Category: Digestion, respiration, gynaecology, acute attack, hidden pathogen, fatigue, metabolism, detox, spleen system, lung system
This is a basic formula for managing damp (white or transparent) phlegm/phlegm-dampness, primarily in the respiratory tract and stomach. It originates from the 11th century, the era of Great Peace, but its creators, imperial physicians, were inspired by an even older mixture, the famous Ban Xia Hou Po Tang from the 3rd century – by the brilliant Zhang Zhong Jing. In many forms, Er Chen Tang is part of hundreds of mixtures that aim to deal with some form of Tan, i.e., phlegm/phlegm-dampness. This is either so-called "manifested" – such as phlegm in the respiratory tract, or various enlarged and palpable masses under the skin or in the body (enlarged lymph nodes, thyroid, lipomas, but also cysts or tumours, or bone spurs and herniated discs). However, we also have "unmanifested" phlegm, a kind of energetic form that has the ability to enter meridians and vessels and, by obstructing the flow of vital substances, cause various "unexplained", asymmetrical symptoms such as pain, swelling and, in its most dangerous form, in combination with internal wind, even a stroke (atherosclerosis – hardening of the arteries, is also considered a form of phlegm). And obesity is also a form of dampness and phlegm-dampness.
The accumulation of damp phlegm in the lungs manifests as chronic bronchitis, emphysema or asthma (so-called "deeply" embedded phlegm). Phlegm in the stomach area causes fullness, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting. The mixture is therefore also used for morning sickness, in cases where it is caused by the accumulation of phlegm. It is very effective in treating phlegm in children, in cases where it is transparent or white, often in large quantities.
The imperial herbs are Pinellia and Tangerine peel, in their "old" preparations (Decoction of Two Olds is the Chinese name), i.e., "aged". The tangerine is mature and the pinellia is fermented – and this increases their effectiveness! Together they dissolve phlegm and regulate the flow of Qi. Poria cocos drains the resulting turbid dampness through urination. Sour Mume fruit helps protect Qi and proper fluids so that they are not dispersed by the vigorous action of the mixture.
In your mind, you can easily create the equation: thin white phlegm = use Er Chen Tang!
the mixture is warm, acrid and drying, therefore it is not suitable for cough due to lung yin deficiency or for cough after an attack by a dry pathogen; we do not use it if the phlegm is thick, difficult to expectorate, or contains blood or blood streaks
If a weakened spleen function contributes to the formation of phlegm (almost always the case in children), it is essential to adjust the diet; it is important to limit the consumption of dairy products and sweets, everything fried and meaty, and also to exclude raw and cold foods from the diet.
| Preparation | Chinese | Czech | Latin |
| Fa | Ban Xia | pinelie trojčlená, oddenek | Rhiz. pinelliae |
| Chen Pi | mandarinka obecná, kůra | Peri. citri | |
| Fu Ling | Poria cocos, sklerocium | Skler. poriae | |
| Zhi | Gan Cao | lékořice, kořen | Rad. glycyrrhizae |
| Sheng Jiang | zázvor obecný, oddenek | Rhiz. zingiberis recens | |
| Wu Mei | slivoň mume, plod | Fruc. mume |
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