Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Pharyngitis Leading to Cough 1999.2.26

Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Pharyngitis Leading to Cough 1999.2.26

At the end of the Wu Yin year, Mr. Mou developed an upper respiratory tract infection accompanied by coughing. Due to his busy work schedule, he was unable to receive thorough treatment, resulting in paroxysmal coughing, chest tightness, and pharyngeal swelling and pain. He sought medical attention from me. Upon examination, his pharynx was found to be red and swollen, the uvula was deviated to the right side, his voice was hoarse, his tongue was red with scant coating, and his pulse was wiry, large, and weak. I determined that this was chronic pharyngitis in Western medicine, triggered by a sudden cold and complicated by acute tracheitis. However, from a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, the cough was non-productive, with throat itching and soreness, worsening in cool weather and upon exposure to wind, resembling a dog’s bark during paroxysmal attacks. This pattern indicates severe heat damaging the yin and dry fire injuring the metal element.

Prescription: Rehmannia glutinosa 12g, Scrophularia ningpoensis 10g, Ophiopogon japonicus 10g, Fritillaria thunbergii 10g, Platycodon grandiflorus 10g, White peony root 15g, Licorice 6g, Peppermint 6g, Perilla leaves 10g, Pinellia ternata 6g, Fresh ginger 6g, Donkey-hide gelatin (melted) 10g, Black plum 6g, Poppy seed capsule 6g, Apricot kernel 10g, Stemona tuberosa 6g, Schizonepeta tenuifolia 10g, Peucedanum praeruptorum 10g, Citrus aurantium pericarpium 20g, Aster tataricus 10g, Honeysuckle 20g, Forsythia suspensa 15g, Dandelion 15g, Patrinia scabiosaefolia 15g, Ephedra sinica 10g, Gypsum fibrosum 30g. Decoct in water and take orally.

After taking five doses of the above formula, the patient made significant recovery. This prescription combines nourishing yin and clearing lung heat, sweet-sour harmonization, cough suppression, Schisandra, and apricot kernel, among others, with the basic principle being “nourishing yin.” Nourishing yin helps reduce internal heat; given the red, bare tongue, severely red pharynx, and dry, non-productive cough, this is clearly a case of yin deficiency-related cough, which cannot be effectively treated without nourishing yin and reducing internal heat. Nourishing yin and clearing lung heat is therefore the preferred approach. Adding roasted loquat leaves to the formula would further enhance its effectiveness, as loquat leaves can alleviate throat itching and replenish the lungs’ dryness.

My late father had a well-known prescription for persistent cough: Perilla leaves 10g, Apricot kernel 10g, Pinellia ternata 6g, Tangerine peel 6g, Poria cocos 12g, Ephedra sinica 10g, Gypsum fibrosum 10g, Fritillaria thunbergii 10g, Peppermint 10g, Loquat leaves 10g, Mulberry leaves 10g, Chrysanthemum 10g, Honeysuckle 15g, Forsythia suspensa 15g, Platycodon grandiflorus 15g, Reed rhizome 10g, and Licorice 6g. This formula is remarkably effective for treating chronic coughs that affect the qi level.