Actcm Herbs 3-7H Traphlg-Hotphlegm Hints

Front 1

(1) Cough w/ easy very copious sputum & gurgling in throat
B.435 C.701 Dr.71

Back 1

bái qián 白前

(1) Redirects qi downward & expels phlegm [Cough w/ easy very copious sputum & gurgling in throat*, copious difficult sputum, wheezing; For any type of cough w/ phlegm, even dry cough]

Caution: Unproductive cough d/t LU defic, sensitive ST

bái(white) qián(before)
Cynanchi stauntonii Rhizoma
cynanchum root and rhizome

Hint 1

spicy, sweet, sl warm
LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, TraPhlg-ColdPhlegm

Front 2

(1) Cough
(2) Nodules
(3) Depression
B.378 C.702 Dr.65

Back 2

chuān bèi mǔ 川貝母

(1) Clears heat, transforms phlegm, stops cough [Cough* - many types, chronic or acute cough, cough d/t constrained qi w/ stifling chest & reduced appetite, cough d/t yin defic fire, dry cough, cough w/ slight sputum difficult to expectorate, cough w/ blood streaks]
(2) Clears heat & dissipates nodules [Nodules*, LU or breast abscess, sores, swellings, scrofula, enlarged glands, lipoma ]
(3) Promotes urination [Depression*, insomnia, palpitations, poor memory]
(N) Often used to tonify; is very expensive

CTX: Cold phlegm sx, damp-phlegm sx

chuān(Sichuan territory) bèi(shell) mǔ(mother)
Fritillariae cirrhosae Bulbus
Sichuan fritillaria bulb

Hint 2

bitter, sweet, sl cold
HT LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 3

(1) Difficult viscous sputum
(2) Nodules
(3) Urinary tract stones
B.395 C.712 Dr.65

Back 3

fú hǎi shí 浮海石

(1) Clears LU heat & transforms phlegm-heat [Difficult viscous sputum* ie thick sticky d/t heat accum in LU, coughing blood; Often for long-term dz, great herb to clear LU]
(2) Softens hardness & dissipates phlegm nodules [Nodules*, scrofula, cysts, lipoma, enlarged glands, d/t phlegm-fire ]
(3) Promotes urination, "unblocks upper source of water" [Urinary tract stones*, hot or stony painful urine, small stones sand or grain in urine ]
(N) Pumice stone vs sea coral [*fú hǎi shí is an alt name for fú shí pumice, & is also the name for a sea coral Costaziae Os. Used interchangeably, coral is more effective for goiter & scrophula.]
(N) Smash before cooking

No noted CTX

fú(floating) hǎi(sea) shí(stone) [sea coral]
Costaziae Os
Constaziae skeleton

Hint 3

salty, cold
LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 4

(1) Coughs w/ thick & difficult sputum
(2) Stifling or distended chest
(3) Abscess
B.383 C.705 Dr.161

Back 4

guā lóu 瓜蔞
(quán guā lóu)
(1) Clears heat & transforms phlegm-heat [Coughs w/ thick & difficult sputum*; Can be used alone for this esp w/ children]
(2) Expands chest & dissipates nodules [Stifling or distended chest*, constriction pain pressure in diaphragm]
(3) Reduces abscesses & dissipates nodules [Abscess* in breasts, LU, intestines; Esp early stage ]
(N) Can moisten intestines & unblock bowels [*This requires a very large dose; Use ⅓ guā lóu pí + ⅔ guā lóu rén ]

CTX: fù zǐ family, diarrhea d/t SP ST defic

quán全(all, whole, entire, complete) guā瓜(gourd, melon, round shaped part) lóu蔞(long shaped part) [ie whole trichosanthes]
Trichosanthis Fructus
trichosanthes fruit

Hint 4

sweet, cold
LU LI ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, Clinic-NoCateg

Front 5

(1) Dry cough w/ difficult sputum d/t phlegm-heat in chest
(2) Chest bi
B.386 C.708 Dr.66

Back 5

guā lóu pí 瓜蔞皮

(1) Clears LU & transforms phlegm [Dry cough w/ difficult sputum d/t phlegm-heat in chest*, wheezing, dry throat d/t WH; For phlegm-heat or for phlegm blocking LU]
(2) Regulates qi & expands chest [Chest bi*, chest fullness, clumping in chest, breast abscess early stage]
(3) Very good for thick, yellow phlegm

CTX: fù zǐ family, diarrhea d/t SP ST defic

guā(gourd, melon) lóu(trichosanthes) pí(bark, skin)
Trichosanthis Pericarpium
trichosanthes peel

Hint 5

sweet, cold
LU LI ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 6

(1) Cough d/t phlegm heat
(2) Stifling chest
(3) Dry constipation
(4) Breast abscess & swelling
B.388 C.706 Dr.66

Back 6

guā lóu rén 瓜蔞仁

(1) Clears & transforms phlegm-heat [Cough d/t phlegm heat*, cough w/ chest pain & thick difficult sputum; Dry LU d/t heat from either exc or defic, both moistens & cools LU]
(2) Expands the chest [Stifling chest*, pain, diaphragm pressure, d/t accum of phlegm in chest]
(3) Moistens intestines & opens bowels [Dry constipation*, defic constipation, dry mouth, thirst, irritability, esp d/t LU heat; Softens stools & moves ]
(4) Promotes healing of sores [Breast abscess & swelling*, sores not yet supportated ie pus & fester]
(N) sweet tonifying [*For excess heat phlegm or yin defic phlegm]

CTX: Nausea or loose stools d/t SP defic

guā(gourd, melon) lóu(trichosanthes) rén(seed)
Trichosanthis Semen
trichosanthes seed

Hint 6

sweet, cold
LU LI ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 7

(1) Cough & wheeze d/t phlegm-heat
(2) Goiter
(3) Turbid UTIs
(4) Gastric ulcers
B.400 C.713

Back 7

hǎi gé ké 海蛤壳
(gé qiào, gé ké)
(1) Clears heat & transforms phlegm [Cough & wheeze d/t phlegm-heat*, yellow difficult viscous sputum, chest & rib pain]
(2) Softens hardness & dissipates nodules [Goiter*, scrofula]
(3) Promotes urination & expels dampness [Turbid UTIs*, vaginal discharge, superficial edema, urinary dysfunction; Mild effect]
(4) Controls acidity & stops pain [Gastric ulcers*, pain d/t excess ST acid, gastric regurgitation, duodenal ulcers]
(N) Clears heat & directs LU qi downward [*Also for Wood insulting Metal ]
(N) For epigastric pain & acid regurgitation

CTX: LU defic w/ cold, yang defic

ACTCM: hǎi海(ocean, sea) gé蛤(clam) ké壳(shell); Bensky: gé(clam) qiào殼(shell) and gé ké
Meretricis/Cyclinae Concha
clam shell

Hint 7

bitter, salty, neutral
LU KD ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, Not in Clinic

Front 8

(1) Nodules in neck
(2) Edema in legs & ankles
B.403 C.715 Dr.69

Back 8

hǎi zǎo 海藻

(1) Reduces phlegm & softens hardness [Nodules in neck*, goiter, scrofula, bulging dz esp w/ scrotum & testicles; Esp in upper body ]
(2) Promotes urination, reduces edema & swelling [Edema in legs & ankles*, leg qi ]
(N) Often paired with kūn bù

No noted CTX

hǎi(sea) zǎo(vegetable)
Sargassum
seaweed

Hint 8

bitter, salty, cold
LV LU KD ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 9

(1) Goiter
(2) Infected wounds
(3) Cancer related bleeding
(4) Acute & chronic bronchitis
B.408 C.718

Back 9

huáng yào zǐ 黃藥子

(1) Dissipates nodules, reduces masses & goiter [Goiter*, cancer of ST, breast, uterus, colon; “Use toxin to treat toxin”]
(2) Clears heat, resolves toxicity, & reduces toxic swelling [Infected wounds*, animal bites, snakebites, cancers including esophagus, ST, uterus, & colon; Can use topically]
(3) Cools blood & stops bleeding [Cancer related bleeding*, vomiting blood, coughing up blood, uterine bleeding ]
(4) Stops coughs & calms wheezing [Acute & chronic bronchitis*, whooping cough]

CTX: Toxic, overdose; Caution: Damages liver

huáng(yellow) yào(medicine) zǐ(seeds)
Dioscoreae bulbiferae Rhizoma
dioscorea bulbifera tuber

Hint 9

bitter, neutral, (toxic)
LV LU HT
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, Not in Clinic

Front 10

(1) Cough or wheeze w/ profuse sputum
(2) LU abscess
(3) Guides herb upward
B.429 C.696 Dr.73

Back 10

jié gěng 桔梗

(1) Opens LU qi, dispels phlegm, benefits throat [Cough or wheeze w/ profuse sputum*, throat pain, loss of voice, d/t cold or heat; Thins phlegm to expectorate ]
(2) Expels pus [LU abscess*, throat abscess, fevers, chest pain, coughing yellow sputum w/ fishy smell, coughing blood & pus, carbuncles, boils]
(3) Directs effect of other herbs to upper regions of body [Guides herb upward*]
(+) Benefits throat [*Sore throat, hoarseness, loss of voice ]
(N) Wild is best [*Is often paired with pàng dà hǎi]

CTX: Chronic cough d/t yin defic, coughing blood

jié(platycodi) gěng(stem)
Platycodi Radix
platycodon root

Hint 10

bitter, spicy, neutral
LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, TraPhlg-ColdPhlegm

Front 11

(1) Nodules in neck
(2) Helper: Edema
B.402 C.716 Dr.69

Back 11

kūn bù 昆布

(1) Reduces phlegm & softens hardness [Nodules in neck*, goiter, scrofula, thyroid tumors, TB lymphadenitis, sensation of fullness & obstruction in chest d/t phlegm, cirrhosis; Esp in upper body ]
(2) Promotes urination & reduces swelling [Helper: Edema*, leg qi]
(N) Lowers blood pressure, lowers blood cholesterol, inhibits growth of tumor cells

No noted CTX

kūn(kelp) bù(to spread)
Eckloniae Thallus
kelp

Hint 11

salty, cold
LV KD ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 12

(1) Sore throat
(2) Mild to moderate constipation
(3) Helper: Incomplete expression of rashes
B.405 C.720 Dr.67

Back 12

pàng dà hǎi 胖大海

(1) Clears LU qi & stops cough [Sore throat*, hoarseness, loss of voice, acute or chronic throat inflammation, phlegm-heat cough; Very good for throat]
(2) Moistens intestines & unblocks bowels [Mild to moderate constipation* d/t heat clumping intestines, HA, red eyes, fever]
(3) Encourages expression of rashes [Helper: Incomplete expression of rashes*; Topical applic]

Caution: Loose stools, diarrhea

pàng(fat, plump) dà(big) hǎi(sea) [expands while cooking]
Sterculiae lychnophorae Semen
sterculia seed

Hint 12

sweet, cold
LU LI
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 13

(1) Cough w/ thick sputum
(2) HA
B.376 C.699 Dr.65

Back 13

qián hú 前胡

(1) Directs qi downward & expels phlegm [Cough w/ thick sputum*, wheeze; Very strong at transforming phlegm]
(2) Disperses & scatters exterior wind heat [HA*, cough; For WH it is often paired with bò hé & niú bàng zǐ; Compare also to chái hú ]
(N) Raw vs honey-roasted [*Raw is best to release the exterior; Honey roasted is better for chronic cough & deficiency cough ]
(N) Quality [*Better quality is firm, dry, dark skin, pale flesh, with oily spots]

CTX: Cough d/t yin defic fire, cough & wheeze d/t cold thin mucous

qián(before) hú(barbarians)
Peucedani Radix
hogfennel root

Hint 13

bitter, spicy, sl cold
LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 14

(1) Difficult phlegm to expectorate
(2) Convulsions
B.389 C.709 Dr.68

Back 14

tiān zhú huáng 天竺黃

(1) Clears & transforms phlegm-heat [Difficult phlegm to expectorate* d/t phlegm-heat in LU]
(2) Clears HT & settles tremors & convulsions [Convulsions*, childhood convulsions, tremors, spasms, wind-stroke, high fever, delirium, seizures, epilepsy, bad HA, gurlging sounds in throat, d/t phlegm-heat]

No noted CTX

tiān(heaven) zhú(bamboo) huáng(yellow)
Bambusae Concretio silicea
bamboo sugar

Hint 14

sweet, cold
HT LV GB
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 15

(1) Acute productive cough w/ yellow thick phlegm
(2) Breast abscesses
B.381 C.703 Dr.65

Back 15

zhè bèi mǔ 浙貝母

(1) Clears and transforms phlegm-heat [Acute productive cough w/ yellow thick phlegm* d/t LU heat; Often used with qián hú ]
(2) Clears heat & dissipates nodules [Breast abscesses*, LU abcesses, neck swellings, goiter, nodules; Effective, stronger for nodules since draining]
(N) Bigger than chuān bèi mǔ, less expensive [*Does not tonify, mainly a draining herb; Since alkaline often used to treat acid regurgitation]

No noted CTX

zhè(Zhejiang territory) bèi(shell) mǔ(mother)
Fritillariae thunbergii Bulbus
Zhejiang fritillaria bulb

Hint 15

bitter, cold
HT LU
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm

Front 16

(1) Fainting
(2) Cough
(N) Add ginger juice to warm
B.391 C.711

Back 16

zhú lì 竹瀝

(1) Clears heat, transforms phlegm, & penetrates to channels [Fainting*, paralysis of hands or feet, hemiplegia, d/t phlegm obstruct sensory orifices ie HT; For phlegm misting HT, can go almost anywhere to clear phlegm ]
(2) Transforms phlegm-heat & stops cough [Cough*, cough w/ thick yellow sputum d/t phlegm-heat]
(N) When for cold-phlegm or for neutral phlegm [Add ginger juice to warm]

CTX: Loose stools d/t SP defic, cough d/t cold

zhú(bamboo) lì(drip)
Bambusae Succus
bamboo sap

Hint 16

sweet, very cold
HT LUs ST
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm, Not in Clinic

Front 17

(1) Cough w/ viscious thick sticky sputum
(2) Vomiting
B.393 C.710 Dr.68

Back 17

zhú rú 竹茹

(1) Clears & transforms phlegm heat [Cough w/ viscious thick sticky sputum*, stifling chest, coughing up blood, d/t heat in LU, or d/t GB fire]
(2) Clears heat & stops vomiting [Vomiting* bitter or sour matter, bad breath, d/t heat in ST, excess or defic, morning sickness; Phlegm-heat in ST or GB ]

No noted CTX

zhú(bamboo) rú(shavings)
Bambusae Caulis in taeniam
bamboo shavings

Hint 17

sweet, sl cold
LU ST GB
TraPhlg-HotPhlegm