Objective

2

To explore the clinical experience and characteristics of treating phlegm syndrome with

Erchen Decoction

（二陈汤） by ZHU Zhenheng， a famous doctor in Jin-Yuan Dynasty， and provide ideas for treating various diseases from phlegm in clinical practice.

Methods

2

This study comprehensively collected the medical cases and discussions of

Erchen Decoction

in treating phlegm syndrome in ZHU Zhenheng's six types of medical works. With the help of qualitative grounded theory method， pathogenesis and treatment were coded by Nvivo 11， and finally the pathogenesis and treatment system of ZHU Zhenheng using

Erchen Decoction

in the treatment of phlegm syndrome was constructed.

Results

2

A total of 48 medical case reports of ZHU Zhenheng using

Erchen Decoction

to treat phlegm were collected， having 52 discussions about

Erchen Decoction

， and involving 38 miscellaneous internal diseases such as vomiting， fullness， and stroke， six gynecological diseases， four pediatric diseases and four surgical diseases. According to the pathogenesis， ZHU Zhenheng mainly used

Erchen Decoction

in modifications to treat the tangible phlegm such as damp phlegm （28）， cold phlegm （17）， hot phlegm （17）， wind phlegm （15）， food phlegm （13）， phlegm stasis （7）， and phlegm-rheum （3）， as well as invisible phlegm such as latent phlegm mainly composed of

qi

phlegm （27）， and deficiency phlegm （15）. Seven methods are suggested to treat corresponding syndromes based on the different pathogenesis， which are fortifying the spleen and reinforcing healthy

qi

（28）， warming the center and dissipating cold （15）， nourishing blood and supplementing yin （10）， rectifying

qi

and relieving constraint （34）， raising the clear and directing the turbid downward （11）， dispelling wind and eliminating dampness （39）， and discharging heat and moving stagnation （17）.

Conclusion

2

ZHU Zhenheng widely uses

Erchen Decoction

dissolving phlegm， draining phlegm and dispelling phlegm methods to treat internal， surgical， gynecological and pediatric diseases caused by tangible phlegm such as damp phlegm，

qi

phlegm， cold phlegm， hot phlegm， wind phlegm， deficiency phlegm and invisible phlegm.