'Shengjin Qiwei Tang' for Cough with Chest Pain
The Qing-dynasty physician Chen Shiduo's Bianzhen Lu (Records of Pattern Differentiation) contains a formula called Shengjin Qiwei Tang (Fluid-Generating and Atrophy-Rising Decoction). Its composition is: Maimendong (Ophiopogon) 1 liang (30 g), Gancao (Licorice) 2 qian (6 g), Xuanshen (Scrophularia) 1 liang (30 g), Ganjuhua (Chrysanthemum Flower) 5 qian (15 g), Shudihuang (Rehmannia, processed) 1 liang (30 g), Tianmendong (Asparagus Root) 3 qian (9 g), Tianhuafen (Trichosanthes Root) 1 qian (3 g), Beimu (Fritillaria) 1 qian (3 g), Jinyinhua (Honeysuckle Flower) 5 qian (15 g).
Decoct in water; one dose daily, taken warm, for 18 consecutive doses. This formula nourishes yin and moistens the lung, resolves phlegm and stops cough. It is indicated for lung atrophy (feiwei) in which the patient feels like coughing but cannot, or dares not cough; once coughing begins, it comes in incessant paroxysms, with severe pain in the lung.
Cough with chest pain may be an infection such as viral pneumonia or pleurisy, or it may be due to a respiratory tract tumor or metastatic respiratory tumor. Judging from this formula's composition, the patient should also have dry mouth and tongue. The formula uses large doses of Maidong, Xuanshen, Shudi, Tianmen Dong, and Tianhuafen to nourish yin and moisten the lung; Tianmen Dong, Tianhuafen, and Beimu additionally expel phlegm and stop cough; Xuanshen, Gancao, Ganjuhua, and Jinyinhua clear heat and resolve toxicity. Thus the design is: nourish yin and moisten dryness, clear heat and resolve toxicity, expel phlegm and stop cough.
From a modern pharmacological perspective, the herbs in this formula have antiviral, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects, so it provides some symptomatic treatment for viral pneumonia, bacterial pneumonia, and pulmonary tumors. Using it for cough and chest pain due to non-small-cell lung cancer can relieve the patient's symptoms.
However, these are all chronic diseases that cannot be treated effectively in a day or two; this formula should be taken continuously for at least half a month. During treatment, avoid all acrid, hot, fire-promoting foods such as chili peppers, beef and mutton, and longan.