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(For women's diseases, refer to *Furen Liangfang* [Excellent Prescriptions for Women].)

The Lung is the canopy of the five zang organs. It resides in the chest, governs Qi (vital energy), and corresponds externally to the skin and hair. Laborious strain damages Qi and Blood, causing the interstices (pores) to be insecure; external pathogens take advantage of this weakness and damage the Lung internally. Alternatively, excessive sexual activity depletes Kidney Water (Kidney Yin), allowing deficient fire to flare upward. Indulgence in rich wine, roasted or fried foods, and pungent or strong flavors steams and harms the Lung. Excessive coughing and expectoration of phlegm-saliva, or overuse of sweating and purging methods, severely deprive the body of Body Fluids. The manifestations include aversion to wind, cough, nasal congestion, stiffness of the neck, distension and fullness of the chest and hypochondrium, difficulty in breathing, dry throat with thirst. In severe cases, there is slight swelling of the four limbs, and coughing up of pus and blood. If foul-smelling turbid sputum is expectorated, with bloody and foul pus, accompanied by a dull pain in the chest, and the pulse at the Cun position on the right hand is rapid and excess, it is diagnosed as Lung Carbuncle (Fei Yong). If frothy saliva is expectorated without pus, and the pulse is rapid but deficiency-type, it is diagnosed as Lung Atrophy (Fei Fei). For cough with wheezing and urgency, use Xiao Qing Long Tang (Minor Blue Green Dragon Decoction). For cough with chest distension, use Ting Li Da Zao Xie Fei Tang (Descuraria Seed and Jujube Decoction to Drain the Lung). For coughing up foul-smelling pus, use Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction); for cough with wheezing, shortness of breath, or scanty urination, assist with Shen Bu Fei Tang (Ginseng Lung-Nourishing Decoction); for fatigue and poor appetite, assist with Shen Zhu Pi Wei Tang (Ginseng and Atractylodes Spleen-Nourishing Decoction). For copious phlegm obstruction due to coughing, it indicates Kidney Deficiency with water overflowing; use Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia). For dry mouth and throat, it indicates deficient fire flaring upward; use Jia Jian Ba Wei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill). These conditions all arise from Spleen Earth deficiency, failing to generate Lung Metal, and Lung Metal failing to generate Kidney Water. Thus, they can be saved if treated at the initial stage, but are often fatal once pus has formed. If the pulse is slightly tight and rapid, pus has not yet formed. If the pulse is very tight and rapid, pus has already formed. The *Neijing* states: "When blood is hot, flesh rots; when Ying and Wei (nutritive and defensive qi) do not flow smoothly, pus will inevitably form." Generally, if lung sores cause expectoration of pus and blood for a long time, resembling rice gruel, it is difficult to treat. If expectoration of pus does not stop, survival is unlikely. If vomiting of pus stops spontaneously, recovery occurs; if the pulse is short and choppy, self-healing happens. If the complexion should be white but appears red, this indicates Fire overcoming Metal, and survival is impossible. However, if one tonifies the Spleen and Lung and nourishes Kidney Water, there may be a chance of life. But fear that attacking the sore exclusively will further weaken the Spleen and Stomach, leading to frequent errors.

Clinical Cases:
A scholar suffered from Lung Carbuncle, with clear mucus flowing from the nose, expectoration of pus and blood, and distension in the chest and diaphragm. This was caused by external Wind pathogens. Initially, Xiao Feng San (Wind-Dispersing Powder) with ash of disordered hair was used... This indicated that Spleen Earth failed to generate Lung Metal, and Lung Metal failed to generate Kidney Water. He recovered after using Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction) and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).

Another scholar, who habitually drank alcohol excessively, presented with expectoration of pus, neck stiffness, and lusterless skin. This was Lung Carbuncle resulting from Qi and Blood deficiency of the Spleen and Lung, with external pathogens taking advantage. Initially, Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) was used, followed by Ren Shen Bu Fei Tang (Ginseng Lung-Nourishing Decoction), leading to recovery.

A man coughed up phlegm and pus, with abdominal distension. The pulses at both Cun positions and the Right Guan position were flooding and rapid. This indicated that Fire failed to generate Earth, and Earth failed to generate Metal. Using Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) as the main formula, assisted by Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction), he recovered.

A man had intermittent cough, thirst, spontaneous sweating, fever, and frequent defecation. After self-medicating with formulas to clear the Lung, descend fire, regulate Qi, and promote diuresis, he developed urinary retention, red face and eyes, cracked lips, and copious phlegm. The pulses of the Spleen, Lung, and Kidney were floating and large, becoming rapid upon pressure. This indicated deficiency of the three Yin meridians of the foot, failing to generate each other; the source of transformation should be nourished, otherwise an abscess would form. Disbelieving this, he continued using diuretic herbs, and subsequently developed Lung Carbuncle. I treated him with Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) and Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia), resulting in recovery.

A man presented with a red face, expectoration of pus, fever, thirst, irritability, and a desire to drink. His pulse was flooding and rapid without order. Initially, Jia Jian Ba Wei Wan (Modified Eight-Ingredient Pill) with Mai Men Dong (Ophiopogon Tuber) was used... Mai Men Dong 2.5 qian, Wu Wei Zi 2 qian, decocted in water and drunk as tea, one dose daily, stabilized after more than a month. For this condition, a red face indicates the need to tonify Lung and Kidney; a pale face indicates the need to tonify Spleen and Lung. Physicians should verify this.

A woman with inherent Blood deficiency presented with fever and cough. After using formulas for Phlegm-Fire, she expectorated pus and blood, with a red face and rapid pulse, indicating a critical state where pus had formed but Qi and Blood were deficient. I used Ba Zhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) to tonify Yuan Qi (Primal Qi) and Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) to treat the Lung condition, leading to gradual improvement in pulse and symptoms.

A woman contracted Wind-Cold. After using exterior-releasing formulas, she developed cough with wheezing and urgency, poor appetite, chest discomfort, and constipation. The pulses at the Right Cun and Guan positions were floating and rapid. There was a desire to use draining and unblocking agents. I said: This is due to Spleen Earth deficiency failing to generate Lung Metal. If we drain further, we will consume Body Fluids again, risking Lung Carbuncle. Disbelieving this, she continued with draining methods, leading to complete deficiency symptoms and subsequent expectoration of pus. I administered Yi Qi Tang (Qi-Tonifying Decoction) in the morning and Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) in the evening for several doses, gradually stopping the pus expectoration. Then, continuing the former formula in the morning and Shi Quan Da Bu Tang (Complete Great Tonifying Decoction) in the evening for over fifty doses each, her good compliance led to recovery.

A woman presented with cough and phlegm expectoration, chest and diaphragm pain. The pulses at the Right Cun and Guan were floating and slippery, with tension below the neck. This was Phlegm generated by accumulated Heat in the Spleen and Stomach, not an abscess. It was treated with Er Chen Tang (Two-Aged Decoction) plus Shan Zhi (Gardenia Fruit), Bai Zhu (Atractylodes Rhizome), and Jie Geng (Platycodon Root), resulting in recovery.

A woman with inherent Blood deficiency experienced internal heat and occasional cough. In the first lunar month of the year Jiachen, the pulses at both Chi positions were floating and flooding. I said: One must guard against Lung disease. In the first lunar month of the year Bingwu, she indeed coughed. The pulses at the Left and Right Cun positions were flooding and rapid. This indicated Heart Fire punishing Lung Metal, forming Lung Carbuncle, with pus already formed; summer heat posed a concern. I used formulas to strengthen Water and tonify the Spleen, achieving slight improvement. Due to lack of careful regulation, she unfortunately died in mid-summer.