In Chinese medicine, a chronic cough is the result of the lungs’ qi moving upward, a disruption in what’s considered healthy. When the lungs are functioning properly, the body’s life energy (qi) is “descended,” or directed down through the lungs. If this flow is blocked or reversed, it manifests as a cough.
Practitioners therefore target the lungs for support when treating a chronic cough. Jie Geng Tang is a proven therapy in this instance and has been used for nearly 1,800 years to treat patients with a chronic cough.
Western and Chinese Medicine Perspectives on Chronic Cough
In western medicine, there are many potential explanations for a chronic cough, including:
- Asthma
- Bronchitis
- Allergies
- Sinusitis (postnasal drip)
- Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
- Upper respiratory infections, such as influenza or fungal infections
- Obesity
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Physicians use lab tests (blood and phlegm), imagining tests (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans and ultrasounds) and lung function tests to diagnose the underlying problem. While these tests can be useful, they don’t always pinpoint the problem.
Chinese medicine treats the body as a whole system, so if any one organ experiences dysfunction, it will affect other organs. As such, practitioners work to support whole-body health by restoring proper flow of qi, supporting individual organ function and removing pathogens.
This philosophy is applied in treating chronic cough, using an herbal formula that corrects qi flow and clears certain pathogenic states in the lungs.
Treating Chronic Cough with Jie Geng Tang
Jie Geng Tang is a proven herbal formulation with a long history in Chinese medicine. Practitioners have used it to support lung health for nearly two millennia, and it remains a frontline therapy for chronic cough.
It’s also a simple formula, consisting of two herbs – Jie Geng and Gan Cao. When combined, these herbs work synergistically to descend the lung qi and keep it from rising up and causing a cough. Gan Cao, specifically, cools the lungs and removes excess heat – a pathology in Chinese medicine. These herbs also work to reduce pain and swelling in the throat.
Before taking Jie Geng Tang, it’s important to first seek a practitioner’s guidance. An experienced Chinese medicine practitioner will verify that their patient is a good candidate for herbal treatment. They’ll also calculate the proper dosage to ensure optimal safety and efficacy.
If your practitioner is also board certified in western medicine, they can understand your disease process from both angles.