Gun Tan Wan (礞石滚痰丸) — 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^[10] 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^[8]
• Phlegm-Fire epilepsy with stubborn pattern
• Sense of choking or thick phlegm hard to expectorate
• Constipation^[11], 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.

Prefer to be treated from home? Chinese herbal medicine online consultations are available throughout the UK and worldwide.

References

[8] Hu J, Teng J, Wang W, Yang N, Tian H, Zhang W, Peng X, Zhang J. Clinical efficacy and safety of traditional Chinese medicine Xiao Yao San in insomnia combined with anxiety. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 Oct 29;100(43):e27608. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000027608. PMID: 34713840.

[10] Lee B, Kwon CY, Suh HW, Kim YJ, Kim KI, Lee BJ, Lee JH. Herbal medicine for the treatment of chronic cough: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Pharmacol. 2023 Oct 17;14:1230604. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2023.1230604. PMID: 37920213.

[11] Lyu Z, Fan Y, Bai Y, Liu T, Zhong LL, Liang HF. Outcome of the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine for functional constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Clin Cases. 2022 May 26;10(15):4856-4877. https://doi.org/10.12998/wjcc.v10.i15.4856. PMID: 35801027.