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It is also said: In ancient times, a woman in her twenties had an orifice between her chest and diaphragm, from which pus and blood coughed up from her mouth emerged correspondingly. She was cured using decoctions to tonify Qi and Blood, such as Ren Shen (Ginseng Radix) and Dang Gui (Angelicae Sinensis Radix), combined with herbs that clear heat and drain pus.

Lou Jinshan stated: Lung萎 (Lung Atrophy/Withering) belongs to Heat syndromes. If chronic cough damages the Lung, resulting in hoarseness or loss of voice and hemoptysis, this belongs to severe Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire, which falls under the treatment principles discussed in this treatise. When Lung萎 presents with salivation without coughing, the patient is not thirsty and inevitably suffers from enuresis and frequent urination; this is due to upper Jiao deficiency failing to control the lower Jiao. This indicates cold in the Lung, manifesting as vertigo and excessive saliva, treated with Zhi Gan Cao (Honey-fried Licorice Root) and Gan Jiang (Dried Ginger), belonging to Cold syndromes. When Lung萎 presents with excessive salivation and a sensation of warmth in the heart (referring to deficiency heat from fluid depletion), Zhi Gan Cao Tang (Honey-fried Licorice Decoction) should be used to tonify deficiency and exhaustion. This differs from tonifying Yin deficiency with hyperactive fire; all these distinctions must be clarified, hence Lung萎 has both Cold and Heat variations.

Zhou Wencai stated: Symptoms presenting as dull pain above and below the breasts indicate Lung Ju (Lung Abscess). If there is slight swelling of the flesh, it is Lung Yong (Lung Carbuncle). Both are curable in the early stages; however, if purulent, foul-smelling sputum is expectorated after a long duration, it is incurable. Upon pulse diagnosis, 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. If the pus resembles rice gruel, or if vomiting of pus continues unceasingly, accompanied by a floating, large pulse and red complexion, all are difficult to treat. If the pus stops spontaneously, and the pulse is short and choppy with a yellowish-white complexion, they are all curable. Why? Because a floating, large pulse with a red complexion indicates Heart Fire overcoming Lung Metal, making it difficult to treat; whereas a short, choppy pulse with a white complexion indicates that Lung Qi is undamaged, making it curable. The treatment method should focus on tonifying the Lung, draining fire, stopping cough, and calming wheezing. (From *Ji Yan*)

*Sheng Hui Fang* states: Dull, slight pain at Zhongfu (Acupoint, located 1.5 cun below Yunmen, in the depression where the intercostal artery beats between the ribs) indicates Lung Ju. Slight elevation of the flesh above indicates Lung Yong. Therefore, if detected at the initial stage, it can be saved; once pus forms, death is common. To determine if pus exists, one need only diagnose the pulse: if slightly tight and rapid, no pus has formed; if very tight and rapid, pus has formed.

Shen Douyuan stated: Cases presenting in autumn and winter are curable because the Lung is prosperous in autumn. In winter, when Water is prosperous due to cold, the Child rescues the Mother (Kidney Water nourishes Lung Metal), following the principle of mutual generation among parent and child, thus considered favorable. However, in spring and summer, when Wood is prosperous and Fire prevails, a Lung Metal disease encountering strong Fire creates a situation akin to melting stone and flowing metal; Metal being overcome by Fire constitutes an unfavorable pattern, making it difficult to treat. (From *Qi Xuan*)

Li Dongyuan stated: The Lung is the canopy of the five Zang organs, located in the chest, governing Qi, and reflecting on the skin and hair. Labor and injury deplete Qi and Blood, causing the pores to become deficient, allowing Wind pathogen to invade and affect the Lung internally. This results in sweating, aversion to wind, cough, shortness of breath, nasal congestion, neck stiffness, and distension/fullness in the chest and hypochondrium. If prolonged and unresolved, it becomes Lung萎. The symptoms of Lung萎 include chronic cough, excessive sweating, further depletion of body fluids, stools resembling rotten melons, diarrhea resembling pig fat, frequent urination without thirst. If thirst occurs, it indicates self-healing; desire to drink indicates impending recovery. This condition, characterized by excessive saliva and phlegm without pus, is called Lung萎. Wind invading the Wei level prevents exhalation from entering; Heat reaching the Ying level prevents inhalation from exiting. Thus, Wind affects the skin and hair, Heat damages the vessels and blood; Wind and Heat contend, causing Qi and Blood to stagnate and accumulate in the Lung, transforming into Lung Ju. Pulse diagnosis shows: if the Cun Kou pulse is rapid and deficient, it is Lung萎; if rapid and excess, it is Lung Ju. Symptoms of Lung sores include dry mouth, wheezing, fullness, dry throat with thirst, mild swelling of limbs, coughing up pus and blood, or foul-smelling turbid froth, and dull pain in the chest, indicating Lung Ju.

Gong Juzhong stated: The Classics say, "Lung injury leads to ease of萎." With萎, Fire stagnates and pathogens obstruct, causing Metal to become dry and fierce. Lung deficiency prevents Qi from ascending and descending to nourish the hundred vessels. With Yong, the structure of Metal is damaged, Lung leaves become scorched and withered, breathing becomes difficult, and Fire pathogens cannot be vented. Stagnation and steaming lead to coughing up blood, hemorrhage, and wandering bleeding. There will inevitably be dull pain at Zhongfu and Yunmen, and a fishy smell in the throat upon coughing. A洪 (Surging) and rapid but deficient pulse indicates that over time, tissue rots and discharges, leading to an incurable case of Lung Yong. If pus and blood stop spontaneously and the pulse becomes short and choppy, although termed incurable, it may heal itself due to the nature of the pulse in its own section.

Feng Luzhan stated: Cough with pain in the chest and breasts requires examining the sputum color. If thick and turbid like pus, yellow or red, with a foul odor in the mouth, treat according to Lung萎 or Lung Yong patterns. A rapid but deficient pulse indicates Lung萎; a rapid and excess pulse indicates Lung Yong.

It is also said: In Lung萎 with cough and expectoration, if the throat is dry and the patient desires water, self-healing will occur; if the patient opens their mouth for shortness of breath, death ensues.