How to treat pharyngitis with traditional Chinese medicine

Nov 10, 2025 Source: Cainiu Health

Dr. Sun Lianqing

Introduction

Treating pharyngitis with traditional Chinese medicine typically involves herbs such as honeysuckle, ophiopogon, platycodon, sterculia seed, and scrophularia, selected according to different syndrome patterns to relieve symptoms. Honeysuckle has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispelling wind-heat. It helps eliminate heat pathogens in the throat, alleviating symptoms of pharyngitis such as redness, swelling, pain, and dry mouth. It is especially suitable for pharyngitis caused by wind-heat invasion or excessive lung heat.

Treating pharyngitis with traditional Chinese medicine generally involves using herbs such as honeysuckle, dwarf lilyturf root, platycodon, sterculia seed, and black cohosh, which are selected according to different syndrome patterns to relieve symptoms. Specific details are as follows:

1. Honeysuckle

Honeysuckle has the effects of clearing heat, detoxifying, and dispersing wind-heat. It helps eliminate heat pathogens in the throat, alleviating redness, swelling, pain, dry mouth, and other symptoms caused by pharyngitis, especially suitable for pharyngitis due to external wind-heat or excessive lung heat.

2. Dwarf Lilyturf Root (Mai Dong)

Dwarf lilyturf root primarily nourishes yin, generates body fluids, moistens the lungs, and soothes the throat. For pharyngitis caused by yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, it nourishes the mucous membranes of the throat, improving symptoms such as dryness, itching, and foreign-body sensation. It also helps regulate pharyngitis resulting from prolonged voice overuse.

3. Platycodon

Platycodon can promote lung function, benefit the throat, and expel phlegm. It regulates lung qi and clears blockages in the throat, relieving symptoms such as sore throat, hoarseness, and difficult expectoration associated with pharyngitis. Additionally, it guides other medicinal components directly to the affected area, enhancing therapeutic effectiveness.

4. Sterculia Seed (Pang Da Hai)

Sterculia seed excels at clearing heat, moistening the lungs, soothing the throat, detoxifying, and lubricating the intestines to relieve constipation. For pharyngitis caused by excessive lung heat or intense lung-stomach heat, it rapidly relieves throat swelling, pain, and hoarseness, particularly suitable for acute phases with prominent symptoms. It is commonly used by steeping in hot water as a drink.

5. Black Cohosh (Xuan Shen)

Black cohosh clears heat and cools blood, nourishes yin to reduce fire, detoxifies, and resolves nodules. It is suitable for pharyngitis due to yin deficiency with hyperactivity of fire or accumulation of heat-toxin. It eliminates deficient heat, resolves stagnation in the throat, and improves symptoms such as dryness, throat pain, difficulty swallowing, and mild tonsil enlargement.

When using traditional Chinese medicine to treat pharyngitis, proper pattern differentiation is essential—avoid blindly taking cold or warming herbs. If pharyngitis recurs frequently or is accompanied by severe symptoms such as fever or difficulty swallowing, prompt medical evaluation is necessary to identify underlying causes. In daily life, maintaining a light diet and drinking plenty of water can support throat recovery.

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