Study On The Law Of Zhongjing Sputum Prescription

ObjectiveAs an important part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the theory of TCM Phlegm Syndrome is significant in contemporary clinic. There are more and more published reports indicating that treatment effects of the remedy in the theory of TCM Phlegm Syndrome for many a common disease or obstinate disease diagnosed by western medicine are certified satisfactory.Through studying old maxims diligently and absorbing others’prescriptions widely, ZHANG Zhong-jing, who was regarded as "the medical sage", wrote Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases that was canonized by physicians of the past dynasties as scriptures of syndrome differentiation in TCM.Although there is no specialized chapter discussing meridians, particulars and prescriptions of TCM Phlegm Syndrome in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases, many particulars and prescriptions of it are concerned in the book, which is informative and distinctive but still in need of further researching. Through the research of Chinese medical literature and the overview of academic history of phlegm tcm-syndrome, we hope to find the cure regulation of it by ZHANG Zhong-jing that can be used for reference in contemporary TCM clinic.MethodsThis paper adopt the literature research method to collect and summarize related clauses, diseases and prescriptions involved in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases.ResultsFirstly, in the literature review, more than one hundred articles concerning prescriptions by ZHANG Zhong-jing for phlegm tcm-syndrome are collected and abridged to summarize the clinical application and experimental findings of these prescriptions.Secondly, the origin and development of TCM Phlegm Syndrome are reviewed from the time of The Inner Canon of Huangdi and Sheng Nong’s herbal classic to the period of Ming and Qing Dynasty. Gradual supplement from successive dynasties is sketched and the academic history of the TCM Phlegm theory is discussed in this part. It can be seen that the theory of TCM Phlegm Syndrome experienced embryonic stage during Qin and Han Dynasty, freely grew from Wei Dynasty to Tang Dynasty, expanded in Song and Yuan Dynasty, and stepped on its mature stage in Ming and Qing Dynasty, which means the integrated system info was formed.Thirdly, the distinctions of phlegm in both its broad and narrow sense are discussed and prescriptions by ZHANG Zhong-jing for phlegm tcm-syndrome are summarized and briefly analyzed in the process of presenting and discussing the original Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases. There are seventeen prescriptions including Pinellia and Magnolia bark Decoction, Pinellia and Vinegar Decoction, Bakumondoto, Belamcanda and Ephedra Decoction, Platycodon Decoction, "Sanwubai Powder", Sho-kankyo-to, Three Prescriptions of Snakegourd Fruit and Bulbus Allii Macrostemonis, Xuanfudaizhe Decoction, Chinese honey locust Pill, Cinnamomum cassia Presl Decoction for Palpitation, Powder of Muskmelon Pedicel, Powder of Dichroa febrifuga Lour, Veratrum nigrum and Liquorice Decoction and Turtle Shell Decocted Pill.Fourthly, medicines from prescriptions by ZHANG Zhong-jing for phlegm tcm-syndrome are sorted and analyzed in the study of these prescriptions. The twelve medicines for TCM Phlegm Syndrome include pinellia, snakegourd fruit, inula flower, platycodon, fritillaria, belamcanda, Chinese honey locust, aster, coltsfoot, muskmelon pedicel, Dichroa febrifuga Lour and veratrum nigrum.Fifthly, through the research of tcm-phlegm prescriptions and decoction methods by ZHANG Zhong-jing, thirteen laws to eliminate phlegm are summarized, including activating Qi, removing heat-phlegm, healing sore, relieving chest stuffiness, facilitating lung, relieving cough and reducing sputum, disinhibiting the orifices, nourishing Yin, tonifying Qi, promoting Yang, hastening expectoration, dispelling cold-phlegm and depleting phlegm and stagnant blood simultaneously. And in this process, medicines can be classified into four kinds, according to their roles, including warmly resolving cold-phlegm, clearing and dissipating heat-phlegm, relieving cough and reducing sputum and hastening expectoration. By analyzing and comparing point for point, ZHANG Zhong-jing’s regularity of curing phlegm tcm-syndrome is preliminarily concluded.ConclusionsAlthough ZHANG Zhong-jing neither defined phlegm tcm-syndrome nor set special chapters for the subject, his theory about it can be found abundant in Treatise on Febrile and Miscellaneous Diseases. Analysis, summarization and further study of this subject will do great help for researching the characters and regulation of phlegm prescriptions by ZHANG Zhong-jing, which is not only significant to enrich the theory of ZHANG Zhong-jing and the theory of TCM Phlegm Syndrome, but also useful in the contemporary clinic.