Two-Aged Decoction
二陳湯 · èr chén tāng
TCM's classical base formula for what it calls 'phlegm-damp,' the heavy, sluggish quality that builds up from poor digestion.
What it's for
The name 'two-aged' refers to two of its herbs that work better with age: pinellia and tangerine peel, both prepared and stored before use. Together they break up the heavy, congested feeling that TCM calls phlegm-damp, often showing up as a foggy head, a thick coated tongue, nausea, or a constant feeling of mucus. Practitioners use it as a foundation that other phlegm-resolving formulas get built on.
Signs this formula is a fit
At least 2 of the 3 main signs below should sound like you, especially the wet, easily-coughed-up phlegm.
Main signs
Wet cough with lots of white phlegm that comes up easily
coughing up a lot, throat clearing all day
Nausea and a stuck, full chest
queasy, sometimes vomiting, fullness in the chest
Heavy-headed and foggy
head feels packed and cloudy, body feels waterlogged
Extra signs
- Heart pounding from the phlegm rising
- White, moist or greasy tongue coating
- Worse after dairy, sugar, or cold drinks
Signs it isn't
- Your cough is dry with little phlegm and a red tongue
- You have yellow sticky phlegm with thirst and red face
- You feel parched and dehydrated
What's in it
Safety
- For damp-phlegm patterns with a heavy, sluggish quality. Not for dry coughs or the parched feeling of yin depletion.
- Pinellia must be properly processed. Raw pinellia is toxic. Only use products from a reputable TCM source.
How to take it
What to get
Er Chen Teapills
Plum Flower200 ct
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Dose
Take 8 pills, 3 times a day. Other brands and forms use different doses, so follow the label on what you buy.
How long
Follow any time limit on the product label. If it gives none, ask a qualified TCM practitioner when to reassess. Do not keep taking it unchanged if nothing improves.