Yellow mucus 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.
Yellow mucus 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 yellow mucus 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 yellow mucus is often associated with chills, headaches and fear of wind in the pattern “Wind-Heat”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of yellow mucus 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 yellow mucus.
Wind-Heat, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause yellow mucus
In Chinese Medicine yellow mucus is a symptom for the pattern "Wind-Heat". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Honeysuckle Flowers (Jin Yin Hua) is the king ingredient for Yin Qiao San, a formula used for Wind-Heat
Wind-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
In addition to yellow mucus, other symptoms associated with Wind-Heat include chills, headaches and fear of wind.
Wind-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".
Five herbal formulas that might help with yellow mucus
Sang Ju Yin
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind. Stops coughing by invigorating Lung Qi. Clears Heat.
Why might Sang Ju Yin help with yellow mucus?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat' of which yellow mucus is a symptom.
Cong Chi Tang
Source date: 3rd Centry
Number of ingredients: 2 herbs
Key actions: Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior . Induces sweating .
Why might Cong Chi Tang help with yellow mucus?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat' of which yellow mucus is a symptom.
Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang
Source date: 1108 AD
Number of ingredients: 4 herbs
Key actions: Unblocks the Yang Qi (Defensive Qi) in the Exterior . Induces sweating .
Why might Huo Ren Cong Shi Tang help with yellow mucus?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat' of which yellow mucus is a symptom.
Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang
Source date: 1773 AD
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Dispels Wind. Clears toxic-Heat. Disperses Stagnation.
Why might Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang help with yellow mucus?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Heat' of which yellow mucus is a symptom.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat yellow mucus
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with yellow mucus?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow mucus as a symptom, like Sang Ju Yin or Yin Qiao San 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 Japanese Catnip (Jing Jie) help with yellow mucus?
Because Japanese Catnip is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow mucus as a symptom, like Jing Jie Lian Qiao Tang or Xiao Feng San for instance.
Japanese Catnip is a Neutral herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Liver and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold or Heat depending on the other herbs used. Releases the Exterior for measles. Stops bleeding. Abates swellings.
Why might Wild Mint (Bo He) help with yellow mucus?
Because Wild Mint is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow mucus as a symptom, like Sang Ju Yin or Yin Qiao San 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 Platycodon Root (Jie Geng) help with yellow mucus?
Because Platycodon Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow mucus as a symptom, like Yin Qiao San or Sang Ju Yin 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 Greater Burdock Fruit (Niu Bang Zi) help with yellow mucus?
Because Greater Burdock Fruit is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat yellow mucus as a symptom, like Zhu Ye Cheng Liu Tang or Xiao Feng San 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 yellow mucus
Chills Headaches Fear of wind Blocked nose Swollen tonsils Itchy throat Aversion to cold Fever Sneezing Coughing