Crucian Carp Pills，*Collected Effective Prescriptions of the Zhu Family*, Volume 5.，(Kou Gou) Shortness of breath. When the Lung Meridian has long been affected by pathogenic factors, the initial symptoms include a chill rising from the back, cold as ice and snow. Gradually, shortness of breath sets in, with interrupted breathing; phlegm and saliva obstruct the passages, making it impossible to cough them up. The patient cannot sit or lie down comfortably and is unable to endure the condition; both shoulders are hunched, the back is hunched, the eyes are bulging, and the patient is exhausted to the point of collapse.
Crucian Carp Pills
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Formulas Name : Crucian Carp Pills
Chinese Name : 鲫鱼丸
Drug Formulation
1 jin of crucian carp.
Source
*Collected Effective Prescriptions of the Zhu Family*, Volume 5.
Processing
Leave the scales and intestines intact; simply make a small opening near the head on the underside of the belly. Insert a piece of cinnabar weighing 1 qian, ensuring it is deeply embedded inside. Immediately place the fish into a bamboo tube and seal it tightly with a paste of pounded Artemisia annua. Allow it to dry, then heat the bamboo tube over a fire until it glows red. Once cooled, remove the paste and extract the residue, discarding any parts that were not fully charred. Grind the residue into a fine powder, mix in 3 qian of oyster shell powder,Grind until smooth, then form into pills the size of mung beans and coat them with cinnabar.
Benefits
(Kou Gou) Shortness of breath. When the Lung Meridian has long been affected by pathogenic factors, the initial symptoms include a chill rising from the back, cold as ice and snow. Gradually, shortness of breath sets in, with interrupted breathing; phlegm and saliva obstruct the passages, making it impossible to cough them up. The patient cannot sit or lie down comfortably and is unable to endure the condition; both shoulders are hunched, the back is hunched, the eyes are bulging, and the patient is exhausted to the point of collapse.
Instructions for Use
Take 4 or 5–6 pills per dose, washed down with cold water mixed with rock sugar before bedtime.
Note
Avoid hot foods after taking the medicine.
Copyright: Excerpt from *Collected Effective Prescriptions of the Zhu Family*, Volume 5., Copyright belongs to the Original Author and all original sources, This article was shared by DeDe on August 25, 2026, Please credit the source and include a link to the original article when reposting.
Terminology Proofreading: [Cheng Bo] | August 25, 2026 Reviewed by: [Wang Zhongxiang, Associate Chief TCM Physician (China)] | August 25, 2026
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Crucian Carp Pills,(Kou Gou) Shortness of breath. When the Lung Meridian has long been affected by pathogenic factors, the initial symptoms include a chill rising from the back, cold as ice and snow. Gradually, shortness of breath sets in, with interrupted breathing; phlegm and saliva obstruct the passages, making it impossible to cough them up. The patient cannot sit or lie down comfortably and is unable to endure the condition; both shoulders are hunched, the back is hunched, the eyes are bulging, and the patient is exhausted to the point of collapse.