帝曰∶肺之令人咳，何也？岐伯曰∶五脏六腑皆令人咳，非独肺也。又曰∶邪在肺，则病皮肤痛，寒热，
上气喘，汗出，咳动肩背。夫肺为华盖，口鼻相通，息之出入，气之升降，必由之路，故专主气。经曰∶形寒
饮冷则伤肺。由儿衣太薄，及冷冻饮料之类，伤于寒也。经曰∶热伤肺。由儿衣太浓，爱养过温，伤于热也。又曰∶
皮毛者，肺之合。皮毛先受邪气，邪气得从其合，使气上而不下，逆而不收，充塞咽嗌，故令咳嗽也。
凡有声无痰谓之咳，肺气伤也；有痰无声谓之嗽，脾湿动也；有声有痰谓之咳嗽，初伤于肺，继动脾湿也。
在小儿由风寒乳食不慎而致病者，尤多矣。经曰∶五脏六腑皆令人咳。然必脏腑各受其邪而与之，要终不离
乎肺也。但因痰而嗽者，痰为重，主治在脾；因咳而动痰者，咳为重，主治在肺。以时而言之，清晨咳者，属痰
火；午前嗽者，属胃火；午后嗽者，属阴虚；黄昏嗽者，火浮于肺；五更嗽者，食积滞于三焦。肺实者，顿嗽抱
首，面赤反食；肺虚者，气逆虚鸣，面白飧泄；肺热者，痰腥而稠，身热喘满，鼻干面红，手捏眉目；肺寒者，
嗽多痰清，面白而喘，恶风多涕。故治者各因其虚实寒热而调之，斯无误矣。
因于寒者则气壅喘促，声浊而无汗，鼻塞声重，宜参苏饮微汗之。
咳而气逆，喘嗽，面白有痰。此肺本经
病，宜清肺饮。咳甚，葶苈丸微利之。
咳而喉仲介介有声，面赤发热心烦，或咽喉痛声哑者，此肺病兼见心证，宜清宁散。咽喉痛，沆瀣丹。
咳而面黄体倦，痰涎壅盛，或吐痰，或吐乳食。此肺病兼见脾证。大抵咳嗽属脾肺者居多，以肺主气，脾
主痰故也，宜橘皮汤。
咳而面青多怒，痰涎壅盛而发搐者，盖因咳嗽声不能转，所以瞪目直视。此肺病兼见肝证，宜集成金粟丹。
咳而面色暗黑，久咳而吐痰水。此肺病而兼见肾证，宜六味地黄丸加麦冬、五味。
咳而声不出，口鼻出血者，此气逆血亦逆也。须顺气宁嗽为主，宜人参冬花膏。
咳而久不止，并无他证，乃肺虚也。只宜补脾为主，人参五味子汤。
咳而胸高骨起，其状如龟者，谓之龟胸。此肺热之极，阳火熏蒸而致也，清燥救肺汤。
咳而日久，胸前疼痛，口吐脓血腥臭者，此肺火壅盛，已成痈也，桔梗汤。治不如法，其证多死。
凡咳嗽痰涎壅塞，逆气冲并而作搐者，多难治。故头摇目上视，及闭目呻吟，手足摆舞，肩息胸突，喉中痰
鸣，口噤不乳，喘而手足冷，皆死证也。
The Yellow Emperor asked: Why does the Lung cause coughing? Qibo replied: All five Zang organs and six Fu organs can cause coughing; it is not solely due to the Lung. It is also said: When pathogenic factors are in the Lung, symptoms such as pain in the skin, aversion to cold with fever, upward panting, sweating, and coughing that pulls on the shoulders and back will occur. The Lung is the "Canopy" (Huagai, a metaphor for its position covering other organs), communicating through the mouth and nose. The entry and exit of breath, and the ascending and descending of Qi, all pass through it; thus, the Lung specifically governs Qi. The Classics state: Cold damaging the form and cold drinks injuring the interior will harm the Lung. This is because infants wear too thin clothing or consume frozen drinks, thereby being injured by Cold. The Classics also state: Heat damages the Lung. This is because infants are dressed too warmly or cared for with excessive warmth, thereby being injured by Heat. It is further stated: The skin and hair are the exterior correspondence of the Lung. When the skin and hair first receive pathogenic factors, these factors enter via their correspondence, causing Lung Qi to ascend without descending, becoming rebellious and unable to gather, filling the throat and pharynx, thus causing coughing.
That which has sound but no phlegm is called "Ke" (cough), indicating injury to Lung Qi; that which has phlegm but no sound is called "Sou" (saliva/phlegm production), indicating disturbance of Spleen dampness; that which has both sound and phlegm is called "Kesou" (cough with phlegm), indicating initial injury to the Lung followed by disturbance of Spleen dampness. In children, illness caused by wind-cold or improper nursing/diet is particularly common. The Classics state: All five Zang organs and six Fu organs can cause coughing. However, each organ must receive its own pathogenic factor and transmit it to the Lung; ultimately, it cannot depart from the Lung. But when coughing is caused by phlegm, phlegm is the primary aspect, and treatment focuses on the Spleen; when coughing generates phlegm, coughing is the primary aspect, and treatment focuses on the Lung. Speaking in terms of time: Coughing in the early morning belongs to Phlegm-Fire; coughing before noon belongs to Stomach Fire; coughing after noon belongs to Yin Deficiency; coughing at dusk belongs to Floating Fire in the Lung; coughing at wu geng (3-5 AM) belongs to Food Stagnation in the San Jiao. Lung Excess presents as paroxysmal severe coughing, holding the head, reddish face, and desire to eat; Lung Deficiency presents with rebellious Qi and empty wheezing, pale face, and undigested stool in diarrhea; Lung Heat presents with fishy-smelling and thick phlegm, body heat, panting and chest fullness, dry nose, red face, and rubbing the eyebrows and eyes; Lung Cold presents with frequent coughing, clear and thin phlegm, pale face, panting, aversion to wind, and excessive nasal discharge. Therefore, practitioners should regulate according to excess/deficiency and cold/heat, and there will be no errors.
When caused by Cold, Qi becomes obstructed leading to panting, turbid voice, absence of sweat, nasal congestion, and heavy voice; Shen Su Yin (Ginseng and Perilla Decoction) should be used to induce slight sweating.
Coughing with rebellious Qi, panting and coughing, pale face, and phlegm. This is a disease of the Lung meridian itself; Qing Fei Yin (Clear the Lung Decoction) should be used. If coughing is severe, Ting Li Wan (Lepidium Seed Pill) should be used to slightly promote bowel movement.
Coughing with a rattling sound in the throat, reddish face, fever, irritability, or sore throat and hoarseness. This is Lung disease accompanied by Heart syndrome; Qing Ning San (Clear and Peaceful Powder) should be used. For sore throat, Hang Xie Dan (Huangxie Pill) should be used.
Coughing with yellowish face, fatigue, abundant saliva and phlegm, or vomiting phlegm/milk/food. This is Lung disease accompanied by Spleen syndrome. Generally, most coughs belong to the Spleen and Lung because the Lung governs Qi and the Spleen governs Phlegm; Ju Pi Tang (Tangerine Peel Decoction) should be used.
Coughing with bluish face, anger, abundant saliva and phlegm, and convulsions. This is likely because the coughing sound cannot transform, leading to staring eyes. This is Lung disease accompanied by Liver syndrome; Ji Cheng Jin Su Dan (Jicheng Gold and Millet Pill) should be used.
Coughing with dark complexion, chronic coughing with expectoration of watery phlegm. This is Lung disease accompanied by Kidney syndrome; Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) added with Mai Dong (Ophiopogon Root) and Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Fruit) should be used.
Coughing with inability to speak and bleeding from mouth and nose. This is Qi rebellion causing Blood rebellion. The main treatment must be to soothe Qi and calm coughing; Ren Shen Dong Hua Gao (Ginseng and Kadsura Flower Paste) should be used.
Chronic coughing that does not stop, with no other symptoms, indicates Lung Deficiency. Treatment should focus primarily on tonifying the Spleen; Ren Shen Wu Wei Zi Tang (Ginseng and Schisandra Decoction) should be used.
Coughing with high chest and protruding bones, resembling a turtle, is called "Tortoise Chest" (Guixiong). This is extreme Lung Heat caused by Yang Fire steaming; Qing Zao Jiu Fei Tang (Clear Dryness and Rescue the Lung Decoction) should be used.
Chronic coughing with anterior chest pain and expectoration of purulent, bloody, foul-smelling sputum. This is excessive Lung Fire obstruction, having formed a Lung Abscess (Fei Yong); Jie Geng Tang (Platycodon Decoction) should be used. If treated improperly, this condition often leads to death.
Whenever coughing is accompanied by abundant phlegm-saliva obstruction, rebellious Qi rushing together, and convulsions, it is difficult to treat. Therefore, shaking of the head, upward rolling of the eyes, closing eyes while groaning, waving of limbs, shoulder breathing, protrusion of the chest, rattling phlegm in the throat, clenched jaw refusing milk, panting with cold hands and feet, are all signs of death.