When the throat dries out and the voice tires
A dry throat, a voice that turns husky after talking a lot, a blocked feeling in the upper body, mild warmth lingering in the throat… In TCM, these signs may be associated with Lung Qi that no longer spreads freely, often accompanied by Phlegm and a little Heat. According to tradition, the Lung meridian passes through the throat: when its Qi is obstructed, that is where you feel it.
Fu Fang Jie Geng Pian is a modern preparation from the Chinese pharmacopoeia. It rests on one of the oldest pairs in the tradition, platycodon and licorice, already combined around the year 200 by Zhang Zhongjing (张仲景) in the Shang Han Lun (《伤寒论》), under the name Jie Geng Tang. This pair has become a module that many later formulas take up unchanged. Our preparation adds polygala to it.
Open upwards, soften in place
Platycodon, the most abundant herb, is the vehicle of the formula: tradition describes it as ‘the boat and the oar’ of the other herbs, which it carries towards the Lung and the throat. Licorice, used raw, softens and clears Heat; polygala, warm, helps dissolve Phlegm and bring the Qi back down. Platycodon opens and lifts, licorice softens and holds back: this is the whole balance of the classic pair.
Helps the Lung Qi spread freely: Pungent and bitter, platycodon opens and spreads Lung Qi when Phlegm obstructs it.
Helps transform Phlegm: Platycodon disperses stagnant Phlegm; polygala, also pungent and bitter, accompanies it and helps the Qi descend again.
Helps soothe sensations of throat dryness: Licorice, used raw as in the classical text, soothes the throat and clears Heat; its sweetness also moderates the upward force of platycodon.
Supports periods of intensive voice use: By freeing the passage of the throat, through which the Lung meridian runs, platycodon helps the voice regain its ease.
