The three Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
Coughing and wheezing with copious sputum can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like coughing and wheezing with copious sputum here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here coughing and wheezing with copious sputum is often associated with poor appetite and digestive difficulties in the pattern “Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of coughing and wheezing with copious sputum we’ve identified that a herbal formula called San Zi Yang Qin Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
In Chinese Medicine coughing and wheezing with copious sputum is a symptom for the pattern "Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Lungs is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
In addition to coughing and wheezing with copious sputum, other symptoms associated with Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation include poor appetite and digestive difficulties.
Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation is often treated with San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including White Mustard Seeds - Bai Jie Zi - as a key herb). San Zi Yang Qin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that warm and transform phlegm-cold", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Directs the Qi downward".
Read more about Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation here
A herbal formula that might help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
San Zi Yang Qin Tang
Source date: 1856 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Directs the Qi downward. Transforms Phlegm. Reduces harbored food.
Why might San Zi Yang Qin Tang help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation' of which coughing and wheezing with copious sputum is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm Clogging The Lungs With Qi Stagnation include poor appetite and digestive difficulties.
The three Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat coughing and wheezing with copious sputum
Why might Perilla Seed (Zi Su Zi) help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum?
Because it is a key herb in San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation' (a pattern with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum as a symptom)
Perilla Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Stops coughing and wheezing, expels Phlegm and redirects Rebellious Lung Qi. Lubricates the Intestines.
Why might White Mustard Seeds (Bai Jie Zi) help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum?
Because it is a key herb in San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation' (a pattern with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum as a symptom)
White Mustard Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the lungs. Eliminates Phlegm and regulated Qi. Dissipates nodules and unblocks the Meridians to relieve pain.
Why might Radish Seed (Lai Fu Zi) help with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum?
Because it is a key herb in San Zi Yang Qin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Phlegm clogging the Lungs with Qi Stagnation' (a pattern with coughing and wheezing with copious sputum as a symptom)
Radish Seeds is a Neutral herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the digestion and unblocks Food Stagnation. Reverses Rebellious Lung Qi and transforms Phlegm