Differentiating syndrome to decide treatment
The site of pathological changes of acute pharyngitis lies in the pharynx and the viscera of pathological changes are associated with the lung and stomach. When pathogenic wind and heat attack the pharyngolarynx externally,or when fire transformed from heat spreads to the interior, the pathogenic factors will accumulate and stagnate in the lung and stomach, giving rise to the disease. This is the cause of the disease. The commonly-seen syndromes of acute pharyngitis include wind and heat invading the lung and excessive heat of the lung and stomach. The therapeutic principles are mainly dispelling wind and dispersing pathogenic factors when the pathogenic factors are superficial; the therapeutic principles are mainly purging fire and removing toxin when the pathogenic factors enter the lung and stomach.
    
Syndrome of wind and heat invading the lung
Main symptoms and signs: Pharyngodynia with cauma, dryness and discomfort or sensation of obstruction, aversion to cold, fever, slight thirst, congestion and swelling of pharyngeal mucosa seen during examination, red lingual margin and tip, whitish thin fur, floating and rapid pulse.
    
Therapeutic methods: Dispelling wind and dispersing the lung, clearing away heat from the pharynx and relieving sore throat.
    
Prescription and drugs: The prescription used is the modified Sangju Decoction (Decoction of Mulberry Leaf and Chrysanthemum) composed of 10 g of Sangye (Folium Mori), 10 g of Juhua (Flos Chrysanthemi),10 g of Lianqiao (Fructus Forsythiae), 15g of Banlangen ( Radix Isatidis ), 6 g of Fangfeng ( Radix Ledebourellae), 6 g of Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi ), 6 g of Bohe (Herba Menthae) (to be decocted later), 5 g of Shegan (Rhizoma Belamcandae ), 3 g of Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae) and 30 g of Lugen (Rhizoma Phragmitis).
    
Modification: Pathogenic wind dominates the syndrome, so treatment should mainly lie in dispelling wind.In the case of marked pharyngodynia and red swelling of the pharyngeal mucosa, add 6 g of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae) and 15 g of Pugongying (Herba Taraxaci) to clear away heat and remove toxin, with emphasis on
clearing away heat; in the case of constipation, add 5 g of Shengdahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei) to clear away heat and purge fire.
    
Syndrome of excessive heat of the lung and stomach
Main symptoms and signs: Pharyngodynia which is marked when the patient swallows saliva, even dysphagia in severe cases, fever, no aversion to cold, thirst with inclination to profuse drink, constipation, dark and scanty urine, bright red or deep red pharyngeal mucosa with hyperplasia of lymph follicle of posterior pharyngeal wall and red swelling of the lateral pharyngeal bands, red tongue with yellow greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse.
    
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat and purging fire, diminishing swelling and relieving sore throat.
    
Prescription and drugs: The prescription used is the modified Qingyan Lige Decoction (Decoction for Removing Heat from Throat and Diaphragm) composed of 5 g of Shengdahuang (Radix et Rhizoma Rhei), 10 g of Xuanmingfen (Natrii Sulfas Exsiccatus), 6 g of Huangqin (Radix Scutellariae), 20 g of Shengshigao ( Unprepared Gypsum Fibrosum) (to be decocted first), 6 g of Baizhi ( Radix Angelicae Dahuricae ), 10 g of Lianqiao ( Fructus  Forsythiae ),  10 g  of Jinyinhua  ( Flos Lonicerae), 6 g of Jiegeng (Radix Platycodi) and 3 g of Gancao (Radix Glycyrrhizae).
    
Modification: Pathogenic heat dominates the syndrome,, so treatment should mainly focus on clearing away heat and purging fire with proper addition of the drugs for relieving sore throat and resolving phlegm to remove heat, phlegm and stagnation and relieve sore throat. The commonly-used drugs include 10 g of Gualou (Fructus
Trichosanthis), 10 g of Oianhu   ( Radix Peucedani ), 10 g of Baibu (Radix Stemonae), 10 g of Zhuru (Caulis Bambusae in Taeniam ), 5 g of Shegan ( Rhizoma Belamcandae), 10 g of Xingren ( Semen Armeniacae Amarum) and 6 g of Tianzhuhuang ( Concretio Silicea Bambusae ) .

    
Other therapeutic methods
Chinese patent medicines
 Wantong Yankang Tablet: Take two to three  tablets each time, three times a day. It is applicable to the syndrome of wind and heat invading the lung.
Shuanghuanglian Oral Liquid: Take two bottles each time, three times a day. It is applicable to all syndromes of acute pharyngitis.
Mojia Qingning Pill. Take 6 g each time, once a day. It is applicable to the syndrome of excessive heat of the lung and stomach.
     
Simple and proved  recipes
Decoct 10 g of Xianyazhicao ( fresh Herba Commelinae) for oral administration, one dose a day.
Decoct 30 g of Banlangen (Radix Isatidis) and 30 g of Denglongcao ( Herba Physalis Peruvianae ) for two times for oral administration, one dose a day.
Decoct 30 g of Tuniuxi (Radix et Rhizoma Achyranthis) and 15 g of Guajindeng ( Calyx seu Fructus Physalis ) twice daily for oral administration, one dose a day.
    
External therapeutic methods
Grind 3 g of Pengsha (Borax), 3 g of Bingpian ( Borneolum ) and 6 g of Bailiangjin( Radix et Rhizoma Ardisiae Crispae ) together into powder. Insufflate a proper amount of the powder into pharynx.
Use Tongyong Xiaozhong Powder (Universal Swelling-relieving Powder) for pharyngeal insufflation, once every other two to three hours.