Coughs are divided into two categories: invasion of the external  factor and internal injury. A cough due to invasion of external factors is related to wind cold or wind heat attacking the lung, resulting in the lung qi failing to disperse and dysfunction of the clearing and descending, and is manifested by a short duration of illness, severe coughing, associated with heightened sensitivity to cold, fever, nasal obstruction and superficial pulse. The treating principle is to disperse the wind and benefit the lung qi to stop the coughing.

The points are selected from Hand-Taiyin and Yangming meridians, i.e., Feishu (BL 13), Chize (LU5), Quchi (LI 11), Lieque (LU7) and Hegu (LI 4).  A cough due to internal injury is related to a yin deficiency of the lung and kidney, and manifested as a dry cough with little sputum or bloodstained sputum, associated with tidal fever, along with night sweating.

The treatment principle is to benefit the yin and clear away any heat. The points are Feishu (BL 13), Gaohuangshu (BL 43), Chize (LU5) and Zhaohai (KI 6). For spleen deficiency involving the failure to transport and transform, and retention of phlegm in the lung, the symptoms are a cough with profuse thin and white sputum, chest tightness, epigastria and a poor appetite.