以明咳始之因耳。"内外合邪"四字扼要比类之法，重在于此。夫形寒者，外感风寒也；饮冷者，内伤饮食也。
风寒无形之邪入内，与饮食有形之邪相合，留恋不舍。治之，外邪须从外出，内邪须从下出，然未可表里并施
也。《金匮》五方，总不出小青龙汤为加减。进而求之暑湿，盖暑湿之外邪内入，必与素酿之热邪相合，增其
烦咳，宜从辛凉解散，又当变青龙为白虎而兼天水、五苓之属矣。进而求之于火，则有君相之合，无内外之合，
以心肺同居膈上，心火本易于克制肺金，然君火无为而治，恒不自动，惟相火从下而上，挟君火之威而刑其肺，
上下合邪，为患最烈。治之亦可从内外合邪之例比拟，或引或折，以下其火，俾不至于燎原耳。于中咳嗽烦冤，
肾气之逆，亦为上下合邪，但浊阴之气，上乾清阳，为膈肓遮蔽，任其烦冤，不能透出，亦惟下驱其浊阴而咳
自止矣。进而求之于燥，或因吐、汗而津越于外，或因泻利而阴亡于下，或营血衰少，不养于筋，或精髓耗竭，不
充于骨，乃致肺金日就干燥，火入莫御，咳无止息。此时亟生其津，亟养其血，亟补其精髓，犹可为也。失此不
治，转盼瓮干杯罄，毛瘁色敝，筋急爪枯，咳引胸背，吊胁疼痛，诸气 郁，诸痿喘呕，种种危候，相因而见，
更有何法可以沃其焦枯耶？○风寒外束者，华盖散。遇冷咳发者，橘皮半夏汤。○火热内燔之咳，加减泻白散。
○伤暑之咳，自汗脉虚发渴，人参白虎汤、清暑益气汤。○伤湿之咳，身重脉细痰多，五苓散、白术汤。湿热
素蕴于中者，黄连解毒汤。湿热素蕴于上者，桑皮散。○伤燥之咳，痰结气逆血腥，杏仁萝卜子丸；清金润燥，
天门冬丸、凤髓汤。○伤肾之咳，气逆烦冤，牵引腰腹，俯仰不得者，都气丸。水饮与里寒合作，腹痛下利者，
真武汤。○营卫两虚之咳，营虚发热，卫虚恶寒，宁肺汤。虚劳之咳，五味黄 散、麦门冬饮。○干咳无痰，
火热内壅，首用四物桔梗汤开提之。伤酒热积者，用琼玉膏滋润之。色欲过度，肾水不升者，用八味丸蒸动之。
○内伤之咳，治各不同∶火盛壮水，金虚崇土，郁甚舒肝，气逆理肺，食积和中，房劳补下。○至于上焦虚寒呕
吐涎沫者，用温肺汤。上、中二焦俱虚者，用加味理中汤。三焦俱虚者，用加味三才汤。○久咳肺痿肺损，痰
中见血，潮热声飒者，人参养肺汤。久咳宜收涩者，人参清肺汤。○凡治咳，不分外感内伤，虚实新久，袭用
清凉药，少加疏散者，因循苟且，贻患实深，良医所不为也。○凡治咳，遇阴虚火盛，干燥少痰，及痰咯难出
者，妄用二陈汤，转劫其阴而生大患者，医之罪也。○凡咳而且利，上下交征，而罔顾其人中气者，十无一起，
如此死者，医杀之也。○凡邪盛咳频，断不可用劫涩药。咳久邪衰，其势不锐，方可涩之。误则伤肺，必至咳
无休止，坐以待毙，医之罪也。○凡属肺痿、肺痈之咳，误作虚劳，妄补阴血，转滞其痰，因致其人不救者，医
之罪也。○凡咳而渐至气高汗渍，宜不俟喘急痰鸣，急补其下。若仍治标忘本，必至气脱卒亡，医之罪也。
（《医门法律》）
脉候
咳嗽须审肺脉虚实。实者，浮大有力，若沉而滑，则痰气盛也。虚者，弦大无力，若沉细带数，则火郁极
也。（《医学入门》）
选案
宋徽宗宠妃病痰嗽，终夕不寐，面浮如盘，御医李防御治之不效。忽闻卖嗽药，一文一帖，吃了即得睡。
视其色浅碧，试服无他，乃取三帖为一，授妃服之，是夕嗽止，比晓面消。方用蛤粉入青黛少许，淡齑水滴麻
油数点，每次调服二钱。（《本草纲目》）
次霍婶产后，咳嗽发热，喘满便秘，口中水泛，心下煎熬，血色淡白，此肾虚不能摄纳，血虚不能濡润也。
医与人参、桔梗、贝母益甚。予以六味汤加河车、牛膝、麦冬、五味，诸证皆痊。（程华仲）
一妇体弱，咳嗽喘促不能卧，已经七日，服药无效，脉极数乱，绵软无力。其数乱者，乃气喘促之故，软
而无力者，则脉之真象也。断为肺气虚寒，用温肺汤一剂，不喘安卧。再剂全愈。○一人于二月伤风咳嗽起，
服药至冬，嗽日增剧，痰血失音，虑成劳证。诊脉沉微缓弱，右寸更无力。阅方皆天麦冬、丹皮、地骨皮、花
粉、黑参、黄芩、贝母、枇杷叶、旋复花、白前、桑皮、苏子等项。余曰∶如此之脉，毫无火气，奈何犹寒凉
不休？嗽久肺气不足，奈何犹降泻不已？推子受病之初，不过风入肺窍，开手不用疏利，遂用寒润，锢住风邪，
使不得出，是以愈服药愈增嗽。且肺为娇藏，畏热尤畏寒，久服寒药，直使金寒水冷，致肺成死金而音失矣。
况金之为物，虚则鸣，今以寒药锢其外，使寒痰凝结，填塞肺窍，虚灵之孔，俱被塞实，何能出音？宜先宣通
肺窍，使窍开风出，再用温养肺气之法，庶几金复生而音复出也。方用前胡、杏仁、橘红、细辛、苏梗、桔梗、
甘草、半夏、茯苓、生姜。服药一剂，是夜嗽减。再与四剂而嗽全愈。后用温肺汤合六君子汤，温养肺气，音
亦渐出。（吴天士）
一人久嗽，得药如水，委命待尽。姑乞诊之，问饥时胸中痛
否？曰∶大痛。视其上唇有白点，痛发则口角流涎，此虫啮其肺，故咳嗽耳。用百部、乌梅煎膏与服，十日而
嗽竟止。家人从净桶中索得寸白虫数十条，自是永不复发。（李士材）
附方
润嗽膏 治肺燥咳嗽。杏仁去皮四两，柿霜一两，白蜜二两，同研烂蒸透，每用三四匙，放舌上润下。此
治嗽第一妙方。
周慎斋温肺汤 治肺寒喘嗽。人参、旋复花、细辛、桂心、茯苓、炙甘草、陈皮、半夏、桔梗、生姜。
吴天士温肺汤 治肺气虚寒，咳嗽喘促。人参、茯苓、橘红、肉桂、黄 、白术、炙甘草、半夏、炮姜、桔梗。
治劳嗽方 用雄猪肺一具，不见水，将肺管朝下，挂一宿，待血水流去，以布揩净，再用川贝母五钱去心，
京杏仁五钱去皮，同研，装入管内，线捆管口，清水煮烂，不放盐。候病患五更醒时，将肺一碗与食，服二
三具即愈。但不可坐起，坐起则肺合，开声则肺亦合。服时，病患自以手拍床沿照会。
又方 治劳嗽，单煮百合，吃法与上同。又煮燕窝一味，吃法亦同。
为了阐明咳嗽起始的原因。“内外合邪”这四个字是概括和类比的关键，重点在于此。形体受寒，是外感风寒；饮食生冷，是内伤饮食。
风寒这种无形的邪气侵入体内，与饮食这种有形的邪气相结合，留恋不去。治疗时，外邪必须从体表发散而出，内邪必须从下部（肠道）排出，然而不可同时使用解表和攻下的治法。《金匮要略》中的五个方剂，总离不开对小青龙汤进行加减变化。进而推求暑湿之邪，大概暑湿这种外邪侵入体内，必然与素来蕴酿的热邪相结合，加重烦闷咳嗽，适宜采用辛凉解散的方法，又应当将小青龙汤变为白虎汤，并兼用天水散、五苓散之类的方剂。进而推求火邪，则有君火与相火的结合，没有内外邪气的结合，因为心和肺都同居于膈肌之上，心火本来容易克制肺金，但君火无为而治，通常不会自动妄动，只有相火从下向上，挟持君火的威势来刑克肺金，上下邪气结合，为害最为猛烈。治疗也可以参照内外合邪的法则进行比拟，或引导或折降，使火气下行，使其不至于像燎原大火一样蔓延。其中的咳嗽烦闷，肾气上逆，也属于上下合邪，但浊阴之气上犯清阳，被膈膜遮蔽，任凭其烦闷，不能透出，也只须向下驱除浊阴，咳嗽自然停止。进而推求燥邪，或因呕吐、发汗导致津液外越，或因腹泻导致阴液亡失于下，或营血衰少，不能濡养筋脉，或精髓耗竭，不能充盈骨骼，致使肺金日益干燥，火热侵入无法抵御，咳嗽没有止息的时候。此时急需滋生津液，急需滋养血液，急需补益精髓，还可以救治。错过这个时机不治疗，转眼之间就会像瓮干杯空一样，毛发枯槁，面色败坏，筋脉拘急，指甲干枯，咳嗽牵引胸背，吊胁疼痛，各种气机郁滞、痿证、喘呕等种种危重征候，相继出现，还有什么方法可以滋润他的焦枯呢？○风寒外束引起的咳嗽，用华盖散。遇冷发作的咳嗽，用橘皮半夏汤。○火热内燔引起的咳嗽，用加减泻白散。○伤暑引起的咳嗽，自汗、脉虚、口渴，用人参白虎汤、清暑益气汤。○伤湿引起的咳嗽，身体沉重、脉细、痰多，用五苓散、白术汤。湿热素来蕴结在体内的，用黄连解毒汤。湿热素来蕴结在上焦的，用桑皮散。○伤燥引起的咳嗽，痰结、气逆、咯血，用杏仁萝卜子丸；清金润燥，用天门冬丸、凤髓汤。○伤肾引起的咳嗽，气逆烦闷，牵引腰腹，不能俯仰的，用都气丸。水饮与里寒结合，腹痛下利的，用真武汤。○营卫两虚引起的咳嗽，营虚发热，卫虚恶寒，用宁肺汤。虚劳引起的咳嗽，用五味黄耆散、麦门冬饮。○干咳无痰，火热内壅，首先用四物桔梗汤开提肺气。因饮酒积热损伤的，用琼玉膏滋润。因房事过度，肾水不能上升的，用八味丸蒸动肾气。○内伤引起的咳嗽，治疗方法各不相同：火盛则壮水制火，金虚则崇土生金，郁甚则疏肝理气，气逆则理肺降气，食积则和中消导，房劳则补益下元。○至于上焦虚寒、呕吐涎沫的，用温肺汤。上、中二焦都虚的，用加味理中汤。三焦都虚的，用加味三才汤。○久咳导致肺痿肺损，痰中带血，潮热声音嘶哑的，用人参养肺汤。久咳宜用收敛涩药治疗的，用人参清肺汤。○凡是治疗咳嗽，不分外感内伤、虚实新久，袭用清凉药，只稍加疏散药物的，这是因循苟且，留下的祸患实在很深，良医是不会这样做的。○凡是治疗咳嗽，遇到阴虚火盛、干燥少痰，以及痰咯难出的，妄用二陈汤，反而劫夺阴液而产生大祸害的，是医生的罪过。○凡是咳嗽而且伴有泄利，上下交征，而不顾惜病人中气的，十个人中没有能救活的，这样的死者，是医生杀死的。○凡是邪气盛、咳嗽频繁的，绝对不可用劫涩药。咳嗽日久邪气衰退，病势不剧烈，才可以涩之。误用则会伤肺，必定导致咳嗽不止，坐以待毙，是医生的罪过。○凡是属于肺痿、肺痈的咳嗽，误作虚劳，妄补阴血，反而阻滞痰液，导致病人不治的，是医生的罪过。○凡是咳嗽逐渐发展到气高汗出，应当不等喘急痰鸣，就急忙补益下元。如果仍然治标忘本，必定导致气脱猝死，是医生的罪过。（出自《医门法律》）
脉象
咳嗽必须审察肺脉的虚实。实脉，表现为浮大有力，如果沉而滑，则是痰气盛。虚脉，表现为弦大无力，如果沉细带数，则是火郁极盛。（出自《医学入门》）
选案
宋徽宗宠爱的妃子患痰嗽病，整夜不能入睡，面部浮肿如盘，御医李防御治疗无效。忽然听说有人卖止咳药，一文钱一帖，吃了就能睡觉。看那药色浅碧，试服后没有其他反应，于是取三帖合为一帖，给妃子服用，当晚咳嗽停止，到天亮时面部浮肿消退。方子用蛤粉加入少许青黛，淡齑水滴入几滴麻油，每次调服二钱。（出自《本草纲目》）
其次是霍婶产后，咳嗽发热，喘满便秘，口中泛水，心下煎熬感，血色淡白，这是肾虚不能摄纳，血虚不能濡润所致。医生给人参、桔梗、贝母，病情反而加重。我给予六味地黄汤加紫河车、牛膝、麦冬、五味子，所有症状都痊愈了。（程华仲）
一位妇女体质虚弱，咳嗽喘促不能躺卧，已经七天，服药无效，脉象极数乱，绵软无力。其数乱，是因为气喘促的缘故，软而无力，才是脉象的真实情况。断定为肺气虚寒，用温肺汤一剂，不喘且能安卧。再服一剂完全痊愈。○一个人在二月因伤风引起咳嗽，服药直到冬天，咳嗽日益加剧，痰中带血失音，担心形成劳证。诊脉沉微缓弱，右寸脉更无力。查看处方都是天冬、麦冬、丹皮、地骨皮、花粉、黑参、黄芩、贝母、枇杷叶、旋复花、白前、桑皮、苏子等药物。我说：这样的脉象，毫无火气，为什么还要不停用寒凉药？咳嗽久了肺气不足，为什么还要不停用降泻药？推测您生病之初，不过是风邪进入肺窍，起手不用疏利之法，却用寒润药，锢闭住风邪，使其不得外出，所以越是服药咳嗽越重。况且肺是娇脏，怕热尤其怕寒，久服寒药，直接导致金寒水冷，致使肺变成死金而失音。何况金这种物质，虚则鸣响，现在用寒药禁锢其外，使寒痰凝结，填塞肺窍，虚灵之孔都被塞实，怎么能发出声音？应当先宣通肺窍，使窍开风出，再用温养肺气的方法，或许能让金复生而声音复出。方子用前胡、杏仁、橘红、细辛、苏梗、桔梗、甘草、半夏、茯苓、生姜。服药一剂，当晚咳嗽减轻。再服四剂咳嗽全愈。后用温肺汤合六君子汤，温养肺气，声音也逐渐恢复。（吴天士）
一个人久咳，吃药像喝水一样，听天由命等待死亡。姑且请求诊治，问他在饥饿时胸中痛吗？回答说：非常痛。看他上唇有白点，疼痛发作时口角流涎，这是虫咬噬肺部，所以咳嗽。用百部、乌梅煎膏给他服用，十天咳嗽竟然停止。家人从净桶中搜得寸白虫数十条，从此永不复发。（李士材）
附方
润嗽膏 治疗肺燥咳嗽。杏仁去皮四两，柿霜一两，白蜜二两，一同研烂蒸透，每次用三四匙，放在舌上慢慢咽下。这是治疗咳嗽的第一妙方。
周慎斋温肺汤 治疗肺寒喘嗽。人参、旋复花、细辛、桂心、茯苓、炙甘草、陈皮、半夏、桔梗、生姜。
吴天士温肺汤 治疗肺气虚寒，咳嗽喘促。人参、茯苓、橘红、肉桂、黄芪、白术、炙甘草、半夏、炮姜、桔梗。
治疗劳嗽方 用雄猪肺一个，不见水，将肺管朝下，挂一夜，待血水流去，用布擦干净，再用川贝母五钱去心，京杏仁五钱去皮，一同研碎，装入管内，用线捆住管口，清水煮烂，不放盐。等到病患五更醒来时，给一碗肺食用，服用二三具即愈。但不能坐起，坐起则肺合拢，开口说话则肺也会合拢。服用时，病患自己用手拍打床沿示意。
又方 治疗劳嗽，单煮百合，吃法同上。又煮燕窝一味，吃法也相同。
To clarify the cause of the onset of cough. "Internal and external combined pathogenic factors" (Nèi Wài Hé Xié) are the key to summarization and analogy, with the emphasis here. Cold damage to the form is exogenous Wind-Cold invasion; drinking cold substances is endogenous dietary injury.
Wind-Cold, a formless pathogen, enters the interior and combines with food-dampness, a tangible pathogen, lingering and refusing to leave. In treatment, exogenous pathogens must be expelled from the exterior, while endogenous pathogens must be discharged from below (the intestines). However, simultaneous use of exterior-releasing and purgative methods should not be employed. The five formulas in *Jin Gui Yao Lue* (Essential Prescriptions of the Golden Cabinet) generally do not go beyond modifications of Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Dragon Decoction). Extending this reasoning to Summerheat-Dampness, when Summerheat-Dampness exogenous pathogens enter the interior, they inevitably combine with latent Heat pathogens, exacerbating irritability and cough. It is appropriate to use Acrid-Cool dispersing methods, transforming Xiao Qing Long Tang into Bai Hu Tang (White Tiger Decoction), and combining it with Tianshui San (Heavenly Water Powder) and Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria). Extending further to Fire pathogens, there is a combination of Ministerial Fire and Sovereign Fire, but no combination of internal and external pathogens, as both the Heart and Lung reside above the diaphragm. Heart Fire naturally tends to control Lung Metal, but Sovereign Fire governs non-action and rarely moves spontaneously. Only Ministerial Fire rises from below, carrying the majesty of Sovereign Fire to punish the Lung, creating a combination of upper and lower pathogenic factors, which causes the most severe harm. Treatment can also be analogized according to the principle of internal and external combined pathogens, either guiding or reducing, to direct the Fire downward, preventing it from spreading like a prairie fire. Among these, cough with irritability caused by rebellious Kidney Qi also constitutes a combination of upper and lower pathogens. However, Turbid Yin Qi rebels against Clear Yang, blocked by the diaphragm/huang region, causing irritability that cannot be vented. One must only drive out the Turbid Yin downward, and the cough will cease naturally. Extending further to Dryness pathogens, whether due to vomiting or sweating causing body fluids to escape outward, or diarrhea causing Yin loss below, or deficient Ying-Blood failing to nourish sinews, or exhausted Essence failing to fill bones, resulting in Lung Metal becoming increasingly dry, unable to resist invading Fire, leading to incessant cough. At this time, urgently generating fluids, nourishing blood, and tonifying essence can still save the patient. If this opportunity is missed and untreated, soon the urn will be dry and the cup empty, hair will become brittle, complexion will deteriorate, sinews will contract, nails will wither, cough will radiate to the chest and back, costal pain will occur, and various critical signs such as Qi stagnation, flaccidity syndromes, wheezing, and vomiting will appear sequentially. What method remains to moisten their scorched dryness? ○ For cough constrained by exogenous Wind-Cold, use Hua Gai San (Imperial Canopy Powder). ○ For cough triggered by cold, use Ju Pi Ban Xia Tang (Tangerine Peel and Pinellia Decoction). ○ For cough caused by blazing internal Heat, use Jia Jian Xie Bai San (Modified Draining White Powder). ○ For cough due to Summerheat injury, presenting with spontaneous sweating, deficient pulse, and thirst, use Ren Shen Bai Hu Tang (Ginseng White Tiger Decoction) or Qing Shu Yi Qi Tang (Clear Summerheat and Boost Qi Decoction). ○ For cough due to Dampness injury, presenting with heavy body, fine pulse, and profuse phlegm, use Wu Ling San (Five-Ingredient Powder with Poria) or Bai Zhu Tang (Atractylodes Macrocephala Decoction). For those with chronic internal accumulation of Damp-Heat, use Huang Lian Jie Du Tang (Coptis Decoction for Resolving Toxicity). For Damp-Heat accumulating in the Upper Jiao, use Sang Pi San (Mulberry Bark Powder). ○ For cough due to Dryness injury, with congealed phlegm, rebellious Qi, and hemoptysis, use Xing Ren Luo Bo Zi Wan (Apricot Seed and Radish Seed Pill); for clearing Metal and moistening dryness, use Tian Men Dong Wan (Asparagus Fern Pill) or Feng Sui Tang (Phoenix Marrow Decoction). ○ For cough injuring the Kidney, with rebellious Qi, irritability,牵引 (pulling sensation) in the waist and abdomen, and inability to bend or extend, use Du Qi Wan (All-Qi Pill). For water-fluid retention combined with interior Cold, presenting with abdominal pain and diarrhea, use Zhen Wu Tang (True Warrior Decoction). ○ For cough due to dual deficiency of Ying and Wei, with Ying deficiency causing fever and Wei deficiency causing aversion to cold, use Ning Fei Tang (Calming Lung Decoction). For cough due to consumptive disease, use Wu Wei Huang Qi San (Schisandra and Astragalus Powder) or Mai Men Dong Yin (Ophiopogon Drink). ○ For dry cough without phlegm, with internal obstruction of Heat, first use Si Wu Jie Geng Tang (Four Substances and Platycodon Decoction) to lift and open. For injury due to alcohol and accumulated heat, use Qiong Yu Gao (Jade Nourishing Paste) to moisten. For excessive sexual activity causing Kidney Water to fail to ascend, use Ba Wei Wan (Eight-Ingredient Pill) to vaporize and move. ○ Endogenous cough treatments vary: if Fire is excess, strengthen Water to control it; if Metal is deficient, revere Earth to generate it; if stagnation is severe, soothe the Liver; if Qi is rebellious, regulate the Lung; if food stagnation exists, harmonize the Middle; if kidney depletion from fatigue occurs, tonify the Lower. ○ For upper Jiao deficiency-cold with vomiting of saliva/foam, use Wen Fei Tang (Warming Lung Decoction). For deficiency in both upper and middle Jiao, use Jia Wei Li Zhong Tang (Modified Regulate Middle Decoction). For deficiency in all three Jiao, use Jia Wei San Cai Tang (Modified Three Capacities Decoction). ○ For prolonged cough leading to lung atrophy or damage, blood in sputum, tidal fever, and hoarseness, use Ren Shen Yang Fei Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Lung Decoction). For prolonged cough requiring astringency, use Ren Shen Qing Fei Tang (Ginseng Clearing Lung Decoction). ○ In treating cough, regardless of exogenous/endogenous origin, deficiency/excess status, or new/chronic nature, blindly using cooling herbs with only slight dispersing agents is negligent procrastination, causing deep harm; wise physicians do not do this. ○ In treating cough, when encountering Yin deficiency with blazing Fire, dryness with scant phlegm, or difficult expectoration, recklessly using Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) instead depletes Yin and causes major disaster; this is the physician's fault. ○ When cough is accompanied by diarrhea, with upper and lower systems simultaneously attacked, neglecting the patient's Middle Qi results in less than one in ten recoveries; such deaths are caused by the physician. ○ When pathogenic factors are abundant and cough is frequent, absolutely do not use astringent drugs. Only when cough has persisted, pathogens have declined, and the condition is no longer acute, may astringents be used. Misuse injures the Lung, leading to incessant cough and waiting for death; this is the physician's fault. ○ Coughs belonging to lung atrophy or lung abscess, mistakenly treated as consumptive disease with reckless Yin-blood tonification, which obstructs phlegm and leads to untreatable conditions, are the physician's fault. ○ When cough gradually progresses to high-pitched breathing and sweating, one must urgently tonify the Lower before wheezing and rattling phlegm occur. If one treats symptoms while ignoring the root, Qi collapse and sudden death will result; this is the physician's fault. (From *Yi Men Fa Lv* / Laws of Medicine Gate)
Pulse Diagnosis
In cough, one must examine the Lung pulses for deficiency or excess. Excess pulses are floating, large, and forceful; if sinking and slippery, it indicates abundant Phlegm-Qi. Deficient pulses are wiry, large, and weak; if sinking, fine, and rapid, it indicates extreme constraint of Fire. (From *Yi Xue Ru Men* / Introduction to Medicine)
Selected Cases
The favored consort of Emperor Huizong of Song suffered from phlegm-cough, unable to sleep all night, with her face swollen like a plate. Imperial Physician Li Fangyu failed to treat her. Suddenly hearing of a seller of cough medicine for one coin per packet, which allowed sleep upon consumption, she observed its light green color. After testing it with no adverse effects, she took three packets mixed together. That night, the cough stopped, and by dawn, the facial swelling had subsided. The formula used Ge Fen (Tridacnidae Shell Powder) with a small amount of Qing Dai (Indigo Naturalis), diluted vinegar drops, and a few drops of sesame oil, taken twice daily with two qian each time. (From *Ben Cao Gang Mu* / Compendium of Materia Medica)
Secondly, Aunt Huo, postpartum, suffered from cough, fever, distension, constipation, oral flooding of saliva, burning sensation in the epigastrium, pale blood color. This was Kidney deficiency failing to grasp and hold, and Blood deficiency failing to moisten. The physician prescribed Ren Shen (Ginseng), Jie Geng (Platycodon), and Bei Mu (Fritillaria), which worsened the condition. I administered Liu Wei Di Huang Tang (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) plus He Che Da Zhi (Placenta Humanum), Niu Xi (Achyranthes), Mai Dong (Ophiopogon), and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra), and all symptoms resolved. (Cheng Huazhong)
A woman with weak constitution suffered from cough and panting, unable to lie down, for seven days. Medications were ineffective. Her pulse was extremely rapid and chaotic, soft and weak. The rapidity and chaos were due to panting; the softness and weakness were the true pulse image. Diagnosed as Lung Qi deficiency-cold, she was given one dose of Wen Fei Tang (Warming Lung Decoction), after which panting ceased and she could rest. A second dose resulted in complete recovery. ○ A man developed cough due to Wind-Cold in February. Medications continued until winter, worsening the cough, causing hemoptysis and aphonia, raising concern for consumptive disease. Pulse was sinking, minute, slow, and weak, especially powerless at the Right Cun position. Reviewing previous prescriptions revealed Tian Dong, Mai Dong, Dan Pi, Di Gu Pi, Hua Fen, Hei Shen, Huang Qin, Bei Mu, Pi Pa Ye, Xuan Fu Hua, Bai Qian, Sang Bai Pi, Su Zi, etc. I said: Such a pulse shows no Fire heat; why continue with cold-cooling herbs? Prolonged cough depletes Lung Qi; why continue with descending/purgative herbs? Initially, your illness was merely Wind entering the Lung orifices. Starting without dispersing and regulating, you used cold-moistening herbs, trapping the Wind pathogen so it could not exit. Thus, more medication led to worse cough. The Lung is a delicate organ, fearing heat but especially fearing cold. Long-term use of cold herbs causes Metal cold and Water chill, turning the Lung into dead Metal and causing aphonia. Metal resonates when deficient. Now, cold herbs constrain the exterior, causing cold-phlegm coagulation, blocking Lung orifices, filling the hollow spaces, making sound production impossible. One must first ventilate and open Lung orifices to expel Wind, then use methods to warm-nourish Lung Qi, hopefully restoring Metal vitality and voice. Formula: Qian Hu, Xing Ren, Ju Hong, Xi Xin, Su Geng, Jie Geng, Gan Cao, Ban Xia, Fu Ling, Sheng Jiang. One dose reduced cough that night. Four additional doses cured the cough completely. Later, Wen Fei Tang combined with Liu Jun Zi Tang was used to warm-nourish Lung Qi, and voice gradually returned. (Wu Tianshi)
A man suffered from chronic cough, taking medicine like water, resigning himself to death. I requested to diagnose him, asking if he felt chest pain when hungry. He replied: Severe pain. Observing white spots on his upper lip, with salivation from the corners of the mouth during pain attacks, I determined this was lung parasitism causing cough. I gave him a paste decocted from Bai Bu (Stemona) and Wu Mei (Mume Fruit). After ten days, the cough ceased. Family members retrieved dozens of tapeworms from the chamber pot; he never relapsed thereafter. (Li Shicai)
Attached Formulas
Run Sou Gao (Moistening Cough Paste) Treats Lung dryness cough. Xing Ren (Apricot Seed), peeled, 4 liang; Shi Shuang (Persimmon Frost), 1 liang; Bai Mi (White Honey), 2 liang. Grind together until smooth, steam thoroughly. Take 3-4 spoons, place on tongue, and let melt/swallow slowly. This is the premier miraculous formula for cough.
Zhou Shenzhai Wen Fei Tang (Zhou Shenzhai's Warming Lung Decoction) Treats Lung cold wheezing-cough. Ren Shen, Xuan Fu Hua, Xi Xin, Gui Xin, Fu Ling, Zhi Gan Cao, Chen Pi, Ban Xia, Jie Geng, Sheng Jiang.
Wu Tianshi Wen Fei Tang (Wu Tianshi's Warming Lung Decoction) Treats Lung Qi deficiency-cold, cough and panting. Ren Shen, Fu Ling, Ju Hong, Rou Gui, Huang Qi, Bai Zhu, Zhi Gan Cao, Ban Xia, Pao Jiang, Jie Geng.
Formula for Consumptive Cough Use one male pig lung. Do not wash with water. Hang upside down by the trachea overnight to drain blood. Wipe clean with cloth. Mix Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillaria Cirrhosa), 5 qian, dehearted, with Jing Xing Ren (Beijing Apricot Seed), 5 qian, peeled. Grind together, stuff into the trachea, tie the opening with thread. Boil in clear water until soft. Do not add salt. When the patient wakes at the fifth watch (early morning), feed them one bowl of lung. Two to three lungs usually cure it. Do not sit up; sitting closes the lung tissue. Speaking also closes it. While eating, the patient should pat the bed edge with their hand to signal.
Another Formula Treats consumptive cough. Boil Bai He (Lily Bulb) alone, eat as above. Or boil Yan Wo (Swallow's Nest) alone, eat as above.