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1. Cough with sound but no phlegm is termed "Ke" (Cough); cough with phlegm but no sound is termed "Sou" (Phlegmy Cough); when both sound and phlegm are present, it is termed "Ke Sou" (Cough). Although it is said that all Zang and Fu organs can cause cough, the key lies in the accumulation of pathogenic factors in the Stomach and their relation to the Lung. Turbid Qi of the Stomach and Dampness of the Spleen are the root causes of phlegm and cough; when the Lung loses its clear descending function, cough arises. External contraction of Wind-Cold, internal constraint of Fire, Dryness, Phlegm-Fluid, accumulated Heat, Deficiency-Cold, and chronic exhaustion can all lead to this condition.

[Note] Sound without phlegm is called "Ke"; phlegm without sound is called "Sou"; both sound and phlegm constitute "Ke Sou". The *Nei Jing* states: "All Zang and Fu organs can cause cough." However, the general principle is that the pathology accumulates in the Stomach and relates to the Lung. Due to turbidity in the Stomach, the essence and Qi circulating freely, along with the fluids from Spleen Dampness returning to the Lung, fail to remain clear. The turbidity of water and essence makes it difficult to distribute throughout the body; this is the root of phlegm generation and the origin of Sou. The Lung resides in the chest and governs the clear and descending nature of Qi. If affected by external Wind-Cold or internally disturbed by Phlegm-Heat, losing its descending command, Qi rebels upward, causing cough. "Chronic exhaustion" refers to prolonged coughing that injures Lung Qi, evolving into Lung Lao (Consumption).

Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction), Xiong Su Yin (Ligusticum and Perilla Decoction), Xiang Su Yin (Aucklandia and Perilla Decoction), Fuling Buxin Tang (Poria Heart-Nourishing Decoction)

2. Shen Su Yin treats cold damage where Wind-Cold invades the Lung, presenting with cough, sneezing, expectoration of saliva/phlegm, fever, and aversion to cold. Ginseng is used for Qi deficiency; it is omitted if the constitution is robust. The formula includes Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Powder, a basic damp-resolving formula), Zhi Qiao (Immature Bitter Orange), Jie Geng (Platycodon Root), Ge Gen (Kudzu Root), Zi Su Ye (Perilla Leaf), and Qian Hu (Peucedanum Root). Add Chuan Xiong (Sichuan Lovage Rhizome) for headache; add Xing Ren (Apricot Seed) for wheezing. If heat enters, add Huang Qin (Scutellaria Root); if cold prevails, add Ma Huang (Ephedra Herb) and Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger). For patients with Xiao Lao (Chronic Consumption), or pregnant/postpartum women presenting these symptoms, combine this formula with Si Wu Tang (Four Substances Decoction) to form Fuling Buxin Tang, adjusting according to deficiency/excess and cold/heat patterns.

[Note] Shen Su Yin treats cough, sneezing, expectoration of saliva/phlegm, fever, and aversion to cold caused by Wind-Cold invading the Lung due to cold damage. Its ingredients are: Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Zi Su Ye (Perillae Folium), Ju Hong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum), Ban Xia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Fu Ling (Poria), Gan Cao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Zhi Qiao (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Jie Geng (Platycodi Radix), Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix), and Ge Gen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix). Those with deficient form and Qi must use Ren Shen; those with robust form and Qi may omit it. For headache, based on the original formula, remove Ren Shen, replace Chai Hu (Bupleuri Radix) with Qian Hu, and add Chuan Xiong, naming it Xiong Su Yin. For wheezing and cough, based on the original formula, remove Ren Shen and add Xing Ren, naming it Xing Su Yin. For internal heat, add Huang Qin; for cold, add Ma Huang and Gan Jiang. For Xiao Lao patients, or those pre- or post-partum with this disease, combine the original formula with Si Wu Tang, naming it Fuling Buxin Tang, adjusting according to their specific deficiency/excess and cold/heat conditions.

Xie Xin San (Drain Heart Powder), Ting Li Xie Bai San (Descurainia Draining White Powder)

3. Xie Bai San treats Lung Fire constrained in the Qi level, presenting with wheezing, cough, facial edema, fever, and absence of phlegm. It contains Sang Bai Pi (Morus Bark), Di Gu Pi (Lycii Cortex), Gan Cao (Licorice), Han Shui Shi (Halloysitum Rubrum), Ma Huang, and Xing Ren. If the pathology is in the Blood level, add Huang Qin; if heat is severe, add Lian Lian (Coptidis Rhizoma). For urgent cough with vomiting/reversal of Qi, add Qing Pi (Tangerine Peel), Ju Hong, and Ban Xia. If fire constraint is severe causing loss of voice, add He Zi Rou (Terminalia Chebula Fruit Flesh) and Jie Geng. If fluid retention causes wheezing, cough, and inability to lie flat, add Ku Ting Li (Descurainiae Semen), which is highly effective.

[Note] Xie Bai San consists of Sang Bai Pi, Di Gu Pi, and Gan Cao. It treats wheezing, cough, facial edema, absence of phlegm, and body heat, indicating Lung Fire constrained in the Qi level. If there is no sweat, it indicates external Cold constraining Lung Fire; add Ma Huang and Xing Ren to disperse it. If there are no exterior signs but only facial redness, it indicates Lung Fire constrained in the Blood level; add Huang Qin. For severe internal heat, further add Lian Lian to clear it. For urgent cough with vomiting and Qi reversal, add Qing Pi, Ju Hong, and Ban Xia to descend Qi. For severe fire constraint causing aphonia, add He Zi Rou and Jie Geng to open the orifice. For wheezing, cough, facial edema, and inability to lie flat, indicating concurrent fluid retention, add Ku Ting Li to drain it, naming it Ting Li Xie Bai San.

Qing Fei Tang (Clear Lung Decoction)

4. Qing Fei Tang treats cough due to Lung Dryness-Heat. Ingredients include Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber), Tian Dong (Asparagi Tuber), Zhi Mu (Anemarrhenae Rhizoma), Bei Mu (Fritillariae Bulbus), Gan Cao, Ju Hong, Huang Qin, and Sang Bai Pi. Add Gua Lou (Trichosanthis Fructus) and Ban Xia for phlegm; add Xing Ren for wheezing; use Zhi Qiao and Jie Geng to regulate Qi; add Wu Mei (Mume Fructus) for astringency.

[Note] Qing Fei Tang consists of Mai Dong, Tian Dong, Zhi Mu, Bei Mu, Gan Cao, Ju Hong, Huang Qin, and Sang Bai Pi. For dry, difficult-to-expectorate phlegm, add Gua Lou Zi (Trichosanthis Semen). For copious phlegm, add Ban Xia. For wheezing, add Xing Ren. For chest/diaphragm Qi stagnation, add Zhi Qiao and Jie Geng. For chronic cases, astringency is appropriate; add Wu Mei.

Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Clear Dryness Rescue Lung Decoction)

5. Yu Shi's Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang is a formula for cough due to Lung Qi deficiency, dryness, and constraint. It contains Ren Shen, Gan Cao, Mai Dong, and Shi Gao (Gypsum Fibrosum) to generate Qi and fluids; Xing Ren and Pi Pa Ye (Loquat Leaf) to descend rebellious Qi with long-lasting efficacy; Hu Ma (Sesamum Fructus), Sang Ye (Mori Folium), and E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini) to moisten dryness; add Sheng Di Huang (Rehmanniae Radix) for blood depletion; add Niu Huang (Calculus Bovis), Ling Yang Jiao (Antilopis Cornu), and Xi Jiao (Rhinocerotis Cornu) for severe heat; add Bei Mu and Lou Shuang (Trichosanthis Pulvis) for copious phlegm.

[Note] Yu Shi refers to Yu Jiayan. Pi refers to Pi Pa Ye. Ling Yang Jiao and Xi Jiao. Lou Shuang refers to Trichosanthis Pulvis.

Tou Luo Dan (Penetrating Net Pill), Xie Fei Wan (Draining Lung Pill)

6. For Cold Excess with clear phlegm causing cough, Tou Luo Dan is used. During coughing, saliva/phlegm becomes obstructive, making exhalation difficult. It contains Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus), Xing Ren, Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma), Qian Niu (Pharbitidis Semen), Zao Jiao (Gleditsiae Spina), and Ban Xia, made into small pills, taken in measured doses. For Heat Excess with thick phlegm, Xie Fei Wan is used.

[Note] Cold Excess with abundant clear phlegm, and Heat Excess with abundant sticky phlegm, can both cause cough. During coughing, phlegm/saliva suddenly obstructs, closing Qi and making exhalation difficult. For Cold Excess, use Tou Luo Dan, consisting of Ba Dou, Xing Ren, Da Huang, Qian Niu, Zao Jiao, and Ban Xia ground into powder, steamed with steamed bread dough into small pills, taken in measured doses. This formula originates from *Danxi Xinfa Fuyu*. For Heat Excess, Xie Fei Wan is suitable; see the Hemoptysis section.

Ren Shen Xie Fei Tang (Ginseng Draining Lung Decoction)

7. Accumulated Heat injuring the Lung is suitable for draining Lung methods. Symptoms include wheezing, cough, copious yellow sticky phlegm, chest/diaphragm fullness and heat, and constipation. Use Liang Ge San (Cool the Upper Chamber Powder) modified with Zhi Qiao, Jie Geng, Xing Ren, Ren Shen, and Sang Bai Pi.

[Note] Ren Shen Xie Fei Tang consists of Liang Ge San (Zhi Zi, Lian Qiao, Bo He, Huang Qin, Da Huang, Gan Cao) plus Zhi Qiao, Jie Geng, Xing Ren, Ren Shen, and Sang Bai Pi.

Zhong Ru Bu Fei Tang (Calcite Nourishing Lung Decoction)

8. Bu Fei Tang treats Lung Deficiency-Cold causing wheezing, cough, and hemoptysis, persisting for years with scorched skin and hair. Ingredients include Ren Shen, Mai Dong, Wu Mei, Kuan Dong Hua (Farflos Flos), Zi Wan (Asteris Radix), Sang Bai Pi, Gui Zhi (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Zhong Ru (Calcitum), Bai Shi Ying (Quartzum Album), Nuomi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa), Da Zao (Jujubae Fructus), and Sheng Jiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens) decocted together.

[Note] Bu Fei Tang consists of Ren Shen, Mai Dong, Wu Mei, Kuan Dong Hua, Zi Wan, Sang Bai Pi, Gui Zhi, Zhong Ru, Bai Shi Ying, Nuomi, Da Zao, and Sheng Jiang.

Ren Shen Yang Fei Tang (Ginseng Nourishing Lung Decoction)

9. Ren Shen Yang Fei Tang is a balanced formula for Lung Qi deficiency, suitable for chronic exhaustion with wheezing, cough, and bloody sputum, neither cold nor hot. Ingredients include Ren Shen, Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice), Xing Ren, E Jiao, Zhi Mu, Da Zao, Wu Mei, Ying Su Ke (Papaveris Capsulum), Di Gu Pi, and Sang Bai Pi.

[Note] Ren Shen Yang Fei Tang is a balanced formula treating Lung Qi deficiency and chronic exhaustion, neither cold nor hot. Its ingredients are Ren Shen, Zhi Gan Cao, Xing Ren, E Jiao, Zhi Mu, Da Zao, Wu Mei, Ying Su Ke, Di Gu Pi, and Sang Bai Pi.

Qing Ning Gao (Clear Tranquility Paste), Tai Ping Wan (Great Peace Pill)

10. Cough with scant phlegm and abundant blood is treated with Qing Ning Gao. Ingredients include Gan Cao, Jie Geng, Mai Dong, Di Huang, Ju Hong, Long Nao Yuan (Borneolum Syntheticum), Yi Yi Ren (Coicis Semen), Chuan Bei Mu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus), and Bo He (Menthae Haplocalycis Herba) powdered. If bleeding exceeds phlegm, use Tai Ping Wan.

[Note] For cough with scant phlegm and abundant blood, use Tai Ping Wan. This formula is recorded in various texts.

Qiong Yu Gao (Jade Essence Paste), Xing Su Gao (Apricot Butter Paste)

11. Qiong Yu Gao treats Lung Deficiency Consumptive Disease, presenting as Lung萎 (Flaccidity), dry cough, and profuse expectoration of saliva. Raw Di Huang is decocted into a paste, then refined white honey, Ren Shen powder, and Fu Ling powder are added and stirred into a paste. For dryness without deficiency, use Xing Su Gao.

[Note] Qiong Yu Gao treats deficiency-dryness. First, decoct Sheng Di Huang into a paste, then add refined white honey, Ren Shen powder, and Fu Ling powder, stirring into a paste. Xing Su Gao treats dryness without deficiency. It is made by melting Xing Ren Shuang (Apricot Seed Powder), Nai Su You (Butter Oil), and refined white honey together into a paste.