清燥救肺湯

4. Granule conversion and dose

Calculation of the total raw herb weight in the original formula:

Sang Ye (mulberry leaf) 9 g + Shi Gao (gypsum) 7.5 g + Mai Dong (ophiopogon tuber) 3.6 g + E Jiao (donkey-hide gelatin) 2.4 g + Hu Ma Ren (sesame seed) 3 g + Xing Ren (apricot kernel) 2.1 g + Pi Pa Ye (loquat leaf) 3 g + Ren Shen (ginseng) 2.1 g + Gan Cao (licorice root) 3 g = 35.7 g.

Conversion to 5:1 granules:

35.7 g raw herbs ÷ 5 = 7.14 g granules.

Granule dosing: Dissolve in warm water and take in 2-3 divided doses.

• Twice daily, about 3.5 g per dose.
• Three times daily, about 2.5 g per dose.

(In the original decoction, E Jiao must be melted and dissolved into the strained decoction; the granule form has already undergone special processing—please follow the product instructions. Frequent small doses are recommended to approximate the spirit of the original formula.)

5. Cautions and clinical notes

[Contraindications]:

1. Use with caution or avoid in patients with Spleen-Stomach yang deficiency and cold, and loose stools. Most herbs in this formula are sweet, cold, and moistening in nature, and may readily damage Spleen yang.
2. Not suitable for those with pronounced internal phlegm-damp presenting with cough and copious phlegm.
3. Avoid in cases of external contraction of cool-dryness (marked by pronounced aversion to cold, cough with thin phlegm, nasal congestion, and dry throat).

[Safety warnings]:

1. Xing Ren in this formula has slight toxicity; ProCare Herbs granules undergo standardized processing during manufacture to ensure safety.
2. This formula is intended for severe patterns of warm-dryness; it should be discontinued once the condition resolves and should not be taken long-term.

Modern applications: Mainly used for pneumonia, bronchitis, radiation pneumonitis, lung cancer, chronic pharyngitis, Sjögren's syndrome, and other conditions where the pattern is dryness-heat invading the Lung with dual damage to qi and yin.

Duration of use: For acute-phase treatment, generally taken for 1-2 weeks. Discontinue once fever subsides, cough and panting settle, and fluids are gradually restored. For regulation of chronic conditions, may be taken for 2-4 weeks as directed.