Discourse states: One exhalation and one inhalation by a person constitute one breath (Xi). Exhalation is governed by the Heart and Lung, while inhalation is governed by the Kidney and Liver. Between respiration, the Spleen receives and transmits this Qi, allowing Ying (Nutrient) Qi and Wei (Defensive) Qi to circulate twenty-five times in the Yang aspect and twenty-five times in the Yin aspect, ensuring that the Qi throughout the body is neither excessive nor deficient. If Zang (Organ) Qi invades and overacts upon each other, Ying and Wei Qi cannot follow their normal pathways. Qi circulating through the body loses its measure and cannot complete normal breathing by following the entry and exit of Yin and Yang. Consequently, breathing becomes hurried and panting occurs. Various types of Qi ascend to the Lung, narrowing the airway, causing Qi conflict and resulting in panting.

Initially, this panting may arise from falling or fear. Fear causes Essence (Jing) to retreat downward; when Essence retreats, the Upper Jiao becomes obstructed and Qi fails to move. When Qi fails to move, it stagnates in the Liver, and Liver Qi invades the Lung; this panting originates from the Liver. It may also arise from shock or alarm. Shock leaves the Heart Spirit (Shen) without support and the Spirit without a dwelling, causing Qi chaos which then invades the Lung; this panting originates from the Heart. It may also result from wading through water or falling, causing sudden injury to Kidney Qi, which then invades the Lung; this panting originates from the Kidney. It may also be due to overeating causing damage, or improper exertion during movement, leading to Grain Qi failing to circulate normally. Spleen Qi rebels and invades the Lung; this panting originates from the Spleen, primarily treated with Tuan Shen San.

If panting is accompanied by fever, visible pulsation in the neck vessels, and progressive emaciation, it is due to Guest Heat invading the Lung, or due to inappropriate diet causing Qi failure to transform and resulting in shortness of breath. Misuse of hot-natured medicines causes Fire Qi to scorch the Lung, leading to panting, flushed cheeks, dry throat, and a fine, rapid pulse. Treatment falls under the category of Bone-steaming Consumption (Gu Zheng), primarily treated with Xiao Jian Zhong Tang or Tian Men Dong Tang.

Tuan Shen San
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, 1 liang) Sang Bai Pi (Morus Albae Cortex, crushed, fried, 2 liang) Da Fu Pi (Arecae Pericarpium, crushed, fried, 1 liang) Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, heart removed, 1 liang)
Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, washed, 1 liang) Wu Zhu Yu (Evodiae Fructus, fried) Bing Lang (Arecae Semen, crushed, fried) Yuan Hua (Genkwa Flos, fried) Fu Zi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata, processed, skin and umbilicus removed) Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma, each half liang) Zhi Shi (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, bran-fried, pith removed, half liang) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, half liang)
Grind the above into a fine powder. Use Ginger Juice to make a paste for pills, sized like Sophora seeds. Take 20 pills with rice drink before meals.

Xiao Jian Zhong Tang
Bai Shao (Paeoniae Radix Alba, 6 liang) Gui Xin (Cinnamomi Ramulus, 3 liang) Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried, 2 liang)
Grind the above into a powder. Take 5 qian per dose. Add 2 zhan of water, 3 slices of fresh ginger, and 2 jujubes. Decoct together until 1 zhan remains. Strain and take warm.

Tian Men Dong Tang
Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix, heart removed, 1 liang) Ma Dou Ling (Aristolochiae Fructus) Bai Bu (Stemonae Radix, each half liang)
Grind the above into a powder. Take 5 qian per dose. Add 2 zhan of water. Decoct until 1 zhan remains. Strain and take warm.

If panting and coughing are accompanied by hemoptysis, flaccidity of the four limbs, and a pulse that is floating and large but empty on deep pressure, it is because Kidney Qi ascends and merges with the Stomach. The airway is congested, blood cannot flow normally, and scatters into the Spleen. Essence fails to transform; the upper cannot overcome the lower. The collateral vessels of the Spleen are severed externally, returning from the Stomach to the Yangming channel. This is primarily treated with Bai Zhu Wan.

Bai Zhu Wan
Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, heart removed) Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Fu Ling (Poria) Bai Zhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma) Ze Xie (Alismatis Rhizoma) Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix, baked) Da Dou Juan (Sojae Semen Praeparatum, each 1 liang) Sang Bai Pi (Morus Albae Cortex, fried, 2 liang)
Grind the above into a fine powder. Mix with refined honey to form pills, sized like Sophora seeds. Take 30 pills with rice drink before meals.

If the patient cannot lie flat and experiences panting due to restlessness when lying down, it indicates injury to the internal organs and retention of essence. Thus, they cannot rest and pant. This is excess Lung Qi, characterized by a full and large pulse. This is primarily treated with Mu Li San.

Mu Li San
Use left-facing Oyster Shell (Concha Ostreae) with clear texture and pure white color, 2 liang. First crush into coarse powder. Place in a dry pot and fire until red-hot. Allow to cool, then grind into a fine powder. Take 1 qian per dose, mixed with thick decoction of Crucian Carp. Take at any time. Use one crucian carp weighing 4 liang, scaled and gutted. Decoct thickly without stirring during cooking.

If there is coughing with rebellious Qi, reliance on leaning to breathe, urgent panting, flaring nostrils, inability to lie supine, and a sound in the throat resembling a water frog, occurring intermittently, it is due to accumulation of Qi from shock and sorrow that does not disperse. Lung Qi is depressed. Or it is due to overeating and labor injury, where Qi ascends but cannot exit the Lung. Upon encountering Cold Evil, Lung Cold causes all Qi to gather. When Qi slows, breathing becomes shallow. Upon contact with triggers, it attacks. If prolonged, it becomes incurable. This is primarily treated with Xing Zi San, along with moxibustion on Shenshu (BL-23) for 100 moxa cones.

Xing Zi San
Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, skin and tip removed, bran-fried to yellow, ground into paste) Ma Huang (Ephedrae Herba, ground into powder, equal proportion to Xing Ren)
Grind and mix. Decoct Tangerine Peel (Ju Pi) soup, and mix with 2 qian bi of the powder.

Yu Ye San
Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma) Chuan Xiong (Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma) Fu Ling (Poria) Gui Xin (Cinnamomi Ramulus, each 1 liang) Ma Dou Ling (Aristolochiae Fructus, half liang) Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma) Bei Mu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, fried) Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum, skin and tip removed) Ting Li Zi (Lepidii Semen, fried, 2 liang) Ju Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium, washed, 1 liang)
Grind the above into a fine powder. Take 3 qian per dose. Add 1.5 zhan of water, 3 slices of fresh ginger, and 1 jujube. Decoct until 1 zhan remains. Strain and take warm before meals.

If panting is accompanied by lung sounds and flaccidity/厥 (Jue), it is due to loss or unfulfilled desires, causing Qi depression and Lung Heat that scorches the leaf-like structures, causing them to rise. This is called Lung萎 (Fei Wei - Lung Flaccidity). This is primarily treated with E Jiao Wan.

E Jiao Wan
Tian Men Dong (Asparagi Radix, heart removed) Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix) Sheng Gan Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, baked) E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini, crushed, fried until dry) Sang Bai Pi (Morus Albae Cortex, crushed, fried) Mai Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber, heart removed)
Bai Zi Ren (Biota Orientalis Seed, fried, ground, each half liang) Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried, 1 fen)
Grind the above into powder. Mix with refined honey to form pills, sized like bullet seeds. Take 1 pill per dose. Add 1 zhan of water. Decoct until 70% remains. Take warm after meals.