Keywords: Chinese medicine, Chinese herbal medicine, pediatrics, cough

In issue #5, 2000 of Hu Bei Zhong Yi Za Zhi (Hubei Journal of Chinese Medicine), Ding Xiao Ming and Dong Wen published an article titled, "A Survey of the Therapeutic Effi c a cy of Treating 80 Cases of Pediatric Cough with Qing Su Duan Ke Fang (Depurate & Stop Coughing Fo rm u l a ) ," on page 396 of that journ a l . According to the Chinese authors, they achieved good results from 1987-1997 treating pediatric cough with this self-composed formula.

Among the 80 cases, 31 were female and 49 were male. The oldest child was five years old and the youngest child was six months old. Sixty-one cases (76.3%) were less three years old, and the duration of the disease was between 1-6 days in 58 cases (72.5%). Sixty-three cases (78.7%) had fever and 36 cases had bronchitis. Eighteen cases had bronchopneumonia (among these, three cases had asthma), and 26 cases had upper respiratory infection.

Medicinal composition of Qing Su Duan Ke Fang: Yu Xing Cao (Herba Houttuyniae Cordatae Cum Radice), 30g, Ma Bo ( Fru c t i fi c a t i o Lasiophaerae Seu Calvatiae), 3-5g (packaged separately), Mu Hu Die (Semen Oroxyli Indici), 5-12g, Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae), 610g, Su Zi (Fructus Perillae Frutescentis), 6-10g, Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae), 8-10g, mix-fried Zi Wan (Radix Asteris Tatarici), 8-10g, mix-fried Bai Bu (Radix Stemonae), 8-10g, Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi Grandiflori), 8-10g, and Qian Hu (Radix Peucedani), 8-10g. The dosage was adjusted according to the age of the child.

Additions: For acute contraction of external evils with a short course of disease, the dosage of Mu Hu Die was increased up to a maximum of 12 grams with no obvious adverse reaction. In addition to this increase in dosage, medicinals to dispel evils and resolve the exterior were added. If there was dual vacuity of yin and qi of the lung, Nan Sha Shen (Radix Adenophorae Strictae) and Bei Sha Shen (Radix Glehniae Littoralis), 10 grams each, Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis), 4-6 grams, and Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae Ningpoensis), 5-10 grams, were added. For copious phlegm, Ting Li Zi (Semen Descurainiae Seu Lepidii), 20 grams (wrapped), or Dai Ge San (Indigo & Clam Shell Powder), 30 grams (wrapped), Chuan Bei Mu ( B u l bu s Fritillariae Cirrhosae), 5-10 grams, and Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinellia Ternatae), 6-10 grams, were added. If phlegm heat had accumulated in the lungs, Jin Qiao Mai (Semen Fagopyri, buckwheat), 10-30 grams, and Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis), 6-10 grams, we r e added. If there was constipation, Quan Gua Lou (complete Fructus Trichosanthis Kirlowii), 15-30 grams, was added. If there was severe cough, Kuan Dong Hua (Flos Tussiliginis Farfarae), 610 grams, was added. And, if there was stubborn

Obvious improvement meant that, after taking the medicinals for 2-3 days, the symptoms disappeared. Improvement meant that the symptoms were eliminated or reduced after three days and the condition was completely resolved after the formula is continued for 4-7 days. No improvement meant that there was no change after taking the medicinals for 2-3 days.

Obvious improvement = 49 cases (61.25%) Improvement = 27 cases (33.75%) No improvement = 4 cases (5.00%) The total amelioration rate was 95%.

In contemporary China, Yu Xing Cao is considered a specific for the treatment of pneumonia by many practitioners. This is the main ingredient in the formula sed in this study, and a significant percentage of the patients are described as suffering from pneumonia.