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The West corresponds to the color white, and its qi enters into communication with the Lung. In the Bagua (Eight Trigrams), the Lung is located in the Dui trigram, belonging to Dry Metal in the Five Elements; in the four seasons, it is listed in Autumn, governing the Dry command. Dryness is the residual qi of Fire. It requires moistening agents to prevent the exhaustion of body fluids, so that the Lung's Qi can descend clearly and turbidly, allowing Heaven's Qi to descend without disturbing clouds and objects. The Lung is positioned at the highest point, making it susceptible to invasion by Wind-Cold. If internal Stagnant Fire exists, and acrid-warm herbs are additionally applied, the soft and fragile Metal will be consumed and scorched; how could it not be damaged? Thus, Lung Abscess arises. The Lung also governs Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) and regulates the entire body. If labor leads to panting and fatigue, and tonics or treatments are used incessantly without rest, Lung Qi will become increasingly short, leading to symptoms such as spitting saliva and foam, and lack of energy to move, resulting in Lung Withered Disease. Generally, these two conditions stem from one source being external contraction and the other internal injury. External contraction does not immediately lead to abscess; rather, it often results from improper treatment, excessive dispersing and resolving of the exterior, prioritizing protection and moistening. Many survive, and even a damaged lung can recover. Internal injury stems from excess alcohol and sexual indulgence. Alcohol enters the Qi level, while sexual excess damages the Yin level. The acrid-warm nature consumes upwards and exhausts downwards. Day by day and month by month, this accumulates unconsciously, eventually causing hoarseness and irreversible damage to Lung Qi. Trying to revive a dried-out Lung and moisten it is indeed difficult. How can one fail to distinguish between these two conditions?

If a patient with Lung Abscess can eat, it indicates the presence of Stomach Qi, as Earth is the Mother of Metal. Symptoms include coughing up thick phlegm with a fishy, foul odor resembling pus, mixed yellow and red colors. In severe cases, "white blood" (referring to lung tissue/lobes) is coughed up. The palms are dry and rough, the skin lacks luster, and the pulse is rapid and hurried. One should immediately administer Gualou Ren Tang (Trichosanthes Seed Decoction). Continuous administration for several doses, or ten to twenty doses, invariably leads to recovery. I have treated many cases with miraculous efficacy, too numerous to recount.

For Lung Withered Disease, characterized by coughing up saliva and foam, dull pain in the chest, weakness in the four limbs, and lack of energy to move, use Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) removing Shengma (Cimicifugae Rhizoma) and Chaihu (Bupleuri Radix), adding Ejiao (Donkey-Hide Gelatin), Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex), Maidong (Ophiopogonis Radix), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Fructus), and Baiji (Bletillae Rhizoma).

Clinical Cases:
A man suffered from cough in winter. He self-administered exterior-releasing herbs. By spring, he was coughing up foul-smelling sputum for seven or eight days, day and night without cessation. His pulse was fine and rapid, he could not turn his side, and his hands were like withered palms, yet his appetite remained. I administered herbs such as Gualou (Trichosanthis Fructus) and Beimu (Fritillariae Bulbus) continuously for eight doses, reducing symptoms by half. After another eight doses, he was completely cured. He was then regulated with Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).

Another person drank fiery wine in summer and developed bloody dysentery. His pulse was surging and rapid. He took Shaoyao Tang (Peony Decoction) but did not improve and changed doctors. By winter, he gradually developed coughing of foul-smelling sputum. The Surgeon Department treated it as Lung Abscess. By spring, he was vomiting about a bowlful of red blood daily, topped with white foam, with an exceptionally foul odor. Over a month later, everyone believed he would surely die. He sought my consultation again. His pulse was still surging, large, and rapid. Seeing him eating eggs, consuming seven or eight consecutively without ill effect, I said, "It is treatable. Although the Lung is damaged, the Stomach Qi has not failed." I prescribed the same decoction as before. After sixteen doses, he recovered. He was subsequently treated with paste medicines and fully recuperated.

Gualou Ren Tang (Trichanthes Seed Decoction):
Gualou Shuang (Processed Trichosanthes Fruit Powder) and Yiren (Coix Seed, *Coicis Semen*) each 2 qian; Chuanbeimu (Fritillariae Cirrhosae Bulbus, heart removed), Tianmendong (Asparagi Radix, heart removed), Jinyinhua (Lonicerae Japonicae Flos), Maimendong (Ophiopogonis Radix, heart removed), Baihe (Lilii Bulbus) each 1.5 qian; Gancao Jie (Licorice Joint, *Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma*) 3 fen; Sangbaipi (Mori Cortex, honey-fried) and Jiegeng (Platycodonis Radix) each 1 qian.
Decoct in water. If healing is slow, add Baiji (*Bletillae Rhizoma*) and Ejiao (*Asini Corii Colla*), remove Sangbaipi. In cold months, add Kuandonghua (Farfarae Flos) and Ziwan (Adenophorae Radix). In summer months, add Shengdi (Rehmanniae Radix) and Mudanpi (Moutan Cortex). If Spleen deficiency leads to poor appetite, use Sijunzi Tang (Four Gentlemen Decoction) or Liujunzi Tang (Six Gentlemen Decoction). However, if wheezing persists, do not tonify abruptly. For insufficiency of True Yin, follow up with Liuwei Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia) added with Ejiao.