Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder
The powder is a formulation made by grinding one or more medicinal materials into a fine powder. Sublingual administration is a method where the medicine is held in the mouth to dissolve slowly. The pharmacists have prepared the “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” as a sublingual powder, allowing the natural medicine to act directly on the throat or bronchi, providing strong efficacy and rapid results, making it an excellent remedy for urgent conditions.
Ancient medical practitioners stated: “Powder disperses, used for urgent diseases,” meaning that powders are suitable for dealing with critical illnesses. Coughing with phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheezing caused by bronchitis and pharyngitis often come on suddenly and can be life-threatening. Doctors must first suppress these symptoms to prevent their spread. In contrast, pills, tablets, or capsules take longer to act. At this time, sublingual powders provide a direct and rapid effect without needing gastrointestinal absorption before acting on the throat and other areas. The Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder is a representative formula for quickly expelling phlegm and stopping coughs.
According to the journal “Research on Chinese Patent Medicines” (1981, Issue 2), the formula for “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” originates from the “Longjiao Powder” in the Song Dynasty’s “General Hygiene for Children,” which has a history of over 800 years. In 1980, the formula was modified based on domestic medicinal resources without affecting its efficacy. The modified “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” consists of seven ingredients: Bing Pian (Borneol), Jie Geng (Platycodon), Yuan Zhi (Polygala), Ku Xing Ren (Bitter Apricot), Wu Bei Zi (Sumac), Gan Cao (Licorice), and Caffeine. Its functions and indications are to “open the orifices, smooth the qi, stop cough, and transform phlegm. It is used for cough with excessive phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheezing caused by bronchitis and pharyngitis,” known for its rapid phlegm-expelling properties.
Bing Pian is the main ingredient in this formula. In traditional Chinese medicine, Bing Pian is specifically defined as a processed product of the resin from the plant Dryobalanops aromatica, or the crystallized form obtained from the distillation and cooling of its trunk, also known as “Longnao Bing Pian” or “Plum Slice.” It is also processed from the sublimated material of the leaves of the perennial herb Ai Naxiang (Mugwort), known as “Ai Pian.” Nowadays, it is often synthesized from turpentine, camphor, etc., referred to as “mechanical Bing Pian” or “synthetic Longnao.” Because it is white and lustrous like ice, it is called Bing Pian. Due to its shape resembling Longnao and its precious nature, it is also called “Longnao” or “Longnao Xiang.”
Bing Pian
In the past, Bing Pian was mostly imported from countries like India. The Western Regions records state that in the south of India, there is a tree called “Jie Buluo Xiang,” which has a trunk resembling pine branches, but its leaves, flowers, and fruits are different from pine. When moist, it has no fragrance; when dry and split open, it emits a fragrance, resembling mica and colored like ice and snow, which is the Longnao. After the Song Dynasty, Bing Pian was also discovered domestically. The Song History records that in the ninth year of the Xining era of the Song Dynasty, in Yingzhou, one day, there was a sudden thunderstorm, and all the zizi trees (Longnao plants) on the mountain died completely, and the dead trees oozed Longnao. It is said that the fragrance still lingers today.
The notable characteristic of Bing Pian is its pervasive fragrance, which has the effect of “opening the orifices and dispersing internal heat.” It can open and benefit the nine orifices, dispersing internal fire. Its aroma is thick, unlike musk, which is sharp. The medicinal properties are dynamic and not static, capable of generating flesh and alleviating pain. Therefore, it is generally used as a product to open the orifices and awaken the spirit. Bing Pian is slightly cold in nature, used for treating heat diseases with unconsciousness, phlegm-heat obstruction, heat stroke, and pediatric convulsions. It works with Jie Geng and Yuan Zhi to expel phlegm and cough; then, Ku Xing Ren, Wu Bei Zi, and Caffeine are used to restrain and stop cough, achieving the combined effects of opening the orifices, smoothing the qi, calming cough, and expelling phlegm.
The “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” is suitable for acute and chronic bronchitis and pharyngitis. Its symptoms include invasion of external pathogens, loss of lung function leading to cough, excessive and thin phlegm, white or slightly yellow in color, discomfort or pain in the throat, chest tightness, accompanied by shortness of breath and wheezing, pale tongue with white or yellow coating, and slippery pulse. It is also suitable for wheezing-type bronchitis and emphysema. Symptoms include phlegm turbidity obstructing the lungs, leading to difficulty in breathing, phlegm rattling in the throat, and in severe cases, mouth-breathing and shoulder-lifting, vomiting phlegm, chest tightness, pale tongue with white slippery coating, and wiry slippery pulse.
The individually packaged “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” is convenient for dosage, with one small bag per dose. During use, it is advised to avoid smoking, alcohol, and spicy, cold, or greasy foods. This product should not be taken with water. Caution is advised for those with diabetes and spleen-stomach deficiency with diarrhea. It is not recommended to take nourishing Chinese herbs simultaneously during the medication period. Patients are advised to drink plenty of water and maintain a light diet.
In the 1990s, Yunnan pharmaceutical companies began producing Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder. In 1998, it was included in the “Pharmaceutical Standards of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China.” Currently, more than ten companies nationwide produce it, with Kunming Traditional Chinese Medicine being the only producer in Yunnan.
In recent years, it has been found that “Phlegm-Cough Clearing Powder” has other therapeutic effects. For example, some use it as a medium for massage on children’s chest and back acupoints to treat acute bronchitis in children; others use it to treat vulvar itching; and some use it against influenza viruses. New forms such as powder mist and pill drops have also emerged.
Functions and Indications
Open the orifices, smooth the qi, stop cough, and transform phlegm. Used for cough with excessive phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheezing caused by bronchitis and pharyngitis.
Written by| Qian Jin
Source| “Yunnan Daily”
Edited by| Yu Siyuan
