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Coughing pulses are mostly floating; the pathology centers on phlegm-fluids gathering in the Stomach and the pathogen affecting the Lung. Pulses that are deep, tight, or small indicate a critical condition, whereas those that are floating and soggy are easy to treat.

Causes of coughing vary, but more than half are due to Wind-Cold and Phlegm-Fluids. If caused by Wind-Cold, it injures the skin and hair (Treatment should induce sweating to resolve the exterior, such as using Mahuang Tang [Ephedra Decoction] or Shensu Yin [Ginseng and Perilla Leaf Drink].). If caused by Phlegm-Fluids, they stagnate in the chest and epigastrium (Treatment should employ Erchen Tang [Two-Chen Decoction], Zhang Zhongjing's Xiao Qinglong Tang [Minor Blue Dragon Decoction], or Bcui Banxia Wenfei Tang [Extracts Extracting Pinellia Warming Lung Decoction].). The skin and hair are the external correspondence of the Lung; when pathogens invade this correspondence, the Lung Qi responds accordingly, leading to rebellious upward flow and causing cough. The Stomach is located below the Lung; cold phlegm and frozen drinks stagnate in the middle jiao and shoot upward to the Lung. When Lung Qi meets this rebellion, it also leads to upward reversal and causes cough. The Classics state: "Coldness of the form and cold drinks injure the Lung." (This is because the turbid qi of cold phlegm and fluids steams upward to the Lung, making the Lung impure and unclean, from which cough arises.) Coldness of the form certainly injures the exterior, while frozen drinks forming cold phlegm all gather in the Stomach. The Lung resides at the highest position, and the skin and hair are at the most superficial level; therefore, the pulse is mostly floating. A pulse that is deep, tight, and small indicates danger because deep signifies the pathogen has entered the interior, tight signifies cold has not dispersed, and small signifies the righteous qi is depleted; all these indicate a critical illness. If the pulse is floating and soggy, floating indicates the pathogen is in the exterior, and soggy indicates the pathogenic invasion is mild; thus, it is said to be easy to treat.

Mahuang Tang (See Chapter 16)
Shensu Yin Treats phlegm accumulation in the Zhongwan (CV12), dizziness, gastric discomfort, palpitations, hiccups, or phlegm stagnation in the joints causing limb dragging, facial paralysis (deviation of mouth and eye), hemiplegia, vomiting, nausea, headache, fever, as well as symptoms of Wind-Cold invasion such as nasal congestion, aversion to cold, and cough.
Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Zisuye (Perillae Folium), Qianhu (Peucedani Radix), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum), Gegen (Puerariae Lobatae Radix) (each 1 qian); Fuling (Poria), Zhike (Aurantii Fructus Immaturus), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium) (each 8 fen); Muxiang (Aucklandiae Radix) (ground, 4 fen).
Add Congbai (Allii Fistulosi Bulbus) and Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), decoct with water, and take orally.
Erchen Tang (See Chapter 16)
Zhang Zhongjing's Xiao Qinglong Tang (See Chapter 16)
Bcui Banxia Wenfei Tang Treats cold-phlegm and cold qi in the heart, abdomen, and Zhongvan, with a sensation of fluid-like discomfort in the epigastrium. Frequent salivation and drooling, spontaneous flow of clear water from the mouth, urgent distending pain in the hypochondrium, and loss of appetite. This is caused by deficiency-cold of the Stomach Qi. The pulse is deep, wiry, fine, and slow.
Xuanfuhua (Inulae Flos), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Guixin (Cinnamomi Ramulus), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma), Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix), Shaoyao (Paeoniae Radix), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma Preparatum) (each 0.5 liang); Chifuling (Poria cum Ligno Rubrum) (7.5 qian).
Coarsely crush the herbs. Take 4 qian per dose. Add 3 slices of Shengjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma Recens), decoct with water, and take after meals.