INGREDIENTS

Each pill contains the equiv. to dry:

 

Wolfporia, fruit 72.1mg

Baikal Skullcap, root 57.7mg

Prune, seed 57.7mg

Snakegourd, seed 43.3mg

Nutgrass, rhiz. 43.3mg

Unripe Bitter Orange, peel 43.3mg

Thunberg Fritillary, bulb 28.8mg

Bitter Orange, peel 28.8mg

 

 

Store below 30°C

Contains 200 x 200mg pills.

AUSTL 482247

Manufactured In Australia.

 

Indications: a wet cough with thick, yellow, green or sticky phlegm.

Actions: clear heat, resolve phlegm, stop cough.

Dosages: 12 - 15 pills, 2 - 3 times per day, or as symptoms return. Take near food.

Children: 6 months an over 1 pill per year of age up to the age of 10 as directed above.

Over use, don’t under use. Treat sooner rather than later.

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Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang – "Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm"

A classical Chinese herbal formula traditionally used to clear thick yellow phlegm from the lungs, reduce inflammation and restore easier breathing during chest infections and productive coughs.

 

What is Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang?

Not all coughs are the same.

Some coughs are dry and irritating.

Some begin with only a tickle in the throat.

Others produce large amounts of thick, yellow mucus that feels impossible to clear.

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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) recognised these as completely different illnesses requiring different treatment.

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang (清气化痰汤) was developed specifically for coughs where the lungs have become congested with thick, sticky yellow phlegm.

​

At Chiron Medical we call it "Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm", because those words immediately describe the people most likely to benefit from this formula.

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Rather than suppressing the cough, Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang helps the lungs clear mucus while reducing the inflammation that causes it.

 

A Formula with More Than 400 Years of Clinical History

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang first appeared in Yi Xue Ru Men (Introduction to Medicine) by Li Chan, published during the Ming Dynasty in 1575 CE.

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It became one of the classical formulas for Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Lungs, a pattern characterised by productive cough, yellow sputum and chest congestion.

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Today it remains one of the most widely prescribed Chinese herbal formulas for lower respiratory infections accompanied by thick mucus.

 

Why We Call It "Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm"

The colour and consistency of mucus often provide valuable clues.

 

When patients describe:

• thick mucus

• yellow phlegm

• greenish sputum

• chest congestion

• rattling breathing

• difficulty clearing mucus

• productive cough

 

Chinese medicine recognises a very different pattern from a dry cough.

The emphasis is no longer simply calming irritation.

The lungs need help clearing inflammatory mucus.

 

What Is It Traditionally Used For?

Traditionally, Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang is prescribed for Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Lungs.

 

Chest Infections

• productive cough

• bronchitis

• chest congestion

• prolonged chest infections

• bacterial respiratory infections (alongside appropriate medical care)

 

Respiratory Symptoms

• yellow sputum

• thick sticky mucus

• rattling chest

• wheezing with mucus

• cough worse in the morning

• chest tightness

 

Recovery After Viral Illness

Some patients develop lingering thick mucus after influenza or viral respiratory infections.

This formula is commonly considered during that stage of recovery when inflammation has moved deeper into the lungs.

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The Herbs That Make the Formula

 

Healthy lungs produce mucus every day. Under normal circumstances it traps dust, microbes and other unwanted particles before quietly being swept out of the airways.

 

When inflammation develops, however, this protective mucus changes. It becomes thicker, stickier and more difficult to clear, gradually blocking the airways and fuelling persistent coughing.

 

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang was designed to restore the lungs' natural cleaning system. Some herbs thin and loosen stubborn mucus, others cool the inflammation that created it, while several help the lungs expel congestion and breathe more freely once again.

 

Dan Nan Xing (Processed Arisaema)

 

Traditional Role

Dan Nan Xing is the heavy machinery of the formula. It breaks apart the thick, stubborn Phlegm that refuses to move, loosening congestion that has become deeply lodged within the lungs so it can finally be expelled.

 

Biomedical Role

Traditionally valued for reducing excessive mucus and improving airway clearance, Dan Nan Xing is particularly suited to thick, difficult-to-expectorate sputum associated with inflammatory respiratory disease.

 

Gua Lou Ren (Trichosanthes Seed)

 

Traditional Role

Once the blockage begins to loosen, Gua Lou Ren moistens and opens the airways. Like washing thick mud from a blocked drain, it softens sticky Phlegm while relieving the tightness and chest oppression that often accompany persistent congestion.

 

Biomedical Role

Research suggests anti-inflammatory, expectorant and immunomodulatory effects together with support for healthy airway function and mucus clearance.

 

Huang Qin (Baikal Skullcap Root)

 

Traditional Role

Sticky mucus is often the result of excessive Heat. Huang Qin cools the inflammatory fire within the lungs, reducing the irritation that continually produces thick yellow sputum.

 

Biomedical Role

Rich in baicalin and baicalein, Huang Qin demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral and antioxidant activity that complements its traditional use in respiratory infections.

 

Xing Ren (Apricot Kernel)

 

Traditional Role

Once the airways begin to clear, Xing Ren helps restore their rhythm. It directs Lung Qi downward, calming cough and relaxing the airways so breathing becomes smoother and more comfortable.

 

Biomedical Role

Modern research demonstrates bronchodilatory, antitussive and airway-relaxing properties that support easier breathing and improved mucus clearance.

 

Chen Pi (Aged Tangerine Peel)

 

Traditional Role

Chen Pi keeps everything moving. It regulates Qi throughout the chest, preventing loosened Phlegm from settling again while supporting both healthy digestion and healthy Lung function.

 

Biomedical Role

Research suggests improvements in gastric motility, digestive function and mucus clearance together with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

 

Zhi Shi (Immature Bitter Orange)

 

Traditional Role

Congestion creates pressure. Zhi Shi relieves the feeling of fullness in the chest by restoring the smooth movement of Qi, helping the lungs push loosened mucus toward the exit.

 

Biomedical Role

Studies suggest beneficial effects on smooth muscle activity, gastrointestinal motility and the coordinated movement of the respiratory and digestive systems.

 

Fu Ling (Poria)

 

Traditional Role

Phlegm is continually produced if excess Dampness remains. Fu Ling addresses the source of the problem by strengthening digestion and improving fluid metabolism, helping prevent fresh mucus from forming once the lungs

have been cleared.

 

Biomedical Role

Research demonstrates immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity together with beneficial effects on gut microbiome health and fluid regulation.

 

Gan Cao (Liquorice Root)

 

Traditional Role

As the lungs recover, Gan Cao soothes irritated airways and keeps the prescription working in harmony. It softens the stronger herbs while helping relieve cough and protect delicate respiratory tissues.

 

Biomedical Role

Liquorice possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and mucosal protective properties together with immunomodulatory effects that support respiratory healing.

 

Why These Herbs Work Together

 

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang recognises that thick mucus is not the disease—it's the result of inflammation disrupting the lungs' normal cleaning system.

 

Dan Nan Xing and Gua Lou Ren loosen stubborn Phlegm, while Huang Qin cools the inflammatory Heat responsible for producing it. Xing Ren restores the normal downward movement of Lung Qi, helping the lungs expel mucus naturally. Chen Pi and Zhi Shi keep both Qi and Phlegm moving, while Fu Ling reduces the ongoing production of Dampness that feeds chronic congestion. Gan Cao harmonises the prescription and protects the recovering airways.

 

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the formula clears Phlegm-Heat from the Lungs, redirects rebellious Lung Qi downward and restores healthy respiration. It is particularly suited to productive coughs with thick yellow or green sputum, chest congestion and inflammatory respiratory infections.

 

From a modern biomedical perspective, the constituent herbs have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties together with actions supporting airway clearance, respiratory mucosal health and healthy immune function. These complementary mechanisms help restore the lungs' natural ability to clear mucus while reducing the inflammation driving its production.

 

Rather than simply suppressing a cough, Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang helps restore the lungs' own housekeeping system, allowing them to clear, protect and heal themselves as they were designed to do.

 

What Does Modern Research Say?

Research into the constituent herbs has explored:

 

Respiratory Disease

• acute bronchitis

• chronic bronchitis

• lower respiratory tract infection

• pneumonia recovery (adjunctive care)

• COPD with mucus production

 

Airway Inflammation

Studies suggest effects involving:

• inflammatory cytokines

• mucus secretion

• airway inflammation

• oxidative stress

• bronchial smooth muscle

S

everal herbs demonstrate laboratory evidence of antibacterial and antiviral activity while also reducing inflammatory signalling.

Although further clinical trials are needed, these findings align closely with the formula's traditional role.

 

Understanding Wet and Dry Coughs

One of the greatest strengths of Chinese medicine is recognising that not every cough should be treated the same way.

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Treating a dry cough with mucus-clearing herbs may worsen dryness.

Treating a wet cough with moistening herbs may worsen congestion.

Choosing the correct formula depends on recognising the pattern.

 

Comparing the Chiron Medical Cough Formulas

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Sang Ju Yin - New Cough - Early-stage coughDry tickly cough, sore throat, mild fever, beginning of a cold

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang - Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm - Productive inflammatory cough - Thick yellow mucus, rattling chest, chest congestion, productive cough

Bai He Gu Jin Tang - Dry Cough - Chronic dry irritated cough - Dry throat, dry cough, little or no mucus, hoarse voice, night cough

Ding Chuan Tang - Wheeze - Cough with airway narrowingWheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, cough with difficult breathing

 

How These Formulas Work Together

Respiratory illnesses often change over time.

A typical progression might look like this:

Stage 1 – New Cough

The illness begins.

A dry, tickly cough appears with a sore throat.

Sang Ju Yin ("New Cough") is often the appropriate choice.

↓

Stage 2 – Wet Cough

Inflammation moves deeper into the lungs.

Yellow sticky mucus develops.

The cough becomes productive.

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang ("Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm") becomes the better match.

↓

Stage 3 – Wheeze

If inflammation narrows the airways, wheezing and chest tightness develop.

Ding Chuan Tang ("Wheeze") helps open the lungs while reducing cough.

↓

Stage 4 – Dry Recovery

After the infection resolves, inflammation settles but dryness remains.

Patients complain of:

• lingering dry cough

• throat irritation

• little mucus

• coughing at night

Bai He Gu Jin Tang ("Dry Cough") helps restore moisture to the lungs and complete recovery.

This progression explains why different formulas may be used at different stages of the same illness.

 

For Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners

 

Classical Pattern

Phlegm-Heat obstructing the Lung

Typical presentation:

• productive cough

• thick yellow sputum

• chest fullness

• difficult expectoration

• thirst

• red tongue with greasy yellow coating

• slippery rapid pulse

 

Formula Strategy

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang:

• Clears Lung Heat.

• Transforms Phlegm.

• Descends Lung Qi.

• Stops cough.

• Restores airway clearance.

 

Common Clinical Modifications

Frequently adapted for:

• bronchitis

• COPD with productive sputum

• bacterial respiratory infections

• post-viral mucus retention

• smoking-related productive cough

 

For Medical Doctors

 

Proposed Biomedical Actions

Current research suggests the constituent herbs influence:

• inflammatory cytokines

• airway mucus production

• mucociliary clearance

• oxidative stress

• bronchial smooth muscle

• immune regulation

Major bioactive compounds include:

• baicalin

• baicalein

• glycyrrhizin

• hesperidin

• trichosanthin-related compounds

• amygdalin (from Xing Ren)

Collectively these compounds demonstrate expectorant, anti-inflammatory, bronchodilatory and antimicrobial properties.

 

Potential Herb–Drug Considerations

Clinical monitoring is appropriate alongside:

• antibiotics

• bronchodilators

• inhaled corticosteroids

• mucolytic medications

• anticoagulants (general botanical precaution)

Patients with high fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing up blood or suspected pneumonia require prompt medical assessment. Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang is intended to complement—not replace—appropriate medical care.

 

Helping the Lungs Clean Themselves

A productive cough is often uncomfortable, but it serves an important purpose.

The lungs are trying to remove inflammatory material.

The goal is not always to stop coughing.

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Sometimes the goal is to help the lungs clear more effectively.

Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang reflects this philosophy.

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It reduces inflammation while helping the body remove thick mucus naturally.

That is why we call it "Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm."

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The name immediately tells people when the formula is most likely to help—when the chest feels heavy, congested and full of mucus that simply won't come up.

 

Key Takeaways

• Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang is a classical respiratory formula first recorded during the Ming Dynasty for productive coughs with thick yellow phlegm.

• At Chiron Medical it is called "Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm" because it is specifically designed for inflammatory chest congestion with difficult-to-clear mucus.

• It differs from Sang Ju Yin ("New Cough"), which treats the earliest stage of respiratory infection, Bai He Gu Jin Tang ("Dry Cough"), which nourishes dry irritated lungs during recovery, and Ding Chuan Tang ("Wheeze"), which is directed at airway narrowing and wheezing.

• Modern research supports anti-inflammatory, expectorant, bronchodilatory and antimicrobial actions of its constituent herbs.

• The formula should be prescribed by a qualified Chinese medicine practitioner following an individual assessment and used alongside appropriate medical care. Persistent fever, breathing difficulty, chest pain or suspected pneumonia require urgent medical evaluation.

 

Clinical Perspective

Within the Chiron Medical respiratory collection, Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang ("Wet Cough – Yellow Sticky Phlegm") occupies the central stage of a natural progression through respiratory illness. Sang Ju Yin ("New Cough") addresses the earliest, superficial stage before mucus develops. Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang becomes appropriate once inflammation settles into the lungs and produces thick yellow sputum. If airway narrowing becomes the dominant feature, Ding Chuan Tang ("Wheeze") takes over by focusing on bronchospasm and difficult breathing. Finally, as the infection resolves and the lungs are left dry and irritated, Bai He Gu Jin Tang ("Dry Cough") nourishes and repairs the respiratory tissues. This sequence reflects one of the defining strengths of Traditional Chinese Medicine: treatment evolves with the changing physiology of illness, rather than using the same remedy from beginning to end.

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Clinical Insights

 

Wet Cough with Thick Phlegm

Wet Cough is designed for respiratory infections that produce thick, difficult-to-clear mucus, particularly when inflammation has moved deeper into the lungs.

Typical symptoms include:

• productive cough

• thick yellow or green sputum

• chest congestion

• rattling chest

• bronchitis

• difficult expectoration

• chest tightness

• fever with productive cough

Rather than simply suppressing coughing, the formula helps thin, loosen and clear mucus while reducing inflammation within the airways.

 

Bronchitis and Asthma During Respiratory Infection

When bronchitis or asthma develops during an upper respiratory tract infection, practitioners frequently combine:

• Minor Blue Dragon (Xiao Qing Long Tang) — where wheezing, clear mucus and airway constriction remain significant.

• Bleeding (Si Miao Yong An Tang) — where bacterial infection and severe inflammatory changes are suspected.

• Immunity (Yu Ping Feng San) — during recovery to strengthen respiratory immunity and reduce future infections.

This layered approach allows treatment to evolve as airway inflammation progresses from viral infection to deeper bronchial involvement and finally to immune recovery.

 

Chronic Bronchitis with Thick Yellow Sputum

Long-standing bronchitis often produces:

• persistent productive cough

• thick yellow mucus

• chest congestion

• breathlessness

• chronic airway inflammation

Practitioners commonly combine:

• Wheeze (Ding Chuan Tang)

This combination clears thick mucus while relieving bronchospasm and improving airflow, making it particularly useful where productive cough and wheezing occur together.

 

Productive Cough Following Cold or Influenza

Many respiratory infections evolve through recognisable stages.

When a cold or influenza progresses from fever into a productive cough with:

• thick yellow sputum

• chest congestion

• persistent coughing

practitioners frequently combine:

• Lingering Cough (Zhi Sou San)

This reflects the transition from active lower respiratory infection to the recovery phase, where residual mucus continues irritating the airways after the acute infection has begun resolving.

 

Swollen Lymph Nodes

When respiratory infection is accompanied by:

• enlarged cervical lymph nodes

• tender glands

• persistent glandular swelling

practitioners commonly combine:

• Lumps & Nodules (Nei Xiao Luo Li Wan)

This supports resolution of persistent lymphatic inflammation while Wet Cough continues addressing lower respiratory infection.

 

Preventing Chronic Respiratory Disease

Once infection has resolved but the patient experiences frequent respiratory illness, practitioners often transition to:

• Immunity (Yu Ping Feng San)

This helps rebuild respiratory resilience and may reduce susceptibility to recurrent bronchitis, chest infections and seasonal respiratory illnesses.

 

Understanding the Chiron Medical Respiratory Network

One of the strengths of the Chiron Formula Network is recognising that respiratory infections evolve through predictable stages.

Colds, Shivers & Sniffles (Gui Zhi Tang)

The illness begins with chills, runny nose and early Wind-Cold.

↓

No.1 Flu, Fever, Virus & Infection (Yin Qiao San)

Heat develops with fever, sore throat and early viral infection.

↓

New Cough (Sang Ju Yin)

The infection begins affecting the upper airways, producing an early cough.

↓

Throat Infection (Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang)

Inflammation localises within the throat.

↓

Wet Cough (Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang)

Inflammation moves deeper into the lungs, producing thick yellow mucus, chest congestion and productive coughing.

↓

Choose the dominant pathway

→ Wheeze (Ding Chuan Tang)

Bronchospasm and airway narrowing become dominant alongside coughing.

OR

→ Lingering Cough (Zhi Sou San)

The infection resolves but mucus continues irritating the airways during recovery.

↓

Dry Cough (Bai He Gu Jin Tang)

The mucus has cleared, but the lungs remain dry, sensitive and require repair.

↓

Immunity (Yu Ping Feng San)

Long-term respiratory resilience is rebuilt to reduce susceptibility to future infections.

 

From Mucus Clearance to Lung Recovery

Healthy mucus is one of the lungs' most important defence mechanisms. During respiratory infection, mucus production increases to trap viruses, bacteria and inflammatory debris. Problems arise when this mucus becomes excessively thick, making it difficult for the lungs to clear naturally.

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Wet Cough (Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang) is designed for this stage of illness. It helps restore effective mucus clearance while reducing airway inflammation, allowing the lungs to remove infectious material more efficiently. As recovery progresses, treatment naturally evolves from clearing mucus (Wet Cough) to calming residual airway irritation (Lingering Cough) and finally to repairing the lung tissues (Dry Cough).

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Within the Chiron Medical Respiratory Network, Wet Cough occupies the critical midpoint between upper respiratory infection and full respiratory recovery. It teaches one of the network's central principles:

Not every cough is the same. A cough changes as the illness changes. Matching treatment to the stage of disease—not simply the presence of a cough—is the key to restoring healthy lung function and preventing chronic respiratory illness.