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.
Hoarse voice 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 hoarse voice 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 hoarse voice is often associated with dry cough, dry throat and dry skin in the pattern “Lung Dryness”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of hoarse voice we’ve identified that a herbal formula called Bai He Gu Jin Tang can help treat the patterns behind the symptom.
Lung Dryness, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause hoarse voice
In Chinese Medicine hoarse voice is a symptom for the pattern "Lung Dryness". 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
Lung Dryness
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
In addition to hoarse voice, other symptoms associated with Lung Dryness include dry cough, dry throat and dry skin.
Lung Dryness is often treated with Bai He Gu Jin Tang, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Lily Bulbs - Bai He - as a key herb). Bai He Gu Jin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that nourish yin and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin".
A herbal formula that might help with hoarse voice
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Source date: 1573 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin. Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
Why might Bai He Gu Jin Tang help with hoarse voice?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Lung Dryness' of which hoarse voice is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Lung Dryness include dry cough, dry throat and dry skin.
The three Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat hoarse voice
Why might Unprepared Rehmannia (Di Huang) help with hoarse voice?
Because it is a key herb in Bai He Gu Jin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Lung Dryness' (a pattern with hoarse voice as a symptom)
Unprepared Rehmannia is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat by Cooling Blood. Tonifies Yin by promoting Fluid production. Soothes the Heart by calming Blazing Fire. Cools and nourishes.
Why might Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di Huang) help with hoarse voice?
Because it is a key herb in Bai He Gu Jin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Lung Dryness' (a pattern with hoarse voice as a symptom)
Prepared Rehmannia is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Tonifies the Yin of the Kidneys.
Why might Lily Bulb (Bai He) help with hoarse voice?
Because it is a key herb in Bai He Gu Jin Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Lung Dryness' (a pattern with hoarse voice as a symptom)
Lily Bulbs is a Cold herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Clears Heat and stops cough due to either Lung Yin Deficiency or Lung-Heat. Clears Heat from the Heart and calms the Spirit (Shen).