Nine-Refinement Huangjing Paste (Jiuzhuan Huangjing Gao)

In winter, taking some paste (gao) tonics is very beneficial for chronic disease patients. Patients with lung-kidney yin deficiency who take Nine-Refinement Huangjing Paste can prevent many consumptive diseases the following year—such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, and diabetes of lung-kidney yin-deficiency type. Nine-Refinement Huangjing Paste is mainly suitable for the following patients:

1. For yin deficiency with lung dryness: dry cough with little phlegm, and taxation cough or chronic cough of lung-kidney yin deficiency.

2. For weakness of the spleen and stomach: it supplements spleen yin and boosts spleen qi.

3. For kidney deficiency and essence depletion: dizziness and tinnitus, aching and weak lower back and knees, early greying of hair and beard, and wasting-thirst (diabetes).

The formula uses Huangjing (Solomon's Seal, Polygonatum sibiricum) and Danggui (Angelica sinensis) in a 1:1 ratio. Preparation: decoct the two strongly to extract the juice, add an appropriate amount of honey, and simmer together into a paste; seal in a glass jar for storage. Any patient with a fine, rapid pulse showing yin deficiency with steaming heat, thirst, dry throat, or weak dry cough may use it.

If the patient's usual spleen-stomach function is poor, with indigestion or difficult expectoration, add Juhong (tangerine peel; if unavailable, use Chenpi) at one-fifth the amount of Danggui, giving a ratio of Huangjing : Danggui : Juhong of 5:5:1. Prepare as above, adding Juhong near the end of decoction.

If the dry cough contains blood, add Ejiao Zhu (blast-fried donkey-hide gelatin) in an amount equal to Danggui and Huangjing, and simmer together into a paste. This formula also suits tuberculosis and lung cancer patients with the same symptoms.