Syndrome differentiation and treatment
The therapeutic principles for treating cough are mainly activating the dispersing function of the lung and resolving phlegm to stop cough. As to the supplementary therapeutic measures, dispelling exogenous pathogenic factors is applied to the treatment of exogenous cough. While in dealing with endogenous cough, the therapeutic principles vary according to the syndrome in question on the basis of differentiating asthenia and sthenia as well as cold and heat.
1. Cough due to wind and cold
Main symptoms and signs: Frequent cough at the early stage, itching throat with heavy-voice speaking, whitish and thin sputum, stuffy nose with thin discharge, chills and anhidrosis, or accompanied by fever, headache, reddish tongue with thin and whitish fur, floating and tense pulse, etc.
Therapeutic methods: Expelling wind and cold, dispersing the lung to check cough.
2. Cough due to wind and heat
Main symptoms and signs: Cough with high voice, unsmooth expectoration of sputum, yellowish and thick sputum, headache, stuffy nose with thin discharge, reddish throat and dry mouth, possibly accompanied by fever with aversion to wind, reddish tongue with thin and yellowish fur, floating and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Expelling wind and clearing away heat, dispersing the lung and resolving sputum.
3. Accumulation of phlegm and heat in the lung
Main symptoms and signs: Cough with profuse and yellowish sputum, difficult expectoration of sticky sputum, which is possibly stenchy or mixed with blood. The symptoms may be accompanied by fever, thirst, dysphoria and restlessness, dry stool, yellowish urine, yellowish and greasy fur, slippery and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Clearing away heat from the lung, resolving phlegm and checking cough.
4. Accumulation of phlegm and dampness in the lung
Main symptoms and signs: Cough with profuse, whitish and thin sputum, chest distress and poor appetite, low spirit and lassitude, reddish tongue with whitish and greasy fur, soft and slippery pulse.
5. Dry cough due to yin deficiency
Main symptoms and signs: Prolonged cough without recovery, dry cough or cough with a little sticky sputum, thirst and dry throat, itching throat with hoarse voice, feverish palms and soles, hectic complexion, or hemoptysis, reddish tongue with little fur, thready and rapid pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Nourishing yin and clearing away heat from the lung, moistening the lung and resolving sputum.
6. Qi deficiency of the lung and spleen
Main symptoms and signs: Prolonged and forceless cough, whitish and thin sputum, pale complexion with low spirit, short breath without desire for speaking, spontaneous sweat and aversion to wind, mild asthmatic breathing on exertion, pale and tender tongue with thin and whitish fur, thready and weak pulse.
Therapeutic methods: Strengthening the spleen and nourishing the lung, resolving sputum and checking cough.
