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Cura x Cura

Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei Tang葶苈大枣泻肺汤

Descurainia and Jujube Decoction to Drain the Lung

Clearing Heat 清热剂Clear Organ Heat 清脏腑热

Ingredients2 herbs

Indications

Drains water and phlegm from the LungDirects Lung qi downward, calms wheezingModerates its own harshness with jujube

Phlegm and water congesting the Lung as an excess pattern: the Lung's downward movement is physically blocked, so qi rebels upward. Nothing here tonifies — the strategy is to remove the obstruction quickly.

Clinical Manifestations

  • Wheezing so severe the patient cannot lie flat
  • Chest fullness and distension with copious phlegm
  • Cough with facial puffiness from fluid congestion
  • Lung abscess at the stage of full congestion
  • Pleural fluid or cor pulmonale presenting as an excess pattern
TongueGreasy coating, often thick
PulseSlippery and rapid, or wiry and slippery

Health Categories

Respiratory HealthSkin Health

Modern Applications

DyspnoeaOrthopnoeaPleural effusionCor pulmonaleLung abscess

Common adjustments

  • Marked oedema alongside the wheeze — combine with a damp-draining strategy, e.g. add Fu Ling 茯苓
  • Heat signs with yellow phlegm — add Sang Bai Pi 桑白皮 and Huang Qin 黄芩
  • Underlying qi deficiency — give only briefly and follow with a Spleen-and-Lung tonifying formula

Contraindications

For excess patterns only. Contraindicated in wheezing from Lung or Kidney deficiency, where the breath is short and weak on exertion — draining would deepen the collapse. Ting Li Zi is draining and is not for prolonged use; the elderly and the debilitated tolerate it poorly. Breathlessness that prevents lying flat is a red flag needing urgent medical assessment.

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

Pregnancy

Not for use in pregnancy except under direct practitioner supervision — Ting Li Zi drains forcefully downward and is conventionally avoided in pregnancy, and the breathlessness it treats requires medical assessment in any pregnant patient.

Related Formulas

References

Source Jin Gui Yao Lue 《金匮要略》 · Eastern Han

「肺痈，喘不得卧，葶苈大枣泻肺汤主之。」
— 《金匮要略》(classical source, public domain)
  1. Classical source (public domain), cited in the source-quote section.
    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.