When Wind seizes the Lung
Sensitivity to cold wind and changes in the weather, a throat that feels dry or prickly at the slightest draught, a feeling of fullness in the chest… In TCM, these signs can be associated with Wind reaching the Lung, accompanied by Phlegm that clutters it. According to tradition, the Lung normally sends the Qi downwards, like a fine rain falling back; when Wind seizes it and Phlegm accumulates, its Qi no longer descends and flows back upwards.
Ke Chuan Wan is a modern preparation of the Chinese pharmacopoeia. It combines two groups of herbs that tradition readily uses together: those that disperse Wind at the surface, as in Jing Fang Bai Du San, with which it shares three herbs, and those that bring Lung Qi down.
Raising a little, lowering a lot
The formula rests on a balance of movements. Schizonepeta and saposhnikovia disperse Wind outwards. Platycodon opens the Lung and raises its Qi, while three herbs bring it down: perilla seed, which is warm, and descurainia seed and mulberry root bark, which are cool. Tradition regards this alternation of rising and descending as the mark of a Lung that works freely.
Expels Wind: Schizonepeta and saposhnikovia, a classic pair, disperse the Wind that has lodged at the surface, at the gates of the Lung.
Helps transform Phlegm: Perilla seed and platycodon, which tradition associates with Phlegm, help transform it; descurainia seed, bitter and cold, brings down what clutters the upper body.
Harmonises Lung Qi: Platycodon raises, while perilla, descurainia and mulberry root bark bring down: the Lung regains its natural movement, and the chest a feeling of ease.
