Herbs that Dissolve Hot Phlegm: Jie Geng

桔梗

Jie = Chinese bellflower
Geng = branch

"Jorgen guides up the Swedish mountain" - okay this is a way I am trying to remember this herb: Jie Geng (Jorgen) guides up (this is what jie geng does- it raises lung qi upwards) the Swedish (Jie Geng is neutral like Sweden) mountain (a gigantic abscess full of pus - lovely I know - Jie Geng pushes pus out of abscesses). Walking up mountains is good for the lungs, too, and Jie Geng goes only to the lungs.

There's Jorgen now! Guiding up the Swedish mountain! Notice how clear his lungs are!

This is another herb that Dennis says is very important. It is a white root that looks a lot like many other white roots. Oh well. Important doesn't always mean easy. It is the only herb in this category considered NEUTRAL. All the rest are cool or cold.

Because Jie Geng is neutral, it is versatile and can treat hot or cold phlegm coughs, but they must be EXCESSES (it is cautioned for yin deficient coughs). Jie Geng is bitter and spicy, opening and disseminating lung qi, dispelling phlegm and benefiting the throat. It is an herb that directs upwards.

Funny, the flower herbs direct qi down, and the root herb directs lu qi upwards. In addition to directing lung qi up, Jie Geng also guides other herbs upwards. Xing Ren, the apricot seed, is also a guide herb.

Jie Geng will push out pus and abscesses.