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"Lily 14 is a treatment for throat and lung disorders that are characterized by yin deficiency and/or phlegm accumulation (the result is sticky phlegm, phlegm that is difficult to expectorate, or dark colored phlegm). Lily, ophiopogon, yu-chu, rehmannia, changium, glehnia, and scrophularia are included to nourish the yin; the other herbs are mainly used to resolve phlegm and open the lungs. the formula is related to the traditional prescriptions Lily Combination (Baihe Gujin Tang) and Adenophora and Ophiopogon Combination (Shashen Maidong Tang). Oroxylum moistens the lungs, controls cough, restores normal voice, regulates qi, and harmonizes the stomach; sterculia removes lung heat, opens lung qi, and moistens dryness. Traditional Chinese medical theory holds that the metal element, which rules the lungs the sinuses and affects the throat, is easily afflicted by dryness. Moisturizing the dryness, by nourishing the lung yin, will protect the respiratory system and treat many of its ailments. The characteristics of dryness include sticky sputum (no matter whether there is a large or small amount), dry throat (sometimes with throat swelling and vocal disorders), and tendency to be thirsty. Because this formula is aimed primarily at yin deficiency of the upper warmer (mainly the lung), the diagnostic signs of yin deficiency as it applies to the liver/kidney (lower warmer), such as rapid thready pulse, red tongue, and feverish feeling, may not be present; the dryness may be confined to the lungs, throat, and sinuses, and deficiency heat may or may not be present. See also Pseudostellaria 9 for upper body dry syndromes and Gardenia 7 for throat and vocal disorders." |
