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Sang Ju Yin: a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that dispels wind and heat, clears the lungs and relieves cough

Writer's picture: Hongji MedicalHongji Medical

Sang Ju Yin, also known as Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum Beverage, is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription originated in the Qing Dynasty. It is mainly used to treat mild cough and fever caused by wind-heat invading the lungs.


This prescription comes from "Wenbing Tiaobian" and was created by the famous doctor Wu Jutong. It aims to solve the problem of chronic lung disease caused by the misuse of warm Chinese medicine to treat wind-heat cough at that time. This article will introduce the composition, efficacy, indications, modern application and dietary therapy of Sangjuyin in detail to help readers better understand and use this traditional Chinese medicine prescription.


Formula composition and efficacy

Composition

The main ingredients of Sang Ju Yin include:

  • Mulberry leaves : 7.5 g

  • Chrysanthemum : 3 grams

  • Almonds : 6 g

  • Lianxuan : 5g

  • Mint : 2.5 g

  • Platycodon grandiflorum : 6 g

  • Raw licorice : 2.5 g

  • Asparagus root : 6 g


usage

Decoction the above-mentioned herbs in water and drink it while warm.


Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Drink
桑菊飲

function

The main effect of mulberry and chrysanthemum drink is to dispel wind and heat, clear the lungs and relieve cough. It is suitable for mild symptoms of wind-heat at the beginning, with the main symptoms including cough, mild fever, slight thirst, and rapid pulse.


Indications and pathogenesis analysis


Indications

Sang Ju Yin is mainly used to treat cough caused by wind-heat attacking the lungs. The key points of syndrome differentiation include cough, mild fever, slight thirst, and rapid pulse. In modern medicine, this prescription is often used to treat colds, acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, acute conjunctivitis, keratitis and other diseases caused by wind-heat attacking the lungs or wind-heat in the liver meridian.




Pathogenesis Analysis

When wind-heat pathogens invade the lungs, the movement of qi in the lungs will be affected, resulting in the inability of lung qi to spread and descend normally. This is the so-called "lung qi failure to spread". Lung qi failure to spread will cause coughing, because the lungs need to cough to expel pathogens.


Since the wind-heat pathogen that invaded this time was mild and did not penetrate deep into the body, the body temperature would not be very high and the damage to the body fluids would be less. This is why the patient would feel a slight fever instead of a high fever and would not feel very thirsty.


This condition belongs to the early stage of febrile disease, which is also called "the beginning of febrile disease". At this stage, the lungs are dysfunctional, mainly manifested as mild fever and cough. Therefore, the key to treatment is to evacuate wind-heat and restore the normal function of the lungs, thereby achieving the effect of relieving cough.


Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Drink
桑菊飲

When the external wind-heat pathogens enter our lungs, they affect the normal functioning of the lungs, causing the lung qi to be unable to be discharged smoothly, which causes coughing. Since the pathogens are not very serious this time and have not penetrated deep into the body, our bodies will not have a high fever, but just a little hot, and the feeling of thirst will not be very strong.


This condition belongs to the early stage of febrile disease, with abnormal lung function, mainly manifested as mild fever and cough. Therefore, the key to treatment is to clear the wind and heat in the lungs and restore the normal function of the lungs, thereby achieving the effect of relieving cough.


Prescription interpretation

Junyao

  • Mulberry leaves : Disperse lung heat, clear the lungs and relieve cough.

  • Chrysanthemum : Clears the liver and improves eyesight, dispels wind-heat.

Minister medicine

  • Lian Xuan : Clears away lung heat.

  • Almond : Descends the lung qi.

  • Platycodon : Promotes the flow of lung qi.

Adjuvant

  • Mint : helps mulberry leaves and chrysanthemums to dispel wind-heat.

  • Lu rhizome : clears away heat and promotes salivation.

Drug

  • Raw licorice : clears away heat, replenishes qi, and harmonizes various medicines.


Modern Applications and Research


In modern medicine, mulberry and chrysanthemum drink is widely used to treat a variety of diseases, including colds, acute bronchitis, upper respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, acute conjunctivitis and keratitis, etc. Most of these diseases belong to the category of wind-heat invading the lungs or liver meridians.


Modern pharmacological research shows that mulberry and chrysanthemum drink has multiple effects such as antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and antitussive. Mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, and lianshen have antiviral effects and have inhibitory effects on influenza virus types A and B, Coxsackie virus types A, 16, and 21, and bubonic plague Yersinia.




In addition, mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, platycodon and other drugs also have anti-inflammatory effects, and have inhibitory effects on rat and mouse foot swelling, inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in mice, and mouse and rat arthritis. Mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, radix elochia and other drugs also have antipyretic effects, and have antipyretic effects on rat pyrogenic fever, mouse LPS fever, and mouse and rat fever.


Drugs such as mulberry leaves, chrysanthemums, and almonds have antitussive effects, and have antitussive effects on ammonium chloride-induced cough in mice, honeysuckle-induced cough in mice, and opioid-induced cough in mice.


Diet therapy


When using Sang Ju Yin, you can also use some dietary therapy to assist in treatment. Here are some suggestions:

1. Pear Soup

Pears have the effect of clearing heat and moistening the lungs, and can be used to make soup. Peel and core the pears, cut into small pieces, add appropriate amount of water and rock sugar, boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Pear soup can help relieve symptoms of cough and thirst.


2. Mulberry and chrysanthemum tea

Mulberry and chrysanthemum tea is a traditional herbal tea made from mulberry leaves, liquorice and chrysanthemum. It has the effects of clearing away heat, detoxifying and improving eyesight. It is often used to relieve colds, coughs and eye fatigue caused by wind-heat. It also helps digestion and provides antioxidant protection. When making mulberry and chrysanthemum tea, put appropriate amount of mulberry leaves and chrysanthemums in a cup, pour boiling water and soak for 5-10 minutes. It is a fragrant and delicious health drink. Moderate drinking is good for health, but if you have special health conditions, it is recommended to consult a doctor.


Mulberry and Chrysanthemum Tea
桑菊茶

3. Barley porridge

Barley has the function of strengthening the spleen and removing dampness, and can be used to cook porridge. Wash the barley and add appropriate amount of water, boil it and simmer it on low heat for 1 hour. Barley porridge can help strengthen the spleen and remove dampness, and relieve the symptoms of slight fever and thirst in the body.


Notes and taboos


The drugs in Sangjuyin are all light and clear, and should not be boiled for a long time. In addition, this prescription belongs to "spicy and cool light medicine". If the patient has severe lung heat, it should be used after adjusting the prescription, otherwise the drug's effect is too light and may not be enough to fight against severe conditions. At the same time, this prescription is not suitable for coughs caused by wind and cold.




Conclusion

Sang Ju Yin is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that has the effects of dispelling wind and heat, promoting lung function and relieving cough. It is suitable for mild cough and fever caused by wind-heat invading the lungs, and is commonly used in modern medicine to treat a variety of respiratory diseases.


When using mulberry and chrysanthemum drink, some dietary therapy methods can better assist the treatment. However, when using this prescription, you need to pay attention to its contraindications and usage methods to ensure its efficacy. I hope this article can help readers better understand and use mulberry and chrysanthemum drink, so as to achieve better therapeutic effects.

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