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Er Chen Tang: A classic Chinese medicine prescription for removing phlegm

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Er Chen Tang, also known as "Two Matured Substances Decoction", is a Chinese medicine prescription from the Taiping Huimin Hejijufang, which is an expectorant. Its main functions are to dry out dampness and resolve phlegm, regulate qi and harmonize the middle, and is often used to treat dampness and phlegm syndrome. This article will introduce the composition, efficacy, indications, modern applications and dietary therapy of Er Chen Tang in detail, aiming to provide readers with professional and easy-to-understand Chinese medicine knowledge.


Composition of Er Chen Tang


The main ingredients of Erchen soup include:

  • Pinellia (15g): dries dampness and resolves phlegm, relieves nausea and stops vomiting.

  • White Poria (9g): Strengthens the spleen and removes dampness, soothes the mind and calms the nerves.

  • Tangerine peel (15g): regulates qi and dries dampness, resolves phlegm and relieves cough.

  • Roasted Licorice (5g): harmonizes the medicinal properties and relieves side effects.


Usage : Add 7 slices of ginger and 1 black plum, decoct in water and drink while warm.


Erchen Soup
二陳湯

Analysis of the pathogenesis of Er Chen Tang


The problem of damp-phlegm syndrome mainly comes from the dysfunction of the spleen. The spleen is responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients from food. When it does not work properly, the dampness in the body cannot be effectively processed, and phlegm is formed. This phlegm will accumulate in the body and affect the normal functioning of the body.


When this phlegm enters the lungs, it can cause the lungs to be unable to breathe properly, causing coughing and excessive phlegm. If the phlegm stays in the stomach, it can affect the stomach's digestive function, causing nausea and vomiting. Phlegm can also block airflow in the chest, causing chest tightness and discomfort. If phlegm accumulates in the muscles, it can make the limbs feel heavy and tired. When phlegm affects the head, it can cause dizziness and palpitations. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a slippery or greasy tongue coating and a slippery pulse.


The key to treating dampness and phlegm syndrome is to remove dampness and phlegm from the body, while regulating the flow of Qi to restore the body to balance. Erchen Decoction is such a prescription, which can effectively dry up dampness and resolve phlegm, regulate Qi and harmonize the middle, and help the body recover health.


Er Chen Tang Effects and Indications


effect

  • Drying dampness and resolving phlegm : Pinellia and Tangerine peel have the effect of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, and can effectively clear damp phlegm in the body.

  • Regulating Qi and harmonizing the middle : Chenpi and Poria can regulate Qi and harmonize the middle, improve spleen and stomach function, and promote digestion and absorption.


Indications

Er Chen Tang is mainly used to treat damp-phlegm syndrome, the main symptoms of which include:

  • Cough with a lot of phlegm : The phlegm is white and easy to cough up.

  • Nausea and vomiting : gastric disharmony leads to nausea and vomiting.

  • Chest and diaphragm distension and tightness : Qi flow is not smooth, and there is a feeling of distension and tightness in the chest and diaphragm.

  • Limb heaviness : The limbs feel heavy and weak.

  • Dizziness and palpitations : dizziness, palpitations and uneasiness.

  • The tongue coating is white and smooth or greasy : The tongue coating is white and smooth or greasy, and the pulse is slippery.


Erchen Soup
二陳湯

Modern Application of Er Chen Tang


Key points of diagnosis


Er Chen Tang is a very commonly used Chinese medicine prescription, which is specially used to remove dampness and phlegm from the body. It is the most basic, most commonly used and most representative prescription of this type. In actual use, doctors usually judge whether it is appropriate to use Erchen Decoction based on the following main symptoms:




  • Cough: The patient coughs frequently and feels as if there is phlegm stuck in the throat.

  • The phlegm is white and easy to cough up: The phlegm that is coughed up is a lot, white in color, and easy to cough up.

  • Greasy white tongue coating: There is a layer of white, sticky tongue coating on the tongue.

  • Slippery pulse: When taking the pulse, you feel the pulse sliding, like beads rolling under your fingers.


These symptoms indicate that there is dampness and phlegm accumulation in the body, and Erchen Decoction can effectively help clear these problems and restore the body's balance.


Erchen Soup
二陳湯:脾氣虛

Modern use


Er Chen Tang is an ancient Chinese medicine recipe, but it is still widely used in modern medicine. Here are some common modern diseases that Erchen Decoction has been shown to have good therapeutic effects on.


  • Chronic bronchitis: Erchen decoction can effectively resolve phlegm and relieve cough. For patients with chronic bronchitis, it can help reduce the production of sputum, improve the patency of the respiratory tract, and thus alleviate the symptoms of cough and dyspnea.

  • Acute and chronic gastritis: For patients with gastritis, Erchen Decoction can regulate the qi of the stomach, improve digestive function, and reduce symptoms of nausea and vomiting. It can also help protect the gastric mucosa and reduce inflammatory reactions in the stomach.

  • Meniere's syndrome: This disease can cause vertigo, tinnitus and hearing loss. Erchen decoction can improve the circulation of the inner ear by resolving phlegm and regulating qi, thereby alleviating the symptoms of vertigo and tinnitus.

  • Neurogenic vomiting: Erchen decoction is very effective for neurogenic vomiting. It can reduce the frequency of vomiting by regulating the qi in the stomach, and can also relieve symptoms of nausea and stomach discomfort.


Modern research also supports the use of Er Chen Tang in these diseases. For example, some research reports indicate that the ingredients in Erchen Decoction can effectively inhibit inflammatory responses, improve digestive function, and have certain antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. These properties make Erchen Decoction valuable in the treatment of a variety of modern diseases.


In addition, Er Chen Tangis also used to treat thyroid enlargement, breast nodules, frozen shoulder, gastric ulcer, urethritis, endocarditis, anorexia nervosa, malaria, epilepsy, cholera, pancreatitis, tonsillitis, atherosclerosis, emphysema and heart disease. These applications further prove the wide applicability and effectiveness of Erchen Decoction in modern medicine.




In conclusion, Er Chen Tang, as a traditional Chinese medicine, still plays an important role in modern medicine. It can not only effectively treat a variety of common diseases, but also improve the patient's quality of life by regulating the body's qi and resolving phlegm.


Notes

  • Use with caution : This prescription is dry in nature, so use with caution if you have dry phlegm.

  • Contraindications : Patients with vomiting blood, polydipsia, yin deficiency, and blood deficiency should not use this prescription.


Diet therapy

When using Er Chen Tang you can also use some dietary therapy to assist in treatment. Here are some suggestions:

  1. Ginger soup : Ginger has the effect of warming the middle and dispelling cold, relieving adverse qi and stopping vomiting. You can cook ginger soup and drink it to help relieve the symptoms of nausea and vomiting.

  2. Barley porridge : Barley has the effect of strengthening the spleen and promoting dampness. It can be cooked into barley porridge to help remove dampness and reduce phlegm.

  3. Chenpi tea : Chenpi has the effects of regulating qi and drying dampness, resolving phlegm and relieving cough. You can make Chenpi tea and drink it to help improve the symptoms of coughing and phlegm.

  4. Poria cake : Poria has the effects of strengthening the spleen and promoting diuresis, calming the mind and soothing the nerves. It can be made into Poria cake for consumption, which helps improve the spleen and stomach functions.




Conclusion


As a classic prescription for expectoration in traditional Chinese medicine, Er Chen Tang has the effects of drying dampness and resolving phlegm, regulating qi and harmonizing the middle, and is suitable for a variety of damp-phlegm syndromes. In modern medicine, Er Chen Tang is also widely used in the treatment of a variety of diseases. Through reasonable dietary therapy, the therapeutic effect of Er Chen Tang can be better exerted to help patients recover as soon as possible. I hope this article can provide readers with valuable traditional Chinese medicine knowledge and help everyone better understand and use Erchen Decoction.

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