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Can Erchen Pills clear heat and resolve phlegm?

Aug 01, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Sun Lianqing
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, Erchen Wan does not have a significant heat-clearing effect. It mainly functions to dry dampness and resolve phlegm, thus may not effectively clear heat and resolve phlegm. Judgement should be made according to individual conditions. In daily life, if phlegm resolution is needed, one should first differentiate the nature of the phlegm. Individuals with cold-damp or damp-phlegm constitutions may appropriately take Erchen Wan, while avoiding raw and cold foods. Those with heat-phlegm conditions should instead choose ingredients that clear heat and resolve phlegm.

Generally speaking, Erchen Wan (Two-Facet Pill) does not have a significant heat-clearing effect. Its primary function is to dry dampness and resolve phlegm, thus it may not effectively clear heat and resolve phlegm. Specific determination should be made according to individual circumstances. Detailed analysis is as follows:

Erchen Wan consists of tangerine peel, pinellia, poria, and licorice. It has a warm nature and its functions are drying dampness, resolving phlegm, regulating qi, and harmonizing the stomach. It is mainly used for treating excessive, clear, and thin phlegm, chest tightness, and other symptoms caused by cold-damp or phlegm-damp. For yellow, thick phlegm caused by damp-heat or lung heat (heat-type phlegm conditions), the warm and drying properties of Erchen Wan may be unable to eliminate the heat pathogen and could even worsen internal heat symptoms.

If there are obvious heat symptoms, such as yellow, thick phlegm, dry mouth and throat, or sore throat, using Erchen Wan alone may not achieve the effect of clearing heat and resolving phlegm. Instead, its warm and drying properties might cause the heat pathogen to linger. At this time, heat-clearing herbs should be combined to simultaneously address phlegm resolution and heat clearing, although Erchen Wan itself does not have heat-clearing properties.

In daily life, if there is a need to resolve phlegm, one should first differentiate the nature of the phlegm. Individuals with cold-damp or phlegm-damp constitution can appropriately take Erchen Wan while avoiding cold and raw foods. Those with heat-type phlegm conditions should choose heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving foods, such as pears and winter melon, maintain a light diet, reduce intake of spicy and irritating foods, and maintain respiratory health.

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