Fuling Xingren Powder for Stopping Cough and Relieving Asthma, from the Waitai Miyao
Fuling Xingren San (Poria-Apricot Kernel Powder) originates from the Waitai Miyao (Arcane Essentials from the Imperial Library). It consists of Fuling (Poria) 4 qian (12g), Xingren (Armeniacae Semen) 4 qian (12g), Jupi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) 3 qian (9g), Suzi (Perillae Fructus) 3 qian (9g, crushed), Zhigancao (honey-fried Glycyrrhizae Radix) 3 qian (9g), Baishao (Paeoniae Alba Radix) 4 qian (12g), Baiqian (Cynanchi Stauntonii Rhizoma) 3 qian (9g), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus) 3 qian (9g), Shengjiang zhi (fresh ginger juice) 25ml, Fengmi (honey) 150ml, and Zhuli (Bambusae Succus) 400ml.
To prepare, chop the above herbs. Boil the herbs first with 1.8L water, taking 600ml, strain out the dregs, then add the bamboo sap, ginger juice, and honey, stir well, and simmer over low heat down to 800ml. Take 100ml each time, washed down with warm water, twice daily and once at night.
This formula resolves phlegm and descens qi, stops cough and relieves asthma. It mainly treats cough and wheezing with profuse phlegm and fullness in the chest; it is especially effective for chest tightness and shortness of breath. Besides treating chest tightness, cough, wheezing, and profuse phlegm caused by common respiratory diseases, reports also show it has a very good effect on chest tightness and shortness of breath caused by premature beats.
In this formula, Fuling fortifies the spleen and promotes diuresis; Xingren descends qi, relieves asthma, and stops cough; Jupi resolves phlegm; Suzi descends qi and relieves asthma; Baishao softens the liver, stops pain, nourishes yin and blood; Baiqian drains the lung, resolves phlegm, and stops cough; Wuweizi astringes yin and stops cough; fresh Zhuli clears heat and resolves phlegm; Shengjiang warms and transforms cold phlegm; Fengmi moistens the lung and stops cough; Zhigancao both harmonizes the other herbs and stops cough. Used together, the formula's main action lies in stopping cough and relieving asthma; it is quite potent, and has a good effect on cough and wheezing caused by chest tightness and shortness of breath.
If, on the basis of this formula, water-disinhibiting, swelling-reducing herbs such as Tinglizi (Descurainiae Semen), Zhuling (Polyporus), Zexie (Alisma), Cheqianzi (Plantaginis Semen), and Niuxi (Achyranthis Bidentatae Radix) are added, the formula can also be used for cough, wheezing, and upward-flowing qi caused by pleural effusion; it is suitable for cancer patients who develop pleural effusion.