Patient's question:
The baby has phlegm in their throat since birth. Now that they are almost seven months old, it still persists, and they often vomit. If they eat slightly more than usual, it comes right back up. How can this be resolved? Thank you!Doctor's answer:
Hello:What are the commonly used herbal formulas for resolving phlegm in children??
(1) Er Chen Tang (Two-Huang Decoction)
Composition and Usage: Prepared Pinellia 4–8g, Tangerine Peel 6–12g, Poria 6–12g, Baked Licorice 3–4g. Decoct in water.
Function: Dries dampness and resolves phlegm, regulates qi and harmonizes the stomach.
Indications: Damp phlegm, cough with copious sputum, stuffy chest and abdominal fullness, nausea and vomiting, white greasy slippery tongue.
(2) Wen Dan Tang (Warming Gallbladder Decoction)
Composition and Usage: Pinellia 6–8g, Tangerine Peel 6–9g, Poria 9–12g, Licorice 3–4g, Bamboo Shoot 6–9g, Bitter Orange 6–9g. Decoct in water. Add fresh ginger and jujube during decoction.
Effect: Clears the gallbladder and resolves phlegm, harmonizes the stomach and calms the mind.
Indications: Phlegm-heat obstructing the upper body, copious sputum and vomiting, disharmony between the gallbladder and stomach, restlessness and insomnia, greasy tongue.
(3) Xiao Xian Xiong Tang (Minor Depression Chest Decoction)
Composition and Usage: Coptis 1.5–5g, Prepared Pinellia 6–8g, Trichosanthes Fruit 8–12g. Decoct in water.
Function: Clears heat and resolves phlegm, relieves chest oppression and disperses stagnation.
Indications: Mutual combination of phlegm-heat, stuffy chest and abdominal pain, or cough with thick sputum, bitter taste, yellow greasy tongue.
(4) Bei Mu Gualou San (Fritillaria and Trichosanthes Powder)
Composition and Usage: Fritillaria 4–8g, Trichosanthes Fruit 9–15g, Rehmannia 9–12g, Poria 6–9g, Tangerine Peel 6–9g, Platycodon 6–8g.
Function: Nourishes the lungs and resolves phlegm.
Indications: Lung dryness with phlegm, choking cough, difficult sputum expectoration, dry and painful throat, shortness of breath.
(5)