Gun Tan Wan — Vaporise Phlegm Pill

On this page

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

Overview

Gun Tan Wan — the “Vaporise (Roll-Out) Phlegm Pill” — is from Wang Gui’s Yuan-dynasty work as compiled by Wang Yin. It addresses severe Old Phlegm (lao tan) combined with Fire causing major psychiatric and respiratory disturbance: longstanding mental illness with mania, severe chronic productive cough with thick yellow phlegm not responding to lighter formulas, Phlegm-Fire epilepsy. The chief mineral substance Meng Shi (chlorite-schist) is the only herb in the TCM pharmacopoeia specifically classed for “vaporising” the deepest, most stubborn Phlegm.

I prescribe Gun Tan Wan as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.

TCM pattern

Gun Tan Wan is prescribed for severe Old Phlegm-Fire disturbing the Heart and Lung:

• Severe chronic productive cough with thick yellow / yellow-green sputum
• Severe chronic mental disturbance — mania, delusions, severe insomnia
• Phlegm-Fire epilepsy with stubborn pattern
• Sense of choking or thick phlegm hard to expectorate
• Constipation, dark urine
• Tongue — red with thick yellow-greasy coat
• Pulse — slippery, forceful, possibly rapid

Key herbs

1. Meng Shi (Lapis Chloriti, calcined, 9–15g) — chief; specifically “vaporises” deep stubborn Phlegm
2. Da Huang (Rx. Rhei, 9–15g) — purges Heat-accumulation; descends Phlegm-Fire downward through bowels
3. Huang Qin (Rx. Scutellariae, 6–15g) — clears Lung and upper-burner Heat
4. Chen Xiang (Lignum Aquilariae, cultivated, 1.5–3g) — descends rebellious Qi; carries Phlegm downward

Formula actions

1. Vigorously breaks up Old Phlegm
2. Drains Phlegm-Fire downward through the bowels
3. Clears Lung and Heart Phlegm-Heat
4. Resolves stubborn psychiatric Phlegm patterns

Conditions treated

1. Severe chronic schizophrenia, mania with Phlegm-Fire pattern (adjunctive, with conventional psychiatric care)
2. Refractory chronic bronchitis with thick yellow sputum
3. Severe bronchiectasis with copious thick sputum (adjunctive)
4. Phlegm-Fire epilepsy (with conventional antiepileptic management)
5. Severe stubborn productive cough not responding to lighter Phlegm formulas

Cautions

Contains Da Huang and strong purgative herbs — strictly contraindicated in pregnancy.

Very aggressive; reserved for severe Excess Phlegm-Fire patterns — never for deficient patterns, Yin-deficient cough or Cold-Phlegm.

Use Chen Xiang from sustainable cultivated source only; pharmaceutical-grade Sun Ten uses cultivated source.

For short-term acute use only.

Severe psychiatric conditions require psychiatric assessment; herbal medicine is an adjunct only, not a replacement.

Always consult a qualified Chinese herbalist registered with the RCHM.

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