Do you often feel a persistent itch in your throat, accompanied by uncontrollable dry coughs, yet with little phlegm produced? This discomfort can be truly agonizing. What Chinese medicine offers effective treatment?
What Causes Throat Itch, Cough, and Phlegm?
According to TCM expert Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert from Singapore's Gong Fang Tang TCM Department, Chinese medicine holds that "the Lungs are a delicate organ, favoring moisture and averse to dryness". Singapore's unique environmental factors easily make it an accomplice to the "Dryness Pathogen".
Air Conditioning's "Dehumidifier" Effect: Prolonged exposure to low-temperature, dry air-conditioned environments is like being in an "artificial desert". Moisture (Jin Ye) from the lungs and respiratory tract is quietly evaporated.
Indoor-Outdoor Temperature "Tug-of-War": Frequently moving between environments with extreme temperature differences overwhelms the body's regulatory capacity, damaging the Lung-Defensive Qi (Fei Wei Zhi Qi), allowing the Dryness Pathogen to invade.
Temptation of Spicy, Fried Foods: While Singapore offers diverse cuisine, excessive consumption of grilled, laksa, curry, and other pungent, drying, fried, or heaty foods can easily generate internal dryness-heat, scorching Lung Yin.
"Haze" Season Assistance: During periods of increased air pollution, external pathogens like dust irritate the throat, colluding with the Dryness Pathogen to worsen discomfort.
Typical Manifestations of Dryness Pathogen Damaging the Lungs:
Persistent throat itch, constant urge to clear the throat
Dry cough or cough with scant phlegm; phlegm is scanty and sticky, difficult to expectorate
Hoarse voice or sensation of a foreign object in the throat
Dry mouth and throat, desire to drink water
May be accompanied by dry nose, dry lips, dry skin
Tongue body slightly red, tongue coating thin, white, and dry, or thin and yellow
How Does Chinese Medicine Treat Throat Itch, Cough, and Phlegm?
Facing this dryness-induced cough, Physician Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert particularly recommends the classic formula Sang Xing Tang (Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Kernel Decoction), originating from the Qing Dynasty physician Wu Jutong's "Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases" (Wen Bing Tiao Bian). This formula has light, balanced properties: it moistens dryness without causing stagnation, clears heat without damaging Yin. This makes it highly suitable for the constitutional characteristics of Singaporean patients suffering from dryness cough.
Sang Xing Tang Core Composition and Subtleties:
Mulberry Leaf (Sāng Yè, Folium Mori): The Monarch (Jun) herb. Light, clear, diffusing and dispersing; expels Wind-Heat and Dryness pathogens from the Lung channel. Like opening a window to ventilate a dry room.
Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén, Semen Armeniacae Amarum): The Monarch (Jun) herb. Directs Qi downward to relieve cough and wheezing; moistens the intestines and promotes bowel movements. Works with Mulberry Leaf: one diffusing (up/out), one descending (down) – restoring the Lung's diffusion and purification functions.
Glehnia Root/North Adenophora Root (Shā Shēn, Radix Glehniae/Adenophorae): The Minister (Chen) herb. Sweet, cool, soft, and moistening; nourishes Lung and Stomach Yin. Directly replenishes fluids depleted by the Dryness Pathogen.
Thunberg Fritillary Bulb (Zhè Bèi Mǔ, Bulbus Fritillariae Thunbergii): The Minister (Chen) herb. Clears heat, transforms phlegm, opens stagnation, dissipates nodules. Targets the scant, sticky phlegm formed when dryness-heat condenses fluids, helping to dissolve and expel it.
Lightly Fermented Soybean (Dàn Dòu Chǐ, Semen Sojae Preparatum): The Assistant (Zuo) herb. Diffuses and releases the exterior, helping Mulberry Leaf expel external pathogens.
Gardenia Peel (Zhī Zǐ Pí, Pericarpium Gardeniae): The Assistant (Zuo) herb. Clears and drains Lung heat, directing the heat pathogen out via urine. The peel (pí) is light and clear, preventing upward flaming of fire.
Pear Peel (Lí Pí, Pericarpium Pyri): The Assistant-Envoy (Zuo Shi) herb. Generates fluids, moistens dryness, clears heat, transforms phlegm. Locally sourced, gentle yet remarkably effective.
Modifications and Ingenious Uses:
Significant dry throat and pain: Add Dwarf Lilyturf Tuber (Mài Dōng, Radix Ophiopogonis) 12g, Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome (Yù Zhú, Rhizoma Polygonati Odorati) 10g to enhance Yin-nourishing and throat-moistening power.
Hoarse voice: Add Indian Trumpetflower Seed (Mù Hú Dié, Semen Oroxyli) 6g, Boat-fruited Sterculia Seed (Pàng Dà Hǎi, Semen Sterculiae Lychnophorae) 1 piece to open the voice and soothe the throat.
Persistent dry cough difficult to stop: Add Honey-fried Loquat Leaf (Mì Pí Pá Yè, Folium Eriobotryae Praeparatum) 12g, Stemona Root (Bǎi Bù, Radix Stemonae) 9g to moisten the Lungs, direct Qi downward, and relieve cough.
Accompanied by slight yellow phlegm: Add Baical Skullcap Root (Huáng Qín, Radix Scutellariae) 9g, Snakegourd Peel (Guā Lóu Pí, Pericarpium Trichosanthis) 9g to clear and transform heat-phlegm.
Dry stools: Add Hemp Seed (Huǒ Má Rén, Fructus Cannabis) 10g to moisten the intestines and promote bowel movements.
Medical Case Study
Patient: Ms. Chen, 32 years old.
Chief Complaint: Persistent cough, itchy and dry/sore throat for over 1 month. Reported long-term work in an air-conditioned environment, recent high project stress, frequent late nights, preference for cold drinks. Initially thought it was a cold, self-medicated with heat-clearing/cough suppressants and lozenges with little effect. Current Symptoms: Paroxysmal dry cough, worse at night; throat dry and itchy like "ants crawling", requires frequent water to relieve; extremely scant, sticky, difficult-to-expectorate phlegm; slight hoarseness; accompanied by dry mouth and nose; sleep affected.
Initial Consultation: Tongue red with scant moisture, coating thin, yellow, dry; pulse thready and slightly rapid.
Diagnosis: Dryness Pathogen Damaging the Lungs Pattern (lingering externally-contracted Dryness Pathogen combined with internal Yin damage from late nights).
Treatment Principle: Clear and diffuse Warm Dryness; moisten the Lungs and relieve cough.
Prescription: Modified Sang Xing Tang.
Formula: Mulberry Leaf (Sāng Yè) 10g, Apricot Kernel (Xìng Rén) 10g, North Adenophora Root (Běi Shā Shēn) 15g, Thunberg Fritillary Bulb (Zhè Bèi Mǔ) 10g, Gardenia Peel (Zhī Zǐ Pí) 6g, Pear Peel (Lí Pí) 15g, Dwarf Lilyturf Tuber (Mài Dōng) 12g, Fragrant Solomonseal Rhizome (Yù Zhú) 10g, Indian Trumpetflower Seed (Mù Hú Dié) 6g, Honey-fried Loquat Leaf (Mì Pí Pá Yè) 12g, Raw Liquorice Root (Shēng Gān Cǎo) 5g.
Medical Advice: Avoid spicy, fried, and icy-cold foods; avoid setting air-conditioning too low; ensure adequate sleep; drink plenty of warm water or honey water.
Outcome: After 3 doses, Ms. Chen reported significant reduction in throat itch and dry mouth, with less nighttime coughing. After completing 7 doses, the dry cough had essentially stopped, the throat was comfortable, sleep improved, and her voice regained clarity.
