Category: Respiration, acute attack, hidden pathogen, oncology, detox, lung system

Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• nourishes lung yin and supports kidney yin
• moistens the lungs
• clears empty heat from yin deficiency
• transforms phlegm

Indications:

• dry, irritating cough, acute or chronic
• cough following a febrile illness or during chronic diseases
• dry cough without phlegm or with persistent, viscous phlegm
• smoker's cough due to yin deficiency
• cough following radiation therapy in the face, neck and chest area
• expectoration of phlegm with streaks of blood
• feeling of dryness or scratching in the throat
• hoarseness
• worsening of symptoms in a dry environment
• heat of the three or five hearts (in the chest + on the palms, possibly also the soles of the feet)
• night sweats on the chest
• feeling of "steaming" bones
• restlessness

Modern effects:

• cough
• chronic bronchitis
• pharyngitis
• asthma
• bronchiectasis
• pneumothorax
• pulmonary tuberculosis
• haemoptysis
• lung tumours
• cor pulmonale
• diabetes mellitus

Description:

Bai He Gu Jin Tang is a formula used very successfully to nourish lung yin in cases of deficiency, possibly also with symptoms of empty heat/fire, which manifests as a dry cough without phlegm or with a small amount of viscous phlegm that may contain streaks of blood (when fire from deficiency "burns" the luo – collaterals). At the same time, the mixture supports the root of all yin in the body – kidney yin. For this reason, it is the most famous formula for treating acute and chronic dry cough; historically, it was also used very successfully to treat tuberculosis (you may recall its old name "consumption")... Today, it is most often used for dry cough following a febrile illness, inflammation in the respiratory tract, or during chronic diseases. It is also applicable for smoking, which excessively heats and dries the lungs, similar to radiation therapy during oncological treatment in the face, neck and chest area.

The lungs do not like dryness... It is said that they are "afraid" of it. Therefore, for them to function correctly, we must moisten them appropriately. Only then will their mucous membranes regenerate quickly, they will cease to be irritated, and the cough will stop. Herbs that primarily moisten and clear empty heat are Lily bulb (after which the mixture is originally named), raw Rehmannia, and Ophiopogon. Fritillaria and Scrophularia also moisten, clear heat, and transform viscous phlegm. Prepared Rehmannia, Angelica, and Peony replenish blood and yin. Platycodon directs the action of the mixture into the chest, relaxes the lungs, restores their dispersing function, transforms phlegm, and also benefits the throat, similar to Liquorice. It is precisely because of its complexity that the mixture is so effective for dry, irritating cough.

Tongue:

• red (especially its front 1/3)
• without coating or with a small amount of dry coating
• may be cracked or with patches of missing coating

Pulse:

• Xi
• Ru, possibly Shu (fine, soggy, possibly rapid)

Contraindications:

• the mixture is not intended for patients with a productive cough with a large amount of phlegm
• patients with spleen deficiency, i.e., weaker digestion, which manifests as mushy stools, bloating, abdominal pain, etc., must use the mixture with caution, as the mixture contains a large amount of herbs that are harder to digest

Notes:

Please note, the mixture is not intended for dry, irritating cough at the beginning of an illness, when a pathogen dominates in the body, i.e., excess and not deficiency. For acute attacks by a dry pathogen, we have other formulas containing herbs for managing an external pathogen – this mixture does not contain them.

Composition of the formula: 

Category: Respiration, acute attack, hidden pathogen, oncology, detox, lung system

Use of the formula according to Traditional Chinese Medicine:

• nourishes lung yin and supports kidney yin
• moistens the lungs
• clears empty heat from yin deficiency
• transforms phlegm

Indications:

• dry, irritating cough, acute or chronic
• cough after a febrile illness or during chronic diseases
• dry cough without phlegm or with sticky, viscous phlegm
• smoker's cough due to yin deficiency
• cough after radiation therapy in the face, neck and chest area
• expectoration of phlegm with streaks of blood
• feeling of dryness or scratching in the throat
• hoarseness
• worsening of symptoms in a dry environment
• heat of the three or five hearts (on the chest + on the palms, possibly also the soles of the feet)
• night sweats on the chest
• feeling of "steaming" bones
• restlessness

Modern effects:

• cough
• chronic bronchitis
• pharyngitis
• asthma
• bronchiectasis
• pneumothorax
• pulmonary tuberculosis
• haemoptysis
• lung tumours
• cor pulmonale
• diabetes mellitus

Description:

Bai He Gu Jin Tang is a formula that is very successfully used to nourish lung yin in cases of deficiency, possibly also with symptoms of empty heat/fire, which manifests as a dry cough without phlegm or with a small amount of viscous phlegm that may contain streaks of blood (when fire from deficiency "burns" the luo – collaterals). The mixture simultaneously supports the root of all yin in the body – kidney yin. For this reason, it is the most famous formula for treating acute and chronic dry cough; historically, for example, it was also used very successfully to treat tuberculosis... Today, it is most often used for dry cough after a febrile illness, inflammation in the respiratory tract or during chronic diseases. It also has applications for smoking, which excessively heats and dries the lungs, similar to radiation therapy during oncological treatment in the face, neck and chest area.

The lungs do not like dryness... It is said that they are "afraid" of it. Therefore, for them to function correctly, we must moisten them appropriately. Only then will their mucous membranes regenerate quickly, they will stop being irritated and the cough will cease. Herbs that primarily moisten and clear empty heat are lily bulb (after which the mixture is originally named), raw rehmannia and ophiopogon. Fritillaria and scrophularia also moisten, clear heat and transform viscous phlegm. Prepared rehmannia, angelica and peony replenish blood and yin. Platycodon directs the action of the mixture into the chest, relaxes the lungs, restores their dispersing function, transforms phlegm and also benefits the throat, similar to liquorice. It is precisely because of its complexity that the mixture is so effective for dry, irritating cough.

Tongue:

• red (especially its front 1/3)
• without coating or with a small amount of dry coating
• may be cracked or with patches of missing coating

Pulse:

• Xi
• Ru, possibly Shu (fine, soggy, possibly rapid)

Contraindications:

• the mixture is not intended for patients with a productive cough with a large amount of phlegm
• patients with spleen deficiency, i.e. weaker digestion, which manifests as mushy stools, bloating and abdominal pain, etc., must use the mixture with caution, because the mixture contains a large amount of herbs that are harder to digest

Notes:

Note, the mixture is not intended for dry, irritating cough at the beginning of an illness, when a pathogen dominates in the body, i.e. excess and not deficiency. For an acute attack by a dry pathogen, we have other formulas containing herbs for managing an external pathogen – this mixture does not contain them.

Composition of the formula: