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This is a formula for dispersing exterior pathogens.
Bark of Mulberry Root (Sangbaipi, *Morus alba* root bark), Licorice Root (Gancao, *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*), Areca Stem (Dafupi, *Areca catechu* stem), Cinnamon Twig (Guangui, *Cinnamomum cassia*), Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, *Citrus reticulata*), Perilla Leaf (Suye, *Perilla frutescens*), Ephedra Herb (Mahuang, *Ephedra sinica* [not removed from nodes]), Mume Fruit (Wumei, *Prunus mume* [one piece]), Mint Leaf (Boheye, *Mentha haplocalyx*), Apricot Seed (Xingren, *Armeniacae Semen Amarum* [skin and tip not removed]). All in equal parts. Use fresh ginger as a guide, decoct in water and take orally. The treatment should be stopped when a slight sweat appears.

This is an excellent formula for dispersing exterior pathogens.
Ephedra Herb (Mahuang, *Ephedra sinica*) 7 fen, Apricot Seed (Xingren, *Armeniacae Semen Amarum*) 1 qian, Licorice Root (Gancao, *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*) 4 fen, Fine Tea (Xicha, *Camellia sinensis* [stir-fried]) 7 fen, White Gypsum (Baishigao, *Gypsum Fibrosum*) 1.5 qian. Decoct in water and take orally. It induces sweating and protects against wind.

It purges the lungs to relieve asthma and promotes urination to unblock the water passages.
Sweet Lepidium Seed (Tiantingli, *Lepidii Semen* [lightly stir-fried]), Black Morning Glory Seed (Heiqianqiu, *Ipomoeae Nil Semen* [stir-fried]), Apricot Seed (Xingren, *Armeniacae Semen Amarum* [skin and tip removed, stir-fried]), Han Fangji (Hanfangji, *Stephaniae Tetrandrae Rhizoma*). All in equal parts. Grind into powder, then mix with apricot seed paste. Pounded together with jujube flesh to make pills. Take with weak ginger soup.

It calms asthma, resolves phlegm, and stops coughing. This is a formula for tonifying the lungs.
Burdock Fruit (Niubangzi, *Arctii Fructus*), Licorice Root (Gancao, *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*), Apricot Seed (Xingren, *Armeniacae Semen Amarum*), Aristolochia Root (Madouling, *Aristolochiae Radix*), Donkey-hide Gelatin (Ejiao, *Colla Corii Asini* [pounded with powder until it forms pearls], glutinous rice. Decoct in water and take orally.

Tangerine Peel (Chenpi, *Citrus reticulata* [albedo removed), Pinellia Tuber (Banxia, *Pinelliae Rhizoma* [stir-fried]), Poria (Fuling, *Poria*), Licorice Root (Gancao, *Glycyrrhiza uralensis*), Winter Sweet Tuber (Tiandong, *Asparagi Radix* [heart removed), Apricot Seed Paste (Xingrenni), Scutellaria Root (Pianqin, *Scutellariae Radix*), Gardenia Fruit (Zhizi, *Gardeniae Fructus*), Fritillaria Bulb (Beimu, *Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus*), Anemarrhena Rhizome (Zhimu, *Anemarrhenae Rhizoma*), Gypsum (Shigao, *Gypsum Fibrosum*), Melon Rind Frost (Gualuashuang, *Benincasae Exocarpium*), Rehmannia Root (Shengdi, *Rehmanniae Radix*), Platycodon Root (Jiegeng, *Platycodonis Radix*). Decoct in water, mix with the natural juice of Imperata Rhizome (Maogen, *Imperatae Rhizoma*) and take orally.

If a cough has persisted for a long time, the face is blue and shiny, breathing is rapid and short, there are frequent choking sounds, and the lips are white like silk, this indicates excessive Liver Qi and exhaustion of Lung Qi. It is incurable.
If a cough has persisted for a long time, sores appear on the throat and tongue, and the voice is hoarse, it is incurable.
If a cough has persisted for a long time, the chest is elevated with wheezing, the shoulders and hypochondrium move with respiration, and convulsions occur, it is incurable.
If a cough has persisted for a long time, accompanied by tidal fever and rapid wheezing, where upon each cough the face turns blue-black, eyes roll upward, and blood spurts from the mouth and nose, this indicates excessive Wood and Fire elements and exhaustion of Lung Qi. It is incurable.
If a cough has persisted for a long time, the face is pale, lips are cyanotic, eyes are closed, there is restlessness and confusion, head shaking, and hand waving, this indicates impending exhaustion of Lung Qi. It is incurable.

**Xijiang Yue (Song Ci Pattern):**
When children suffer from cough, physicians must distinguish symptoms clearly. Cough originates from injury to the Lung Meridian; Phlegm-rattling stems from Spleen disorders. Sound without phlegm is called "Ke" (Cough); soundless with phlegm is "Sou" (Phlegm-rattling). Sometimes both occur simultaneously. If there is both sound and phlegm, it is definitely combined cough and phlegm-rattling.

For children's wind-cold cough, symptoms include fever, aversion to cold, spontaneous sweating, irritability, and restlessness, with continuous coughing day and night. There is often clear nasal discharge and throat discomfort with phlegm-saliva. Pulse is floating, headache is present among other symptoms. The treatment principle should prioritize inducing sweating.

If cough is complicated by cold damage (Shanghan), it is due to drinking cold liquids, exposure to cold, sitting or lying on damp ground in winter, or being struck by cold wind. Symptoms include tight pulse, no sweat, irritability without thirst, and aversion to cold. Treatment should prioritize dispersing the exterior to induce sweating. Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction) is verified effective.

If cough is caused by heat injury, symptoms include red face and irritability. Endless drinking, dryness in the diaphragm and throat, and thick, sticky sputum during coughing and sleeping. In severe cases, rapid wheezing and coughing occur, with phlegm-saliva accumulating in the throat and pharynx. Tidal fever or cold hands and feet may occur; this condition is common in children.

If cough involves fire pathology, expectoration of blood and pus is inevitable. In severe cases, bleeding occurs from all seven orifices, indicating Lung Heat and Fire stirring. If green or clear watery fluid is vomited, it indicates Stomach Cold and retained fluids attacking each other. Coughing up phlegm-saliva mixed with undigested milk and food requires resolving stagnation.

To understand the general principles of treating cough, one must identify symptoms according to the seasons. Spring: external contraction of wind-cold is certain. Summer: rising heat and fire energy. Autumn: Lung injury with damp-heat. Winter: wind-cold follows. A good physician acts according to the season and prescribes formulas based on symptoms.

Generally, excess patterns require purgation, while deficiency patterns are best treated with tonics. Cold patterns are best addressed with warming dispersants; heat patterns require cooling agents. Wind patterns especially require dispersing; retained phlegm should be eliminated. Do not use astringents in the early stages; always focus on resolving phlegm and regulating Qi.

The Lung is the canopy of the five Zang organs. The skin and hair are easily affected by wind-cold. Initial treatment prioritizes inducing sweating. Apricot Seed and Ephedra are most effective. Mint, Gypsum, Licorice, Scutellaria, Platycodon, Ginseng, Peucedanum Root, Aurantium Fruit, and aged tea decocted together can disperse various wind pathogens with one dose.

Long-term cough should not be treated with sweating; resolving phlegm and regulating Qi is appropriate. Run-down Jade Liquid (Runxia Yuye) has miraculous effects; if ineffective, proceed with decoctions. Fritillaria, Tangerine Peel, Aurantium Fruit, Poria, Licorice, Scutellaria, Gardenia, Peucedanum Root, Mint, and Apricot Seed Paste are used. For heat, Gypsum is suitable.

For long-term cough with phlegm obstruction and fever, observe the bowel and bladder movements. If they are clear and free, it indicates Middle Jiao deficiency; treat only with Bao Long Wan (Embrace Dragon Pill). If constipation and solid heat exist, use Tingli and Wuse pills to expel. Distinguish between excess and deficiency; do not be rigid. This is crucial for pediatric practitioners.

For long-term cough with continuous sound and hemoptysis, clearing Metal and descending Fire is best. Scutellaria, Coptis, Licorice, Platycodon, Aster Flower, Anemarrhena, Fritillaria, Ophiopogon, and Asparagus are commonly added. Remove albedo from Tangerine Peel, add Aurantium Fruit, Peucedanum Root, Cortex Lycii, Melon Rind, Poria, Scrophularia Root, and Imperata Rhizome. This formula is priceless.

In general, treating cough requires clearing and resolving phlegm-saliva. Resolving phlegm and regulating Qi is paramount; when Qi flows smoothly and phlegm moves, cough decreases. Regulate Qi with Tangerine Peel and Aurantium Fruit; resolve phlegm with Pinellia and Arisaema. Scutellaria and Gardenia address fire pathogenic factors. Platycodon and Poria open and drain.

For deficiency cough with intermittent fever, yellow face, shortness of breath, and lack of spirit, use Angelica Sinensis, Tangerine Peel, and Dan Shen (Note: Text says "Xin", likely referring to heart-related herbs or a typo for Dan Shen/Zhuxin Cao, translated here as Heart-related or specific herb contextually implied). White Poria, Gardenia, Scutellaria, Platycodon, Anemarrhena, Fritillaria, Peucedanum Root, Ophiopogon, and Oryza Sativa (Rice) are used. Licorice, Aurantium Fruit, and Ginseng are added. Stir-fried Phellodendron Bark is extremely effective. Decoct with fresh ginger as a guide.

For long-term continuous cough, blue face, rolling eyes, frequent sighing, elevated chest, shoulder breathing, pearl-like sweat, pale face, cyanotic lips, curved back, emaciation, tidal fever, dry nose, dry hair, weak spirit, hoarseness, and convulsions: even with spiritual elixirs, there is no place to apply them (indicating incurability).