Case History 34.3
Common Cold and Influenza: Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs-Female, Age
51
A 51-year-old woman who was being treated for a chronic herpes infection, caught an acute
infection manifesting with symptoms of Wind-Heat. Her main symptoms included shivering, a
temperature, a sore throat, very swollen and purulent tonsils, a headache, aches in the body, and
a cough. Her tongue was Red in the front part with a thick yellow coating and red points. Her
pulse was Floating and slightly Rapid.
Diagnosis This is a severe invasion of Wind-Heat with symptoms of Fire-Poison as
well. Apart from the symptoms, the definitely Red colour of the tongue
with red points and thick yellow coating indicate the severity of the
attack. In exterior conditions, the thickness of the coating accurately
reflects the intensity of the pathogenic factor.
Treatment principle The treatment principle adopted was to release the Exterior, expel
Wind-Heat, restore the descending of Lung-Qi and resolve Fire-Poison.
Herbal treatment The prescription used was a variation of Yin Qiao San
Lonicera-Forsythia Powder:
Jin Yin Hua Flos Lonicerae japonicae 9 g
Lian Qiao Fructus Forsythiae suspensae 9 g
Jie Geng Radix Platycodi grandiflori 4 g
Niu Bang Zi Fructus Arctii lappae 6 g
Bo He Herba Menthae 4 g
Jing Jie Herba seu Flos Schizonepetae tenuifoliae 5 g
Zhu Ye Herba Lophatheri gracilis 9 g
Dan Dou Chi Semen Sojae praeparatum 5 g
Gan Cao Radix Glycyrrhizae uralensis 3 g
Da Qing Ye Folium Isatidis seu Baphicacanthi 6 g
She Gan Rhizoma Belamcandae chinensis 4 g
Huang Qin Radix Scutellariae baicalensis 4 gExplanation The first nine herbs constitute the root formula which releases the
Exterior, expels Wind-Heat and resolves Fire-Poison.
Da Qing Ye and She Gan resolve Fire-Poison from the throat and were
added to strengthen this particular action within the formula.Huang Qin was added to clear Heat as severe Wind-Heat easily turns
into interior Heat.Most of the symptoms went after 2 days of taking this decoction twice a