Chinese medicine prescriptions for cough include Sang Ju Drink, Sang Apricot Soup, and Sha Shen Maidong Soup, but the exact medication should be decided by the doctor according to the patient’s condition.
Sang Ju Drink has the effect of dispersing wind and clearing heat, promoting the lungs to stop coughing (stopping coughing by promoting lung qi). It can be used to treat the first signs of wind-warmth and mild superficial heat. Symptoms include coughing, low body heat, slight thirst, thin white coating, and floating pulse.
Mulberry and Apricot Soup is used in treating external warmth and dryness. Symptoms include low body heat, thirst, dry throat and nose, dry cough without phlegm or little phlegm and sticky, and red tongue.
Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang, with the effects of sweet and cold, generating fluids, clearing and nourishing the lung and stomach. It is mainly used for treating dry throat and thirst, or heat, or dry cough with little sputum caused by dryness to the lungs and stomach or deficiency of yin and fluid in the lungs and stomach. It is not recommended for people with external cough and cold spleen and stomach.
Patients with cough are advised to seek prompt medical attention. If medication is needed, it should be identified by a doctor and standardized treatment should be followed.