Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction
Chinese Prescription: Sang Ju Yin
English Translation: Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Decoction
Formula Type: Release Exterior Wind-Heat
Actions: Disperses wind & clears heat, stops coughing by facilitating the flow of Lung qi.
Indications: Slight fever, cough, slight thirst, a thin, white tongue coating, & a floating, rapid pulse.
Contraindications: Unknown.
Pinyin | English | Suggested Dosage |
---|---|---|
view: Sang Ye |
Mulberry Leaves | 7.5g |
view: Ju Hua |
Chrysanthemum | 3g |
view: Lian Qiao |
Forsythia Blossoms | 4.5g |
view: Bo He |
Field Mint | [add near end] - 2.4g |
view: Jie Geng |
Platycodon | 6g |
view: Xing Ren |
Apricot Kernel | 6g |
view: Lu Gen |
Phragmites | 6g |
view: Gan Cao |
Licorice | 2.4g |
Sang Ye / Mulberry (White) Leaf | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Cold • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage4.5-15g |
Actions1. Expels wind & clears heat from the Lungs: for externally contracted wind-heat with fever, headache, sore throat, & coughing. Also for Lung dryness with cough, dry mouth or Lung heat with thick, yellow sputum.2. Clears the Liver & the eyes: for Liver channel eye problems due to either wind-heat or yin deficiency. Common symptoms include red, sore, dry or painful eyes, or spots in front of the eyes. 3. Cools the blood & stops bleeding: for mild cases of vomiting of blood due to heat in the blood. |
MeridiansLiver, Lung |
CautionsNone. |
Ju Hua / Chrysanthemum Flower | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet, Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Cold • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: | |||
Dosage4.5-15g |
Actions1. Disperses wind & clears heat: for wind-heat patterns with fever & headache.2. Clears the Liver & the eyes: for either wind-heat in the Liver channel manifested in red, painful, dry eyes or excessive tearing, or yin deficiency of the Kidneys & Liver with such symptoms as spots in front of the eyes, blurry visison, or dizziness. 3. Calms the Liver & extinguishes wind: for such symptoms as dizziness, headache, & deafness due to ascendant Liver yang. |
MeridiansLiver, Lung |
CautionsUse with caution in patients with qi deficiency who have poor appetites &/or diarrhea. |
Lian Qiao / Forsythia Fruit | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Bitter, Slightly Acrid • Temperature: Cool • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Relieve Toxicity | |||
Dosage6-15g |
Actions1. Clears heat & toxin & dissipates nodules: for all hot sores, carbuncles, & neck lumps.2. Expels externally contracted wind-heat: for such symptoms as pronounced fever, slight chills, sore throat, & headache. |
MeridiansHeart, Liver, Gallbladder |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen & Stomach deficiency with diarrhea, carbuncles that have already ulcerated, & cold (yin) ulcers. |
Bo He / Field Mint, Mentha leaves | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Acrid • Temperature: Cooling • Category: Exterior Releasing - Cool • Sub Category: Aromatic | |||
Dosage1.5-6g |
Actions1. Disperses wind-heat: for patterns of wind-heat with fever, headache, & cough.2. Clears the head & eyes & benefits the throat: for patterns of wind-heat with sore throat, red eyes, & headache. 3. Vents rashes: used in the early stages of rashes (such as measles) to induce the rash to come to the surface & thereby speed recovery. 4. Allows constrained Liver qi to flow freely: for constrained Liver qi with such symptoms as pressure in the chest or flanks, emotional instability, & gynecological problems. |
MeridiansLung, Liver |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of exterior deficiency, or yin deficiency with heat signs. Not recommended for nursing mothers as this herb may lead to insufficient lactation. |
Jie Geng / Platycodon Root, balloon flower root | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Bitter, Acrid • Temperature: Neutral • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Warm & Transform Phlegm Cold | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Opens up & disseminates the Lung qi & expels phlegm: for cough. When combined with other appropriate herbs, it can be used for both wind-cold & wind-heat coughs.2. Promotes the discharge of pus: for expelling pus associated with Lung abscess or throat abscess. 3. Benefits the throat: used in manyy cases of sore throat or loss of voice, especially in those caused by external heat, but also when the condition is due to other factors such as phlegm-heat or yin deficiency with heat signs. 4. Directs the effect of other herbs to the upper regions of the body. |
MeridiansLung |
CautionsContraindicated for hemoptysis. May counteract long dan cao & long yan rou. |
Xing Ren / Apricot Kernel | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Bitter • Temperature: Slightly Warm • Category: Tranform Phlegm & Stop Coughing • Sub Category: Relieve Coughing & Wheezing | |||
Dosage3-9g |
Actions1. Stops coughing & calms wheezing: used quite broadly for many kinds of cough disorders caused by either heat or cold, depending on the combination. Because the herb is moist in nature, it is especially useful for externally contracted dry cough.2. Moistens the Intestines & unblocks the bowels: this secondary use of the herb derives from its high oil content. Apricot Kernel - Northern - Bei Xing Ren is bitter. It is better for cough due to heat (excess condition). Apricot Kernel - Southern - Nan Xing Ren is sweeter. It is better for cough due to deficiency. |
MeridiansLarge Intestine, Lung |
CautionsUse with caution in treating infants & in cases of diarrhea. May antagonize huang qi, huang qin, & ge gen. Slightly toxic. |
Lu Gen / Phragmites | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Cold • Category: Clear Heat • Sub Category: Drain Fire | |||
Dosage15-30g, up to 60g if used alone |
Actions1. Clears heat & generates fluids: for heat patterns with such symptoms as high fever, irritability, & thirst.2. Clears heat from the Lungs: for Lung heat patterns with cough & expectoration of thick, yellow sputum. Especially useful in acute stage. 3. Clears Stomach heat: for such symptoms as vomiting & belching. 4. Clears heat & promotes urination: for dark, scanty urine or blood in the urine, especaially when accompainid by irrritability & thirst. 5. Encourages rashes to surface: for febrile diseases with rashes that are incompletely expressed. |
MeridiansLung, Stomach |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of Spleen or Stomach cold from deficiency. |
Gan Cao / Licorice Root (Chinese) | |||
---|---|---|---|
Taste: Sweet • Temperature: Neutral (raw root) • Category: Tonic / Harmonize • Sub Category: Tonify Qi | |||
Dosage2-12g |
Actions1. Tonifies the Spleen & augments the qi: commonly used for Spleen deficiency with shortness of breath, lassitude, & loose stools. Also for qi or blood deficiency patterns with an irregular or intermittent pulse & /or palpitations.2. Moistens the Lungs & stops coughing: for coughing & wheezing. Because of its neutral properties, it can be used for either heat or cold in the Lungs. 3. Clears heat & relieves fire toxicity: used raw for carbuncles, sores, or sore throat due to fire toxin. For this purpose, it can be taken internally or applied topically. 4. Moderates spasms & alleviates pain: for painful spasms of the abdomen or legs. 5. Moderates & harmonizes the characteristics of other herbs: by virtue of its sweet, neutral, & moderating properties, this herb moderates hot & cold herbs, & mitigates the violent properties of other herbs. Since it is said to enter all 12 primary channels, it can lead & conduct other herbs into the channels. 6. Used as an antidote for a variety of toxic substances, both internally & topically. 7. The raw root clears heat & relieves toxicity, the honey-fried tonifies the middle & moderates spasms. |
MeridiansAll 12 channels (principally the Heart, Lung, Spleen, & Stomach) |
CautionsContraindicated in cases of excess dampness, nausea, or vomiting. May be in compatible with jing da ji, yuan hua, gan sui, & hai zao, & may antagonize yuan zhi. The toxicity of gan cao is very low, but if taken long-term it may cause hypertension &/or edema. Glycyrrhetinic acid has been reported to cause a reduction in the activity of the thyroid & a reducation in the basal metabolic rate. |