Some people may find it strange why there is always endless phlegm in the lungs. In fact, the reason is simple: while you are expelling phlegm, you are also producing it. As soon as you finish expelling it, new phlegm is generated again. How could it ever be completely coughed up?
Previously, a patient initially had a faint, crackling sound in the lungs but did not pay much attention to it. This autumn, the condition began to worsen, with a constant feeling of phlegm that could not be fully expelled. The coughed-up phlegm was mostly white and thin, sometimes accompanied by foam. During the day, it was manageable, but at night, upon lying down, there was a sensation of chest tightness and breathlessness, as if a heavy stone were pressing on the chest. In severe cases, the patient would often wake up in the middle of the night feeling suffocated and had to sit up quickly to catch their breath. Under these circumstances, sleep was also severely affected.
During this period, I also took many traditional Chinese medicines. At first, there was some improvement, but later on, there was no significant effect. A few days ago, when I came for a consultation, I was recommended a prescriptionLing Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin TangSpecifically targeting the issue of "lung cold with phlegm and internal obstruction of phlegm-dampness," despite having only five herbs: Poria, Licorice, Schisandra, Dried Ginger, and Asarum, each herb is perfectly combined.
Dried ginger and asarum not only expel cold from the lungs but also unblock the lung meridians; poria helps the spleen and stomach transport and transform dampness, expelling excess dampness from the body and cutting off the source of phlegm production; schisandra can both expel phlegm and protect lung function; licorice can make the formula's medicinal properties more balanced, fundamentally reducing the generation of phlegm-dampness.
These five herbs work together to warm the cold in the lungs, dissolve phlegm in the lungs, tonify the spleen and stomach, and cut off the root of phlegm production, achieving "treating both the symptoms and the root cause." However, although Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang is very effective for excessive phlegm and chest tightness caused by "cold fluid retention in the lungs," traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes "treatment based on pattern differentiation." It is best to consult a professional TCM practitioner first to assess your constitution and pattern type, and adjust the formula according to your individual condition. This way, it can be both safe and effective, truly helping you clear the accumulated phlegm from your lungs.
