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According to the *Bing Yuan* (Source of Diseases), "Xia Ke" (cough with rattling phlegm sound) is essentially a cough. When there is excessive phlegm-fluid in the chest and diaphragm, the qi movement during coughing stirs up the phlegm, which rushes upward to strike between the throat and pharynx. The phlegm and qi beat against each other; following the rhythm of coughing and breathing, a rattling sound ("ya xia") is produced, which is termed "Xia Ke". Although it is generally similar to ordinary cough, the difference lies in the medication: one should add substances that resolve phlegm and break down fluid retention. (From Volume 14)

Cui Shi's prescription for treating Xia Ke persisting for thirty years or more:
Hyoscyamus Seed (fresh ones), Southern Qingmu Xiang (authentic ones), Xun Huang (pure realgar without stone odor).
These three ingredients are taken in equal proportions, pounded, sifted into powder. Spread mutton fat on a sheet of blue paper, sprinkle the powder onto the paper, and roll it up. At dawn, while fasting, burn the roll and inhale the smoke through the head end, swallowing ten times. At noon, inhale and swallow ten times again. In the evening, inhale and swallow ten times once more. For seven days, avoid raw/cold foods, vinegar, and slippery/greasy foods. The condition will heal within three days. (From Volume 6)

The *Gu Jin Lu Yan* treats Xia Ke with the Shu Mo Pill formula, which is highly effective. Provided by Xi Junyi, Magistrate of Wannian County.
Shu Mo (Book Ink, 2 fen), Gan Suan (Kansui Root, 2 fen), Ting Li Zi (Descurainiae Semen, 2 fen, stir-fried), Qian Hu (Peucedani Radix, 5 fen), Da Huang (Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, 5 fen), Ba Dou (Crotonis Fructus, 2 fen, remove heart and skin, stir-fried).
Pound and sift these six ingredients into powder. separately grind Ba Dou and Ting Li Zi finely. Mix with honey to form pills the size of a Chinese quince seed. In the morning, take three pills on an empty stomach with clear rice porridge water; weak patients take two pills. This may induce diarrhea or vomiting. After three days, administer another dose using the same method. No more than three doses are needed for cure. For chronic cough lasting thirty years, if diarrhea persists, stop it with cold white water. After vomiting and diarrhea cease, avoid raw/cold foods, vinegar, slippery foods, pork, fish, chicken, wheat/noodles, oil, alcohol, cold water, KT (uncertain vegetable/ingredient), and asparagus shoots. This medicine is suitable for spring and summer use. Since it contains toxic herbs, start with a low dose and increase gradually. (The *Guang Ji* text treats Jiao Sou with upper-rebellious Qi, characterized by a frog-like croaking sound in the throat, From Volume 19)

Qian Jin Fang's fumigation method for treating cough:
Spread fine, cooked mugwort (Ai Ye) thinly on paper, four inches wide. Then spread sulfur powder (Liu Huang) thinly over the mugwort, ensuring even distribution. Take one reed stem, cut to the length of the paper, and roll it up. Make ten such rolls. First, burn the lower end of the rolled reed. Inhale the smoke emerging from the reed's pores through the mouth and swallow it until vomiting occurs. Repeat this fumigation the next morning. Use the remaining rolls from the previous day on the second day. Continue for three days, and the condition will naturally heal. During this period, only consume white millet gruel; all other foods are forbidden. (Same as *Gu Jin Lu Yan*)

Another method:
Xun Huang (Realgar, ground fine, 1 liang).
Melt wax on paper and mix in the Xun Huang powder, blending them evenly. Roll as described above. Burn and inhale as before, once or twice daily, stopping when vomiting occurs. After seven days of recuperation, nourish the body with mutton soup.

Another method:
On a piece of worn blue cloth (four inches wide), spread mugwort. On top of the mugwort, spread green alum powder (Qing Fan Shi Mo). On the alum, spread a little Xun Huang powder, then a little salt, and finally a little fermented soybean powder (Chi Mo). Quickly roll it up. Burn it and place it in a dry jar. Cover the jar mouth with paper, making a small hole. Hold the hole in the mouth to inhale and swallow the smoke until vomiting occurs. Rest if feeling stifled. Stop when the smoke is exhausted. Use once or twice daily. If three rolls are not finished, the disease heals. Avoid greasy food for twenty-one days. (All from Volume 18)

Cui Shi's fumigation method for chronic cough that does not heal:
Tussilago Flower (Kuan Dong Hua).
Take one ingredient, approximately the size of a chicken egg each morning. Mix with a little honey to moisten the flowers. Place in an iron cauldron with a capacity of one sheng. Cover the cauldron with a porcelain bowl. Drill a hole in the bottom of the bowl and insert a small bamboo tube (a reed tube can be used if bamboo is unavailable). The tube should be long enough to connect the bowl and cauldron. Seal all joints where the bowl meets the cauldron and where the tube is inserted with flour paste to prevent smoke leakage. Place charcoal fire under the cauldron for a short time. The smoke from the Tussilago flower will emerge from the tube. Hold the tube in the mouth, inhale the smoke, and swallow it. If feeling slight chest stuffiness, temporarily lift the head and pinch the tube end with fingers to prevent leakage. Continue until the smoke is exhausted. Perform this once daily for three consecutive days. On the sixth day, eat a full meal of mutton to achieve permanent cure. (From Volume 6)

Gu Jin Lu Yan's smoke method for treating cough (pronunciation: he-he):
Zhong Ru (Stalactite, ground), Bai Shi Ying (White Quartz, ground), Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix), Dan Shen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, ground), Xiong Huang (Realgar, each 7 fen, ground), Shui Yin (Mercury, 2 fen, ground), Wu Yang Shen Zhi (Fat from black sheep kidney, one set), Jing Zhi (Clean paper, 10 sheets).
Pound and sift each of the eight ingredients into powder. Add mercury to the powders and grind finely until incorporated into the various herbs and sheep fat. Simmer and extract the mixture, placing it on paper to spread evenly to a thickness of one fen. Cut one sheet of paper into three parts. For thin and weak women, use half an inch for five days. Fast for five days before taking the medicine. For one hundred days after taking the medicine, avoid five pungent spices, alcohol, and meat. One dose can treat fifty people; rebellious Qi symptoms will all resolve. Avoid raw blood products.

Another fumigation method for cough, abdominal distension, inability to lie flat due to rebellious Qi, and generalized edema, provided by Zhangsun Zhen:
One sheet of wax paper, spread with cooked mugwort (Ai Ye). Xun Huang (powder, 3 fen), Kuan Dong Hua (powder, 2 fen).
Spread these three ingredients evenly over the mugwort. Insert a reed tube, roll into a one-inch cylinder, and tie securely with string. Burn the lower end to produce smoke, inhale and swallow. After thirty swallows, the condition heals. Finish three doses. For one hundred days, abstain from salt and vinegar. Use once daily, three inches per session. One dose lasts three days. (From Volume 19)