Transform hot phlegm and stop cough

Question 1

What are five of the causes of phlegm buidup in the body?

Answer 1

1. Spleen deficiency - leads to fluid stasis and thickening of fluids.
2. Heat - thickens and congeals the fluids into phlegm
3. Kidney deficiency - kidneys help metabolize water and if it is weak it cannot metabolize water and will cause stagnation of the fluids
4. Liver qi stagnation - if qi stagnates, then fluids stagnates
5. Cold - cold makes things congeal and stagnate

Question 2

What is the taste and temp that is typical of herbs in this category?

Answer 2

Cool and bitter.

Cool to cool down the heat. Bitter to drain heat.

Question 3

What are the main channels that herbs in this category tend to favor?

Answer 3

Spleen to help resolve the phlegm
Lung to help expectorate phlegm and support the lung since it’s the “house of phlegm”

Question 4

What are the main indications of the herb qian hu - Peucedani Radix?

Answer 4

1. Downbears qi and transforms phlegm heat.
2. Releases exterior wind heat.

Bitter, acrid, sl cold
LU
3-9g

Question 5

All the herbs in this category have the action of dissipating nodules EXCEPT…

Answer 5

Qian hu - Peucedani Radix
Zhu ru - Bambusae Caulis In
Taeniam

Question 6

Which salty herb has he ability to dissipate nodules AND promote urination?

Answer 6

Hai zao - sargassum (seaweed!)

Question 7

What are the 4 main indications for chuan bei mu - Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus

Answer 7

1. Transforms phlegm heat (phlegm that is difficult to get out)
2. Moistens the lung yin
3. Transforms heart fire
4. Dissipates nodules

FOR PATTERNS WITH LUNG YIN XU

Bitter, sweet, cl cold
HT, LU
3-9g

Question 8

What are the 2 main indications of zhe bei mu - Fritillariae
Thunbergii Bulbus

Answer 8

1. Transform phlegm heat
2. Disipates nodules

FOR ACUTE HEAT PATTERNS WITH PRODUCTIVE COUGH

Bitter, cold
HT, LU
4.5-9g

Question 9

What are the 3 main indications for gua lou - Trichosanthis
Fructus

Answer 9

1. Clears lung heat to transform phlegm
2. Opens the chest to treat chest bi (fruit and husk)
3. Moistens the large intestine to treat constipation (fruit and seed)

Sweet, cold
LI, LU, ST
9-21 g

Question 10

What are the 2 main indications for zhu ru - bamboo shavings?

Answer 10

1. Transforms phlegm heat, especially for gallbladder or stomach fire phlegm heat
2. Clears stomach heat and stops vomiting, helps morning sickness

Sweet, sl cold
LU, ST, GB
4.5-9g

Question 11

What are 2 the main indications for hai zao - sargassum (seaweed)?

Answer 11

1. Reduces phlegm (insubstantial phlegm in the channels) and softens hardness (salty)
2. Promotes urination to treat edema

Bitter, salty, cold
KD, LV, LU, ST

Question 12

Hai zao - sargassum is incompatible with which herb?

Answer 12

Gan cao - licorice

Question 13

Chuan bei mu and zhe bei mu (both fritillaria) are incompatible with what herbs?

Answer 13

Wou tu - Radix aconiti agrestis
Fu zi - aconite

Question 14

The pathological factor of phlegm forms due to poor water metabolism. After ingestion of food or liquids, if water is not properly absorbed and metabolized, it begins to accumulate and stagnate, leading to the formation of dampness
and phlegm. The ________ is the organ that produces phlegm and the ________ is the organ that stores phlegm.
A. Spleen, Lung
B. Lung, Spleen
C. Kidney, Spleen
D. Spleen, Stomach

Answer 14

A “the spleen is the origin of phlegm and the lung is the house of phlegm”

Question 15

It is important to remember that the meaning of phlegm in Eastern medicine is not limited to the presence of
sputum in the Lungs. As noted by the Yuan dynasty physician Wang Gui, “Phlegm is the mother of a hundred diseases.” Phlegm is often implicated in such diverse disorders as:
A. seizures, convulsions
B. scrofula, goiter
C. back pain, some chronic skin problems
D. all of the above

Answer 15

D. All of the above

Question 16

What type of phlegm does this describe:

Dizziness, nausea, vomiting, numbness of the limbs, coughing, coughing of phlegm, a rattling sound in the throat and aphasia

Question 17

What kind of phlegm does this describe:

Expectoration of yellow-sticky phlegm, a red face, dry mouth and lips, restlessness

tongue: red tongue with sticky-yellow coating
pulse: rapid-rolling

Question 18

Expectoration of white-watery phlegm, a cold feeling in the limbs and back, nausea

tongue: pale tongue with white-wet coating
pulse: deep-rolling-slow pulse

Question 19

Which kind of phlegm does this describe:

Expectoration of very profuse phlegm which is white and sticky, no appetite, no thirst,
a feeling of oppression of chest and epigastrium

tongue: sticky coating
pulse: rolling pulse

Question 20

Which kind of phlegm does this describe:

Non-substantial, feeling of swelling in the throat (but no actual swelling), a difficulty
in swallowing and a feeling of oppression of chest and diaphragm

Question 21

Which kind of phlegm does this describe:

Substantial phlegm characterized by very watery and thin fluids. Also called Tan-Yin or
Rheum.