Treat a cough by using herbs 治咳嗽的草药

Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Radix 甘草

Glycyrrhiza uralensis, also known as Chinese liquorice, common used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Radix consists of the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza glabra L. It has been used in clinical medicine to moisture and relaxing, neutralize strong medicine, detoxification, ease pain, antispasmodic, modify the taste, relieve cough and reduce phlegm.

For throat swollen and painful, cough with sputum, palpitation and shortness of breath, weak spleen and stomach, fatique and loss of energy, gastrointestinal ulcer, cramps in abdominal and limps, healing of sore and carbuncle, alleviate poisonous or strong medicine, treat food poisoning and others.

甘草是一种传统的中药材，用途广泛。甘草的干燥根及地下根状茎，在中医学中被临床运用于滋润缓和，中和烈药，解毒、镇痛、解痉、矫味、镇咳祛痰等。

用于咽喉肿痛、咳嗽痰多、心悸气短、脾胃虚弱、倦怠乏力、肠胃道溃疡、脘腹、四肢挛急疼痛，痈肿疮毒，缓解药物毒性、烈性，食物中毒等。

Radix Platycodon Grandiflorum 桔梗

The root of this species is used extensively as an  an expectorant and antitussive used to treat coughs, colds, upper respiratory infections, sore throats, tonsillitis, and chest congestion. In Chinese traditional medicine, Radix Platycodon has been used to treat cough with sputum, tonsillitis, pertussis, and asthma. Also used to treat stomatitis, peptic ulcers, and chronic inflammatory diseases.

此植物的根部被广泛用于镇咳祛痰，可治疗伤风咳嗽，上呼吸道感染，咽喉痛，扁桃体炎和胸闷。桔梗在传统中医里被用于治疗痰咳，扁桃体炎，百日咳和哮喘。也用于治疗胃溃疡，口腔炎和慢性炎症性疾病。

Radix Stemona Sessilifolia 百部

Stemona sessilifolia (Miq.) Miq., Stemona japonica (Bl.) Miq. or Stemona tuberosa Lour., is a plant of the Stemonaceae family; the dried tuberous root is used as a medicine. Its Chinese medicinal name is Baibu.

Pharmacological studies indicate that Stemona sessilifolia has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, antitussive, antiasthmatic, parasiticidal effects, etc. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, Baibu moistens the lungs, stops coughing, and kills parasites, etc.

百部，百部科植物直立百部，蔓生百部或对叶百部，以干燥块根入药。

药理研究显示，百部有抗菌、消炎、镇咳、平喘、灭虱等作用。在传统中医里，百部可润肺止咳和杀虫等。

Bulbus Fritillaria Cirrhosa 川贝母

Fritillaria，precious chinese herbs for moistening lung and suppressing cough. It has been used for generations and the efficacy is remarkable. Bulbus Fritillaria Cirrhosa not only relieving cough and reducing sputum, also raise Yin, protect and moisten lung and remove heat, is a remedy for chronic cough and asthma. It can be found in Chinese medicine prescription for treatment of acute bronchitis, bronchial inflammation, tuberculosis and other diseases.

川贝母，润肺止咳的名贵中药材，应用历史悠久，疗效卓著，驰名中外。由于川贝母不仅具有良好的止咳化痰功效，而且能养肺阴、宣肺、润肺而清肺热，是一味治疗久咳痰喘的良药，因此，在许多治疗急性气管炎、支气管炎、肺结核等病症的中药方剂或中成药制剂中都有川贝。

Herba Mentha Haplocalyx 薄荷

Herba Mentha Haplocalyx, also known as mint. It has significant effects on throat clearing, common used for sore throat due to wind-heat, also have wind-heat evacuation effect, for treatment of exogenous wind-heat, headache, red eyes, sore throat and swollen, flatulence, mouth sores, toothache, sore scabies, urticaria.

薄荷，为唇形科薄荷属植物。薄荷清利咽喉作用显着，主要用于风热咽痛，兼有疏散风热作用。治外感风热，头痛，目赤，咽喉肿痛，食滞气胀，口疮，牙痛，疮疥，瘾疹。

Folium Eriobotrya Japonica 枇杷叶

Folium Eriobotrya Japonica, also known as Loquat Leave or Pi Pa Ye. Its dried leaves have commonly been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine prescriptions as an antitussive and anti-inflammatory agent to clear-away lung heat, eliminate phlegm, lower the adverse-rising energy, relieve cough and regulate the stomach to restrain vomiting skin diseases, as well as in Japanese folk medicine as a diuretic, digestive and antipyretic agent to treat skin diseases, relieve inflammation, pain, cough and sputa.

 

蔷薇科植物枇杷，其干燥叶在传统中药处方用于镇咳消炎剂以清肺热，祛痰，降低逆行能量，止咳，调节肠胃以抑制呕吐皮肤疾病，在日本民间医药作为利尿，助消化和解热剂以治皮肤疾病，减轻炎症、疼痛、咳嗽和痰。

 

Source 资料来源：

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glycyrrhiza_uralensis

http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%98%E8%8D%89http://herbalinformation.awardspace.com/?cm=p&fn=platycodon_grandiflorum

http://www.wiki8.com/gancao_23086/

http://www.hkjcicm.org/cm_database/plants/detail_e.aspx?herb_id=118

http://www.hudong.com/wiki/%E5%B7%9D%E8%B4%9D%E6%AF%8D

http://www.zysj.com.cn/zhongyaocai/yaocai_b/bohe.html

http://www.globalsciencebooks.info/JournalsSup/images/0806/MAPSB_2(1)18-23o.pdf

Types of Cough 咳嗽类型

- Types of Cough in Traditional Chinese Medicine View

Wind-Cold Cough

Dry cough at night. Most common caused by exogenous cold. The symptoms include heavy cough, thin and white sputum, associated with fear of cold, no sweat, headache, nasal congestion, sneeze, clear and thin mucus, itchy throat, no dry-mouth and others. White coating tongue, mostly associated with fear of cold. 

Wind-Heat Cough

The symptoms include continual cough, hacking cough, thick yellow sticky sputum, associated with heatiness and sweating, headache, sore throat, thirst, sticky and yellow mucus. Red tongue with yellow coating.


External Fire

The symptoms include dry cough no sputum or less but sticky sputum，difficult to cough up or scanty bloody phlegm, associated with dry and itchy throat, dry lips and nasal and others.  

Wet Cough

Most common in weak elderly. The symptoms include heavy and hacking cough, thick and sticky sputum in grey-white, worsen after consuming sweet or oily food, associated with chest fullness, short of breath, poor appetite, fatigue, loose stool and others.

Chronic Cough

The symptoms include enduring cough, short cough or scanty bloody phlegm, associated with dampness and heat, spontaneous sweating, fatigue and others.

Lung Qi Deficiency Cough

Most common in those with inadequate lung and weak body. The symptoms include chronic cough, thin white and little sputum, associated with asthma, weakness, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, pale, thin and white coating tongue, weak pulse and others. Mostly happen to children and elderly. 

- 中医角度的咳嗽类型


风寒咳嗽

干咳，晚间多见。多系外感风寒所致，也成为凉咳嗽。表现为咳嗽声重、痰色白稀薄，伴有畏寒、不出汗、头痛、鼻塞音重、打喷嚏、流清涕、咽喉痒、口不干等症状。患者舌苔白，多伴有怕冷现象。

风热咳嗽

此类咳嗽的特点是频咳、咳声洪亮、痰黄黏稠，伴有发热汗出、头痛、咽痛、口渴、鼻涕黄浊而黏稠等症状。患者舌质红、舌苔黄。

风燥咳嗽

此类咳嗽表现为干咳无痰，或痰少而黏、不易咳出，或痰中有血丝，伴有咽干喉痒、鼻唇干燥等。

痰湿咳嗽

此类咳嗽以体弱年长者居多，特点是咳声重浊，痰多而黏腻、色灰白，进甘甜油腻食物后加重，伴有胸闷、呼吸急促、食少、体倦、便溏等症状。

久咳阴伤

此类咳嗽的特点是久咳干咳，咳声短促，或痰中夹有血丝，常伴有午后颧红潮热、盗汗、神疲等症状。

肺气虚咳

此类咳嗽多见于平素体弱、肺气不足的患者，表现为咳嗽日久不愈，痰少而色白清稀，伴有气喘、无力、自汗、心悸，且面色苍白、舌质淡、苔薄白、脉细弱无力等。以儿童和年长者居多。

Source 资料源自：

http://zhongyi.9939.com/zyzl/zywk/wkzb/2009/1224/759431.shtml
http://www.fumuhui.com/news/38878.shtml
http://health.zaobao.com/pages2/chinese010102.html

Color of Phlegm 痰的颜色

Phlegm or respiratory system mucus is a gel like substance produced by upper and lower respiratory system organs in response to various types of irritants in the form of allergens, viruses, bacteria, environmental toxins and pollution. The purpose of the phlegm is to lubricate the respiratory organs and passages and to quickly neutralize the foreign invaders by expelling them from our bodies with coughing. Therefore, it’s very important to learn different phlegm color meaning and not simply take medicine. Take the right medication for best solution.

The color of phlegm has a tremendous meaning in diagnosing and pin-pointing different types of diseases and conditions.

White/ Clear Mucus

Coughing up clear or white mucus or sputum could just mean an onset of seasonal allergies or a mild viral infection, even healthy body also will have a small amount of white sputum. The clear mucus production usually resolves itself within 5-7 days like any viral infection.

Yellow Mucus

In case your condition does not improve and you start coughing up yellow mucus or the color of phlegm changes to a more cloudy type, it could signal a bacterial infection in the lungs or bronchi. If the color of phlegm is dark yellow or green, it indicates the presence of pus or dead white cells in the phlegm mucus, a good indication that body is currently fighting off bacteria.

Green Phlegm

Caused by a special bacteria named Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A combination of phlegm and spit, could be an indication of cystic fibrosis disease and should be discussed with your doctor.

Brown Phlegm

If you smoke you might see brown phlegm being coughed up in the morning as a response to irritation caused by cigarette smoke. Smoking causes chronic inflammation to the bronchi, lungs and other organs of the respiratory system resulting in increased bouts of cough necessary to clear out the lungs. If you suffer from acute or chronic bronchitis you can try some bronchitis natural remedies that may also alleviate excessive mucus problem.

Grey/ Black Phlegm
Excessive inhalation of dust may cause coughing up grey phlegm. Those expose to toner, coal foam, lime etc might lead to Pneumoconiosis disease.

Bloody Phlegm

Bloody Phlegm happens in several conditions.

1. Blood tinged sputum, most common in tuberculosis or bronchiectasis, also happen in throat inflammation.

2. Black bloody sputum, most common in pulmonary embolism.

3. Pink foamy sputum, most common in pulmonary edema.

Besides, long-term bloody phlegm in associated with chest pain, fatigue, weight loss symptoms, be alert to lung cancer risk.   

Color of phlegm is a very helpful way for you to know how your body is coping with an illness.

痰或呼吸系统粘液是一种由上、下呼吸系统气管所产生的凝胶以对抗各种刺激物如过敏原，病毒，细菌，环境中的毒素和污染。痰的功能就是润滑呼吸器官及管道，并迅速抵抗外来侵略，以咳嗽方式将之去除。因此，我们应学习分辨痰的颜色，不胡乱摄取药物，对症下药方是上上之策。


痰的颜色可诊断不同类型的疾病和状况。

白色或透明痰粘液

咳嗽出白色或透明的痰粘液意味着季节性过敏的发作或轻微病毒感染，健康的体质也会有少量白色痰液。这些白稀的痰液通常会在病毒感染后的５至７天内消失。　

黄色痰

如果您的情况没有好转，可能会开始出现黄色脓性痰液或沉暗阴色，就是肺部或支气管细菌感染的迹象。如果痰的颜色呈暗黄或绿色，表示痰粘液中出现死细胞化脓，也象征着身体正在对抗着细菌。

绿色痰

由一种特殊的细菌，即绿脓杆菌感染引起。痰和粘液的结合，可能是囊性纤维化病的迹象，应尽早咨询医生的意见。

铁锈样痰

如果您有抽烟的习惯，早上可能出现因烟草烟雾造成的铁锈样痰。抽烟导致与支气管、肺部和呼吸系统相关的慢性炎症，并加剧咳嗽状况。若您患上急性或慢性支气管炎，可尝试一些支气管自然疗法，可助您减轻过多的粘液问题。

灰色或黑色痰
吸入灰尘过多会咳出灰色痰，长期接触碳粉、煤沫、石灰等会导致肺尘埃沉着症。

血性痰

血性痰可分好几种情况：
第一种是痰中带鲜红血丝，多见于肺结核或支气管扩张，有时咽部有炎症也可出现这种情况;
第二种是黑色血痰，多见于肺梗塞;
第三种，粉红色泡沫样痰，见于肺水肿。
另外，如果长期痰内带血或伴有胸痛、乏力、消瘦的症状，须警惕肺癌的发生。  

痰的颜色可助您了解您的身体如何应对疾病。　


Source 资料源自：
http://www.healtharticles101.com/color-of-phlegm-what-can-it-tell-you/
http://www.hbwj120xc.com/hotconcern/201006181323.html

Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat 风寒感冒与风热感冒

Common cold in Traditional Chinese Medicine is different from what prescribed in Western Medicine. It mainly caused by the upper respiratory tract infection and the symptoms include nasal congestion, nasal itching, runny nose, sore throat, itchy, tearing, postnatal drip flu and others.

There are two major types of common colds and in the Chinese medical language named wind-cold and wind-heat, while in Western medical language named common cold, seasonal flu and others.

Flu that caused by Wind-cold
Cause of tiredness, not fully rested or catch cold. Most commonly happened during winter season. The nature of the Taiyang meridian is Cold (In the Taiyang layer, it is the Cold dominates).  When the Taiyang meridian is in disorder, the disorder might be in the meridian (this meridian per se is in disorder).

The symptoms include:

* Chilly, mild fever
* Pain and stiff in the back of the head and neck is not flexible
* Fear of cold, usually need to wear a lot of clothes or cover with thick blanket to maintain at comfortable point
* Clear, white or a bit yellowish mucus. If nasal congestion happen, drink more warm water to release clear mucus 

* Coughing thin and white phlegm
* Tongue with no coating or slightly white
* If you familiar with pulse diagnosis, you will be able to test on floating pulse which means Yang floating pulse, beat easily. 

Symptoms of Flu that caused by Wind-heat

* High fever, less cold
* Pain and stiff in the back of the head , sweating

* Pain throat swelling and pain, most commonly happen before flu symptoms, yellow or slightly dark sputum.
* Nasal congestion, thick mucus, usually yellow in color 

* Tongue is red with yellow coating.  

* Cough, body heatiness 

* Constipation, thirsty, nervous

* Flood pulse, which is faster than the normal pulse

风寒感冒和风热感冒的区别


伤风是中医用语，西医里并没有这个词汇。感冒区分为上感和流感，伤风是上感的的一种，只是普通感冒，主要就是上呼吸道的感染，以鼻咽部的症状为主，表现为鼻塞，鼻痒，流涕，咽痛，咽痒，流泪，鼻后滴漏感等。


中医通常把感冒分为风寒感冒和风热感冒，以西医的说法则分为普通感冒、流行性感冒等。

风寒感冒，
其起因通常是劳累，没休息好，再加上吹风或受凉。风寒感冒通常秋冬发生比较多。风寒感冒属于太阳经症，太阳开机受阻。其特征症状为：

* 恶寒重、发热轻

* 后脑强痛，就是后脑袋疼，连带脖子转动不灵活。

* 怕寒怕风，通常要穿很多衣服或盖大被子才觉得舒服点

* 鼻涕是清涕，白色或稍微带点黄。如果鼻塞不流涕，喝点热开水，开始流清涕，这也属于风寒感冒

* 咳嗽吐稀白痰

* 舌无苔或薄白苔

* 如果您会把脉，您应该可以测到脉像是浮紧，浮脉的意思是阳气在表，轻取即得。

风热感冒的症状：

* 发热重、微恶风

* 头胀痛，有汗

* 咽喉红肿疼痛，通常在感冒症状之前就痛，痰通常黄色或带黑色。

* 鼻塞，浓涕，通常黄色

* 舌苔带点黄色，也有可能是白色的，舌体通常比较红。

* 咳嗽，身热

* 便秘、口渴、心烦

* 脉像通常为数脉或洪脉，就是脉搏比正常的为快，为大。

Source 资料源自：
http://www.fk87.com/h1n1/2011/0420/128.html
http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/72727767.html
http://www.621m.cn/search/doc/92128

Flu or Cold Symptoms? 流感或伤风感冒症状

When you wake up sneezing, coughing, and have that achy, feverish, can't move a muscle feeling, how do you know whether you have cold symptoms or the flu? And if it's the flu, could it be swine flu?

It's important to know the difference between flu and cold symptoms. A cold is a milder respiratory illness than the flu. While cold symptoms can make you feel bad for a few days, flu symptoms can make you feel quite ill for a few days to weeks. The flu -- whether it's typical seasonal flu or the swine flu virus -- can also result in serious health problems such as pneumonia and hospitalizations.

What are common cold symptoms?

Cold symptoms usually begin with a sore throat which usually goes away after a day or two. Nasal symptoms, runny nose, and congestion follow, along with a cough by the fourth and fifth days. Fever is uncommon in adults, but a slight fever is possible. Children are more likely to have a fever with a cold.

With cold symptoms, your nose teems with watery nasal secretions for the first few days. Later, these become thicker and darker. Dark mucus is natural and does not usually mean you have developed a bacterial infection, such as a sinus infection.

Several hundred different viruses may cause your cold symptoms.

What are common flu symptoms?

Whether a person has typical seasonal flu or swine flu, the symptoms seem to be quite similar. Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of swine flu or other flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion, and cough. Swine flu in particular is also associated with vomiting and diarrhea.

Most flu symptoms gradually improve over two to five days, but it's not uncommon to feel run down for a week or more. A common complication of the flu is pneumonia, particularly in the young, elderly, or people with lung or heart problems. If you notice shortness of breath, you should let your doctor know. Another common sign of pneumonia is fever that comes back after having been gone for a day or two.

Just like cold viruses, flu viruses enter your body through the mucous membranes of your nose, eyes, or mouth. Every time you touch your hand to one of these areas, you could be infecting yourself with a virus, which makes it very important to keep your hands germ-free with frequent washing to prevent both flu and cold symptoms.

流感或伤风感冒症状


当您睡醒的时候，突然打喷嚏、咳嗽，感到疼痛或发烧，肌肉紧绷的感觉，您如何辨别那是伤风、感冒或流感呢？如果是流感，有可能是禽流感吗？


流感与伤风感冒症状之间的分别相当重要。感冒这一种呼吸系统疾病比流感温和。感冒症状可令您好几天都感到不适；流感症状则令您从几天不适到几个星期都感到不舒服。流感，无论是季节性流行性感冒或是禽流感病毒，也可能导致严重的健康问题，如肺炎和住院。


感冒症状


感冒症状通常始于咽喉痛，通常在一两天后消失。鼻部症状，流鼻涕，紧随着鼻塞，四、五天后开始咳嗽。发烧较少见于成人，也有可能出现轻微发烧的情况。孩童较常出现感冒发烧症状。


感冒症状包括最初几天，您的鼻子会装满湿漉漉的鼻腔分泌物。几天后分泌物越来越浓稠，越来越沉暗。沉暗的分泌物粘液是很自然的，并不意味着您已被细菌感染，如鼻窦感染。


数百种病菌可造成的感冒症状不一。


普通流感症状


一个人患上季节性流行性感冒或者禽流感的症状非常相似。流感的症状通常比普通感冒来得更严重，而且更快。禽流感或其他流感的症状包括咽喉痛，发烧，头疼，肌肉酸痛，充血和咳嗽。禽流感的症状通常还包括呕吐和腹泻。


大多数流感的症状会在二至五天内逐渐改善，不过也可能延续到一个星期或更长时间。一般流感的并发症包括肺炎，特别是针对患有肺或心脏疾病的青年或老年人。当您发现气短，即刻告诉医生。肺炎的另一种症状是发烧，退烧一两天后又再发烧。


流感病毒如同感冒病毒，通过您的鼻子粘膜，眼睛和嘴巴进入身体。当您的手触碰以上部位，就会被感染。勤于洗手令您的双手保持无菌状态以避免患上流感或感冒。

(Source 资料源自: http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/cold-guide/flu-cold-symptoms)