"Duanke Tang" (Thirst-Stopping Decoction) for Unstoppable Thirst
"Duanke Tang" (Thirst-Stopping Decoction) comes from Jifeng Puji Fang (Rooster-Wind Prescriptions for Universal Relief). It is composed as follows: Mume flesh (wumei rou) 2 liang (60 g); Radix Ophiopogonis (maimendong), Radix Ginseng (renshen), Radix Glycyrrhizae (gancao), Poria (fuling) and Radix Puerariae (gegen), each 1 liang (30 g). Powder all the above herbs finely; each time take 3 qian (9 g) and boil in 250 ml of water down to 150 ml.
This formula boosts qi and nourishes yin, generates fluids and stops thirst. It is indicated for incessant xiaoke (wasting-thirst) with dual deficiency of qi and yin. Today it is mostly used for patients with type 2 diabetes presenting with dry mouth and parched tongue, excessive drinking and excessive urination. It can also relieve the dry mouth caused by radiation aftereffects, and can be used for Sjogren's syndrome.
In this formula Mume stops thirst and generates fluids; Ophiopogon and Ginseng nourish yin and boost qi, generating fluids and stopping thirst; Licorice clears heat and resolves toxin; Poria fortifies the spleen and drains dampness; Pueraria releases the muscle layer and clears heat, generating fluids and stopping thirst. Used together, they yield the effect of nourishing yin, boosting qi, stopping thirst and generating fluids. This formula has an auxiliary therapeutic effect on diabetes, but its blood-sugar-lowering effect varies from person to person; the patient's blood glucose must be monitored after taking it. If blood sugar cannot be controlled, glucose-lowering drugs are still required.
The dry mouth caused by radiation aftereffects in cancer patients is quite severe. When taking this formula, one may additionally add Gynostemma (jiaogulan), Radix Trichosanthis (tianhuafen), Rhizoma Phragmitis (lugen), Rhizoma Anemarrhenae (zhimu), raw Gypsum (shigao), Bamboo Leaf (zhuye) and Radix Glehniae/Adenophorae (shashen). The dry mouth from radiation aftereffects has a very long course, and the herbs mostly only relieve symptoms; the patient needs long-term medication. If the decoction proves effective, it may be converted into pills.