Cough after the recovery from a disease is mostly related to deficiency of qi and yin as well as lingering residual pathogenic factors. Delayed treatment may bring about endogenous cough which occurs repeatedly and worsens increasingly.

1. Syndrome differentiation and treatment
(1) Residual heat haunting the lung
It manifests severely dry cough in the daytime, scanty and sticky sputum, dry mouth and throat, dysphoria, thirst, or low fever, red tongue with scanty body fluid, thready and rapid pulse. It is advisable to nourish the lung yin and clear away the residual heat simultaneously. The prescription used is Shashen Maidong Decoction (Decoction of Adenophorae and Ophiopogonis) with additional Chuanbeimu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae), Tianxingren (Semen Armeniacae), Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori Radicis) and Digupi (Cortex Lycil Radieis). More information, please continue to read Acupuncture Pair Points for common cold.

(2) Deficiency of qi and yin
It manifests cough, short breath, unsmooth expectoration, or sputum with blood, dry throat and mouth, flushing of zygomatic region, pale complexion, hectic fever, night sweat, emaciation, mental fatigue, hypodynamia, red and dry tongue and feeble pulse. It is suitable to supplement qi, nourish yin, moisten the lung and check cough. The prescriptions used include Ziwan Powder (Powder of Radix Asteris) with additional Xingren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum), Kuandonghua (Flos Farfarae) and Maimendong (Radix Ophipogonis), as well as the modified Baihe Gujin Decoction (Lily Decoction for Strengthening the Lung). More information, please continue to read Radix Ophiopogonis (Maimendong).

(3) Residual wind and cold
It manifests lingering exogenous cough, vomiting with white sputum, nasal obstruction, itching throat, or slight aversion to cold and fever, red lingual edge and tip, white and thin coating, floating and slippery pulse. It is advisable to check cough, resolve sputum, disperse the lung and relieve the exterior syndrome. The prescription used is the modified Cough Powder. In the case of phlegm intermingled with dampness manifested as sticky and thick sputum and saliva, chest tightness and greasy coating, add Banxia (Rhizoma PineUiae), Houpo (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis) and Fuling (Poria); in the case of concurrent dysphoria due to stagnated heat, add Sangbaipi (Cortex Mori Radicis), Huangqin (Radix Scuttellariae) and Tianhuafen (Radix Trichosanthis); in the case of pulmonary dryness and dry cough, add Gualou (Fructus Trichosanthis) , Beimu (Flos Fritillariae Thunbergii) and Zhimu (Rhizoma Anemarrhenae). More information, please continue to read Poria (Fuling).

2. Rehabilitation methods
(1) Regulating emotions and recreation therapy
Checking one emotion with another, musical therapy, recreation therapy and color therapy may be applied in the case of grief and depression.

(2) Acumox and massage
Acumox:
Select Feishu (BL 13), Hegu (LI 4), Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36), etc. in the manipulation of acumox. In the case of profuse sputum, add Fenglong (ST 40); in the case of inching throat, add Tiantu (CV 22); in the case of chest tightness, add Neiguan (PC 6) and Danzhong (CV 17); in the case of prolonged cough and weakness, moxibustion with the warming needle may be applied on Feishu (BL 13), Shenshu (BL 23) and Pishu (BL 20). The manipulation of reinforcing-reducing is advisable. The shallow puncturing with the reducing method is simultaneously applied in the case of concurrent exopathy. Click here to learn Coronary Arteriosclerotic Cardiopathy in TCM.

Massage:
The digital pressing method is used in massage with the selection of Shaoshang (LU 11), Lieque (LU 7), Taiyuan (LU 9), Fengmen (BL 12), Feishu (BL 13) and Xuanji (CV 21). Press Tiantu (CV 22) for two minutes until it turns sore and distending. Besides, tap Dingchuan (EX - B1) with the fingertip, or pat Fenglong (ST 40) and Zusanli (ST 36). Lift and grasp the back and spine, click and press Feishu (BL 13) and knead Mingmen (GV 4). Afterward, pat the back repeatedly to promote free respiration; press and knead Danzhong (CV 17) to promote expectoration. Click here to learn Causes of Coronary Arteriosclerotic Cardiopathy in TCM.

(3) Dietary therapy
In the case of residual heat haunting the lung, select snow Pear Paste or take Shashen Gruel (Gruel of Radix Adenophorae); in the case of deficiency of qi and yin, take Baihe Gruel (Gruel of Bulb,s Lilii); in the case of residual wind and cold, take Zisu Gruel (Gruel of Fructus Perillae). The diet should avoid pungent, aromatic, dry-natured, hot-natured, fat, greasy and extremely cold and cool-natured foods. In the case of fever due to yin deficiency, take decoction for more times, a bit each time. Simultaneously, eat Baihe ( Bulbus Lilii ), Lianzi ( Semen Nelumbinis) and Yin'er (Tremella) ; in the case of residual wind and cold, take warm decoction and add more clothing and quilts. Meanwhile, drink warm beverage and gruel to strengthen the body resistance and dispel pathogenic factors. Click here to learn TCM Treatment for Coronary Arteriosclerotic Cardiopathy.

(4) Nursing in daily life
Avoid smoke, dust as well as abnormal odor stimulation. Smokers should abstain from smoking. Prevent cold and keep the body warm. People with susceptibility due to weakness of the body may take Yupingfeng Powder (Jade Screen Powder) and the like to supplement qi and strengthen the superficial body resistance. All patients with prolonged cough should abstain from sexual life to preserve essence and qi.