Table 1 Indications of TCM granules and placebo

TCM Recipe 1

Placebo Recipe 1

Qi-Ying deficiency syndrome

Cough weakly with little phlegm.

Fatigue, sweating, hot flashes, palpitations.

Reddish tongue with thin or less coating, thready pulse.

TCM Recipe 2

Placebo Recipe 2

Lung-spleen Qi deficiency syndrome

Cough and asthma with white dilute sputum.

oppression in chest, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal distension, dropsy, loose stools.

Plump tongue with tooth prints and white greasy coating, sunken and thready pulse.

TCM Recipe 3

Placebo Recipe 3

Lung-Yin deficiency syndrome

Dry cough without phlegm.

Hot flashes, sweating, thirsty, irritability, hoarse voice.

Red tongue with less coating, quick and thready pulse.

TCM Recipe 4

Placebo Recipe 4

Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome

Cough and dyspnea with phlegm difficult to cough up.

Stabbing or distending pain, subcutaneous hemorrhage, depression and anxiety.

Cyanotic tongue with thin coating, wiry and astringent pulse.

TCM Recipe 5

Placebo Recipe 5

Heat-phlegm obstructing lung syndrom

Cough with excessive yellow sticky phlegm.

Fever, oppression and pain in chest, hemoptysis, thirst.

Red tough with yellow greasy coating, quick and slippery pulse.

TCM Recipe 6

Placebo Recipe 6

Qi deficiency with excessive cancerous toxin syndrome

Cough is aggravating, and lesions in lung progressed.

Weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite, chest pain, cancerous fever, hemoptysis, sweating.

Dark tough without luster, thick greasy or denuded coating, sunken and wiry pulse.