Sore throat according to Chinese Medicine
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.
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Sore throat 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 sore throat 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 sore throat is often associated with dry cough, insomnia and dizziness in the pattern “Yin Deficiency”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause sore throat.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of sore throat we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat sore throat.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause sore throat
In Chinese Medicine sore throat is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Prepared Rehmannia (Shu Di huang) is the king ingredient for Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a formula used for Yin Deficiency
Yin Deficiency
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Empty (Xu)
Tongue coating: Thin white coating
Tongue color: Red
In the case of Yin Deficiency, the body is short in the cooling, moistening and nurturing aspects. This leads to Heat and Dryness accompanied by weakness and lack of strength and resistance. Yin becomes Deficient by over-working, lack of sleep, over-exercising, overindulgence in sex, long-term chronic diseases, internal injury due to the seven emotions, and the over-eating of dry and hot-natured foods.
In addition to sore throat, other symptoms associated with Yin Deficiency include dry cough, insomnia and dizziness.
Yin Deficiency is often treated with Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, a herbal formula made of 6 herbs (including Prepared Rehmannia - Shu Di huang - as a key herb). Liu Wei Di Huang Wan 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: "Nutritive tonic for the Liver and Kidney Yin Essence (nourishes the parasympathetic nervous system)".
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Toxic-Heat
Toxic-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Tongue color: Red
In addition to sore throat, other symptoms associated with Toxic-Heat include carbuncles, coughing and fever.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Toxic-Heat is associated with health issues such as Abnormal Vaginal Discharge.
Toxic-Heat is often treated with Yin Qiao San, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Honeysuckle Flowers - Jin Yin Hua - as a key herb). Yin Qiao San belongs to the category of "external formulas for external disorders", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Disperses Wind Heat".
Mulberry Leaves (Sang Ye) is the king ingredient for Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, a formula used for Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to sore throat, other symptoms associated with Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire include fever, dry cough and aversion to cold.
Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire is often treated with Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Mulberry Leaves - Sang Ye - as a key herb). Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that disperse dryness and moisten", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears dryness".
Five herbal formulas that might help with sore throat
Zuo Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes the Yin. Strengthens the Kidneys. Fills the Essence. Augments the marrow.
Why might Zuo Gui Wan help with sore throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Yin Deficiency' of which sore throat at night is a symptom.
Yin Qiao San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Why might Yin Qiao San help with sore throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which sore throat is a symptom.
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Why might Huang Lian Jie Du Tang help with sore throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which sore throat is a symptom.
Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin
Source date: 1617
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Spreads Lung Qi. Clears Heat. Unblocks the orifices (specifically the nose) .
Why might Xin Yi Qing Fei Yin help with sore throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Toxic-Heat' of which sore throat is a symptom.
Sang Xing Tang
Why might Sang Xing Tang help with sore throat?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Dry-Heat or Dry-Fire' of which sore throat is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for sore throat
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat sore throat
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with sore throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat sore throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat sore throat as a symptom (such as Bai Hu Tang for instance).
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Platycodon Root (Jie Geng) help with sore throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat sore throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat sore throat as a symptom (such as Yin Qiao San for instance).
Platycodon Roots is a Neutral herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Opens the Lungs and smoothes the flow of Lung Qi. Expels Phlegm and pus from the Lungs and throat, can be used for either Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat according to the other herbs in the formula. Directs the actions of other herbs to the Upper Warmer.
Why might Forsythia Fruit (Lian Qiao) help with sore throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat sore throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat sore throat as a symptom (such as Yin Qiao San for instance).
Forsythia Fruits is a Cool herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and toxicity from the Blood. Dispels External Wind-Heat. Reduces lumps, swollen lymph nodes and sores of a Heated nature.
Why might Wild Mint (Bo He) help with sore throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat sore throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat sore throat as a symptom (such as Sang Ju Yin for instance).
Wild Mint is a Cool herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Wind-Heat. Clears Wind-Heat from the head, eyes and throat. Allows the release of toxins from the skin. Moves Stagnant Liver Qi
Why might Greater Burdock Fruit (Niu Bang Zi) help with sore throat?
Because it is both specifically indicated to treat sore throat and also because it is an ingredient in herbal formulas known to treat sore throat as a symptom (such as Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang for instance).
Greater Burdock Fruits is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Heat. Allows the release of toxicity from the surface and clears Heat. Reduces swelling and clears pathogenic Heat. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieves sore throat.
Other symptoms often associated with sore throat
Carbuncles Coughing Fever Constipation Dry cough Mouth ulcers Boils Jaundice Sores Aversion to cold