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Due to Deficiency: Qi deficiency leads to fire invading the Lung; Yin deficiency causes deficient fire to rush upward. Lung deficiency inevitably results in dry throat without fluids, and shortness of breath insufficient for respiration; Kidney deficiency first manifests as shortness of breathing and distension/fullness in both hypochondria. If the left Chi pulse is large and empty, it belongs to this category, and treatment should focus on tonifying the Kidney.

Due to Excess: There may be phlegm or water qi attacking the Lung; Qi excess with Lung hyperactivity causes difficult breathing and Lung Qi stagnation. If the right Cun pulse is deep and solid, it belongs to this category. The Lung will necessarily be distended, with upper body asthma and counterflow, a sensation of blockage in the throat resembling vomiting, accompanied by spontaneous sweating. Treatment should focus on purging the Lung.

Due to Pathogenic Factors: Cold pathogenic factors are contracted by the Lung and lie latent in the Lung meridian, blocking the orifices and causing difficult breathing. The right Cun pulse is deep and tight, or all six positions of the pulse may be hidden. Dispersing (releasing the exterior) will cause the body heat to subside and the asthma to settle.

Formulas:
For Qi Deficiency: Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Huang Bo (Phellodendri Cortex, honey-fried), Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogonis Tuber), Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex).
For Yin Deficiency: Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) added with Huang Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma). If there is phlegm, add Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus) and Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber) (Yin deficiency implies blood dryness).
For Phlegm: Er Chen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) added with Nan Xing (Arisaematis Rhizoma), Zhi Ke (Aurantii Fructus), and Zao Jiao (Gleditsiae Spina).
Mysterious Formula: Treats counterflow of water qi ascending to the Lung, where the Lung floats and Qi mechanism is blocked. The pulse is deep and large, and the patient cannot lie down; lying down exacerbates the asthma. Zi Su Zi (Perillae Fructus), Chen Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex), Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), Fu Ling (Poria), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix, 5 qian), Mu Xiang (Aucklandiae Radix, 2 qian). The above herbs are chopped and decocted for oral administration.

Xie Bai San (Drain White Powder): Treats Yin qi below and Yang qi above, resulting in cough, vomiting, asthma, and counterflow. Sang Bai Pi (Mori Cortex), Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex), Qing Pi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Viride), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandrae Fructus), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Fu Ling (Poria), Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum). If there is phlegm, add Ban Xia (Pinelliae Tuber) and Jie Geng (Platycodonis Radix).

Jie Chuan Formula (Seizing Asthma Formula): For severe asthma where bitter-cold medicines cannot be used, use warm medicines to seize and eliminate the pathogen. Jiao Mu (Zanthoxyli Semen) ground into powder, taken with Ginger Decoction.
Another Formula: Luo Bo Zi (Brassicae Semperfoliorum Semen, stir-fried), Zao Jiao (Gleditsiae Spina, burnt to retain character), made into pills with Ginger Juice for holding in the mouth to dissolve.
Another Formula: Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Qian Niu (Pharbitidis Semen, stir-fried), taken with Honey Water, 2 qian per dose.

Zhu Wan (Pig Pill): Treats asthma that has persisted for years, occurring intermittently. One male pig, prepared for consumption, with 5 liang of Xing Ren (Armeniacae Semen Amarum) inserted inside, the mouth sewn shut with thread, boiled dry in three bowls of vinegar. First eat the pork, then eat the Xing Ren, which has been dried on a new tile, rubbed to remove the skin, and consumed immediately. This prevents recurrence forever.

Discussion on Cough and Asthma separately
Cough (Ke): No phlegm but with sound, itching in the throat, feeling like an obstruction. In severe cases, it continues incessantly, impacting the diaphragm. Externally, there are conditions such as Heart Cough and all blood syndromes associated with Lung Cough counterflow.
Sputtering (Sou): With phlegm. Externally, there are conditions such as consumptive disease (Lao Zhai) causing rapid breathing and hemoptysis, which belong to Lung Flaccidity (Fei Fei).
Asthma (Chuan): Rapid and urgent breathing, frequent sighing, opening the mouth and raising the shoulders, shaking the body, and rolling the abdomen. Externally, there is Hong Kong Foot (Jiao Qi / Beriberi).
Qi Counterflow (Qi Ni): Only manifests as Qi rushing upward urgently. Externally, there are conditions such as Wind-stroke of the Lung, Cold in the Lung, Summerheat in the Lung, Lung Water, Lung Heat, Liver Heat, Gallbladder Cold, Heart Heat, Intestinal Bi, and Phlegm-Water.
Shortness of Breath (Duan Qi): Breathing is frequent but cannot continue smoothly. It resembles asthma but without shoulder movement; it resembles groaning but without pain. Externally, there are conditions such as Wind-stroke of the Spleen, Lung Heat, Kidney Heat Deficiency, Li Jie Feng (Gout-like joint pain), Worry Qi, Chest Stagnation, Phlegm-Fluid, and Shortness of Breath.
Pulse: Cun Kou pulse is deep, with shortness of breath in the chest; the pulse is wide and slippery with a sense of shortness of breath within; if the pulse is floating and interrupted, Qi is weak, belonging to Little Qi (Shao Qi).