Pinellia 16, 100 tablets

Pinellia 16 is a derivative of traditional formulas for lung diseases, including Platycodon and Fritillaria Combination (Qingfei Tang) and Ma-huang and Magnolia Combination (Shen Mi Tang), and of formulas for resolving phlegm, such as Citrus and Pinellia Combination (Er chen Tang; ) and Three Seed Combination (Sanzi Yangqin Tang). These formulas all treat cough, asthma, bronchitis, and other lung disorders in which there is accumulation of sputum (as opposed to dry cough; see Lily 14). The formula ventilates the lungs (platycodon, apricot seed, magnolia bark), clears phlegm (pinellia, citrus, fritillaria, bamboo, sinapis, raphanus), and alleviates coughing (perilla fruit, morus bark, schizandra). Pinellia 16 can serve as a constitutional formula for persons who chronically or repeatedly have an excess of phlegm manifesting as lung disorder and/or sinus congestion. Unlike some of the other formulas for asthmatic breathing due to deficiency (e.g., Gecko-A, Epimedium 8, Cordyceps 9), this formula does not include kidney tonic herbs; those formulas could be added to Pinellia 16 when kidney deficiency contributes to this syndrome. When phlegm excess is due to improper diet and weak function of the stomach/spleen, one may add digestive formulas (see Shen-chu 16). If there is infection, Belamcanda 15, Stemona Tablets, or Trichosanthes Fruit Tablets could be used instead or added. Wheezing and phlegm accumulation that occurs acutely in response to an allergen might be treated by Blue Earth Dragon, while Pinellia 16, alone or with Xanthium 12, might be used to treat persisting allergic problems.