Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan清气化痰丸

Clear the Qi and Transform Phlegm Pill

Dispelling Phlegm 祛痰剂Clear Heat and Transform Phlegm 清热化痰

Ingredients8 herbs

HerbDosageRoleWhat it does in this formula

陈Chen Pi陈皮去白Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium30g佐 AssistantRegulates qi and transforms phlegm, keeping the middle burner turning 杏杏仁去皮尖30g佐 Assistant 枳Zhi Shi枳实麸炒Aurantii Fructus Immaturus30g佐 AssistantBreaks up stagnant qi and dissolves the fullness holding the phlegm in place 黄Huang Qin黄芩酒炒Scutellariae Radix30g臣 DeputyDrains Lung heat, removing the fire that thickens the phlegm

瓜瓜蒌仁去油30g君 Chief

茯Fu Ling茯苓Poria30g佐 AssistantStrengthens the Spleen and leaches out damp, cutting phlegm off at its source 胆Dan Nan Xing胆南星Arisaema cum Bile45g君 ChiefClears heat and cuts stubborn hot phlegm; the bile processing turns a warm drying herb cool 制Zhi Ban Xia制半夏Pinelliae Rhizoma Praeparatum45g臣 DeputyDries damp, transforms phlegm and settles rebellious Stomach qi

Indications

Clears heat and transforms phlegmDirects Lung qi downward and stops coughMoves qi and unbinds the chest

Phlegm-heat congealed in the interior with the Lung failing to descend. Heat has cooked the fluids into thick phlegm and the phlegm in turn blocks the qi, so clearing heat and moving qi are done together rather than in sequence.

Clinical Manifestations

Cough with thick yellow sputum that is hard to expectorate
Fullness and oppression in the chest
Wheezing or shortness of breath with phlegm rattle
Bronchitis in its phlegm-heat stage
Chronic cough in smokers
Nausea with a greasy yellow tongue coat

TongueRed with a greasy yellow coating

PulseSlippery and rapid

Health Categories

Respiratory Health

Modern Applications

Acute bronchitis Productive cough COPD exacerbation Post-nasal drip Asthma with sputum Sinusitis

Common adjustments

Marked Lung heat with fever — add Sang Bai Pi 桑白皮 and Yu Xing Cao 鱼腥草
Wheezing and rebellious qi predominate — add Zi Su Zi 紫苏子 and Ting Li Zi 葶苈子
Phlegm bound with dry stool — increase Gua Lou Zi 瓜蒌子, or add a small dose of Da Huang 大黄
Sputum thick and hard to raise — add Zhe Bei Mu 浙贝母

Contraindications

Cold and drying, so it is wrong for cold-phlegm cough with copious thin white sputum, and wrong again for a dry cough of Lung yin deficiency with little or no sputum — it will strip what fluid remains. Zhi Shi breaks qi vigorously, so it is unsuitable for the frail and for prolonged use in qi deficiency.

For licensed practitioners’ reference only — not a self-treatment guide.

Pregnancy

Best avoided in pregnancy, and used only when a practitioner judges it necessary: it contains prepared Ban Xia and bile-processed Nan Xing, and Zhi Shi is a strong qi-breaking herb traditionally withheld during pregnancy.

References

Source Yi Fang Kao 《医方考》 · Ming

Classical source (public domain), as attributed in the source fields.
2. Scheid, Bensky, Ellis & Barolet. Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas & Strategies, 2nd ed. — composition & dosage cross-checked.
3. 《方剂学》（全国中医药行业高等教育规划教材）— pattern analysis cross-checked.

Professional reference notice. Entries are scholarly references for licensed TCM practitioners and students — not medical advice, and not a recommendation to self-prescribe. Chinese herbal formulas should be used under the guidance of a qualified practitioner. Content is an original editorial compilation by Cura x Cura, cross-checked against the cited references.