Ding Chuan Tang — Arrest Wheezing Decoction

On this page

1. Overview
2. TCM pattern
3. Key herbs
4. Formula actions
5. Conditions treated
6. Cautions

What is Ding Chuan Tang?

Ding Chuan Tang — Arrest Wheezing Decoction — is a classical Ming dynasty formula from Zhang Shi Cheng’s She Sheng Zhong Miao Fang (1550) for asthma with external Wind-Cold and internal Phlegm-Heat. It is one of the most widely used asthma formulas in Chinese herbal medicine and one of the most clinically studied TCM formulas for asthma.

I prescribe Ding Chuan Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

Ding Chuan Tang TCM pattern

Prescribed for Wind-Cold exterior with Phlegm-Heat in the Lung: cough and wheezing with thick yellow sticky sputum, chest tightness, sweating, mild aversion to wind, a yellow greasy tongue coat and a slippery rapid pulse.

Key herbs

1. Ma Huang — disperses Lung Qi and arrests wheezing
2. Bai Guo — astringes the Lung and arrests wheezing (balances Ma Huang)
3. Xing Ren — descends Lung Qi and stops cough
4. Sang Bai Pi, Huang Qin — clear Lung heat
5. Su Zi, Kuan Dong Hua, Ban Xia — descend Lung Qi and transform Phlegm
6. Gan Cao — harmonises

Formula actions

1. Releases the Lung and arrests wheezing
2. Clears Lung Heat and transforms Phlegm
3. Astringes Lung Qi to prevent over-dispersion

Conditions treated

1. Acute exacerbations of allergic asthma with thick yellow sputum and wheeze
2. Chronic bronchitis with Phlegm-Heat features
3. Childhood and adult asthma triggered by upper respiratory infection
4. Cough-variant asthma with sticky yellow phlegm

Cautions

Contraindicated in Yin-deficient dry cough, pure cold wheezing without heat features, pregnancy, hypertension and hyperthyroidism (Ma Huang content). Severe asthma requires conventional inhaled and emergency therapy as the first-line approach; Ding Chuan Tang is integrative supportive care.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the Register of Chinese Herbal Medicine (RCHM). Online herbal consultations are available.

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