Jie Geng Tang (桔梗汤) — Platycodon Decoction
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Overview
Jie Geng Tang — the “Platycodon Decoction” — is from Zhang Zhongjing’s Shang Han Lun. In its original simplest form it is just two herbs — Jie Geng plus Gan Cao — for acute sore throat with Heat-toxin. The same two-herb pair appears in later expanded forms (e.g. Jie Geng Tang variations in Sun Simiao’s Qian Jin Yao Fang) for lung abscess (fei yong) with cough[10], foul phlegm and chest pain. The combination is one of the most enduring TCM treatments for throat pain and an important model for the principle of using a small focused dyad to address acute upper-burner Heat-toxin.
I prescribe Jie Geng Tang as part of bespoke herbal formulas from pharmaceutical-grade granules sourced from Sun Ten in Taiwan.
TCM pattern
Jie Geng Tang is prescribed for Heat-toxin in the Lung and throat:
- Acute sore throat
- Possibly with cough
- Possibly with thick yellow phlegm
- Possibly chest pain or oppression (in lung abscess)
- Possibly low-grade fever
- Tongue — red, yellow coat
- Pulse — slippery, rapid
Key herbs
- Jie Geng (platycodon root, 3g) — chief; opens the Lung; benefits the throat; drains pus
- Gan Cao (Rx. Glycyrrhizae, 6g) — clears Heat; resolves toxin; soothes the throat; harmonises
Formula actions
- Opens the Lung
- Benefits the throat
- Resolves Heat-toxin
- Drains pus (in expanded versions for lung abscess)
Conditions treated
- Acute sore throat, pharyngitis or tonsillitis with Heat-toxin
- Acute laryngitis with hoarseness
- Productive cough with yellow phlegm
- Lung abscess in the discharging phase (with antibiotics)
- Bronchitis with phlegm and sore throat
- Acute respiratory infection in children with sore throat — as a small base formula
- Post-extubation hoarseness
Cautions
Severe sore throat with difficulty breathing or swallowing, suspected epiglottitis or peritonsillar abscess require urgent medical care.
Lung abscess requires conventional antibiotic therapy — herbs are adjunctive only.
Bacterial tonsillitis with high fever and lymphadenopathy may need antibiotics.
Often used as part of larger formulas rather than alone.
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
[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.
