Phlegm-heat

Poor appetite, nausea and vomiting use Pi Pa Ye [Eriobotryae folium) and Zhu Ru [Bambusae caulis in taeniam) to soothe the Stomach-Qi, transform phlegm-heat from the Stomach and improve appetite. 

When the pathogenic heat disturbs the Qi movement and consumes the Yin, phlegm might be formed. These three herbs are able to remove phlegm and clear heat. They can be added to the formula as assistants if phlegm-heat is present. 

The remaining herbs serve as assistants. The combination of Bai Shao Yao, Gan Cao and Sheng Di Huang can nourish the Yin, clear heat, and ease and relax the tendons. Chuan Bei Mu and Zhu Ru eliminate the phlegm-heat that is produced by the disturbed Qi and water movement, and they may block the meridians. 

Zhu Li and Lian Zi Xin are very cold and enter the Heart meridian. They can be used if the Heart-shen is disturbed by heat or heat-toxin. They can clear the heat, open up the orifices and revive the spirit. Zhu Li can eliminate phlegm-heat, open the Heart meridian, and treat loss of consciousness, delirium and restlessness. 

Phlegm-heat syndrome red with a yellow sticky coating. 

Second, for treating damp-phlegm syndrome, bitter and warm herbs that can dry dampness, or sweet and bland herbs that can leach out dampness, are selected for treating phlegm-heat syndrome, cold and moistening herbs that can dilute phlegm are selected. 

Herbs that clear heat or warm the interior can be used in the formula to treat phlegm-heat or damp-phlegm respectively. 

These herbs are the most commonly used herbs to treat phlegm-heat. They are selected as chief in formulas to treat phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Bei Mu is divided into Chuan Bei Mu and Zhe Bei Mu. Both are bitter and cold, and enter the Lung and Heart meridians. They can transform phlegm-heat, dissipate nodules and treat cough with thick green sputum that is difficult to expectorate, as well as dryness in the mouth and nasal cavities. 

These herbs are able to remove damp-phlegm and phlegm-heat from the Heart meridian. 

These herbs are able to remove phlegm-heat from the Heart meridian. They are sweet and cold, and enter the Heart meridian. They have the functions of clearing heat and transforming phlegm. They are selected either as deputy or chief in formulas that remove phlegm-heat from the Heart. 

Xuan Fu Hua, Zi Su Zi and Zi Su Ye are warm in nature they are particularly used for damp-phlegm syndrome. Zhu Ru, Pi Pa Ye and Huang Qin are cold in nature they are used for phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Zhu Li enters the Heart, Lung and Stomach meridians. It can strongly eliminate phlegm-heat, especially when the phlegm blocks the Heart meridians and collaterals. It is used to treat numbness, tingling or cramp of the limbs in epilepsy, hemiplegia and facial paralysis. 

Bai Qian is a warm herb and its action of descending the Lung-Qi is stronger than that of Qian Hu. It is suitable to treat damp-phlegm syndrome. Qian Hu is cold in nature and is more suitable to clear heat in the Lung and treat phlegm-heat syndrome. 

Shi Gao and Huang Qin can reduce heat from the Lung and relieve fire-toxin so as to clear excess heat from the Lung. In phlegm-heat syndrome, when the heat is strong and the herbs that remove phlegm-heat are not sufficient to clear the heat, Shi Gao and Huang Qin should be used. 

The other three herbs are able to leach out dampness and promote urination. They can be selected in the formula to assist the chief and deputy herbs to remove damp-phlegm. Among these herbs, Fu Ling is neutral and can gently tonify the Spleen-Qi Ze Xie and Yi Yi Ren are cold and are more suitable for treating phlegm-heat syndrome. 

In this formula, most herbs enter the Lung meridian, have descending properties and can directly remove phlegm-heat from the Lung. 

Huang Qin is bitter and cold. As it can dry dampness, it is often selected in the condition of damp-heat or phlegm-heat in the Lung. When it is used with a small amount of dispersing herbs, such as Ban Xia [Pinelliae rhizoma), its function of clearing heat becomes more active. 

If the blood stagnation stays for a long period of time, in severe cases congealed blood may be complicated by phlegm, heat or cold. These can... 

Hai Fu Shi and Gua Lou Gen are deputies. Lfai Fu Shi is able to remove sticky and thick sputum and Gua Lou Gen can eliminate phlegm-heat in the Lung. Both move downwards and treat the disorder of the Lung. 

Meng Shi is a mineral substance and is used to remove phlegm-heat. It has a very strong descending ability and can eliminate phlegm and reduce heat. It is used in a syndrome where phlegm-heat covers the Heart and obstructs the Heart meridian. The manifestations are mental confusion, anxiety and restlessness, such as in schizophrenia. It is only used for a short period of time as it can cause uneasy sensations in the stomach and intestines. 

Zku Li is the coldest of these three herbs. It enters the Heart, Lung and Stomach meridians. It has a lubricating nature, can strongly eliminate phlegm-heat from the Heart, open the Heart orifice and unblock the meridians and collaterals so as to treat mental confusion, numbness and tingling of the limbs. 

Yu Jin is cold, aromatic and pungent, and enters the Liver meridian. Yu Jin can spread the Liver-Qi, clear the Liver-heat and treat irritability, restlessness, headache and fullness in the chest caused by damp-heat obstruction. It can also cool the blood and promote blood circulation. It is often selected in the formula to treat phlegm-heat obstructing the Liver, Gall Bladder and Heart meridians. 

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