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Asthma is characterized by rapid breathing with a wheezing sound like that of a bullfrog (Shuiji). The sensation pulls at the chest and back, breathing is obstructed, and there is restlessness in sitting or lying down.

This is referred to as cough accompanied by asthma. Some individuals have this underlying condition; it may be triggered by exposure to cold or warmth, or by sudden contraction of external pathogens. In previous prescriptions for cough, add Bai Pi (Cortex Mori Radicis) [Sangbaipi], then continue taking Yangzheng Dan (Nourishing the Right Pill), and intermittently administer Qingjin Dan (Green Gold Pill). For asthma and cough caused by wind-cold, Jiubao Tang (Nine Treasures Decoction) is suitable. For dry asthma without cough, regardless of duration or chronicity, Suzi Jiangqi Tang (Perilla Seed Descending Qi Decoction) or Shenmi Tang (Mysterious Secret Decoction) are suitable, taken with Yangzheng Dan. For severe cases, Simo Yin (Four Moans Drink) or Limo Yin (Six Moans Drink) is used, taken with Lingsha Dan (Cinnabar Pill), or Yingmeng Guanyin San (Dream-Encountering Guanyin Powder) taken with Yangzheng Dan, which is particularly suitable.

If asthma does not respond to medication, purgative methods should be employed; Shenbao Wan (Divine Protection Pill) is suitable. If the stool is already loose, it must not be used.

When there is no cough but spontaneous rapid breathing, two patterns must be distinguished. One is rapid breathing caused by external pathogens forcing the lungs; in the early stage of illness, breathing is not yet rapid, and there are necessarily accompanying exterior symptoms. This is called asthma. If one uses drugs that deplete healthy qi to eliminate pathogens, healthy qi will become more depleted, and the breath will rush upward even more. One should seek treatment in the section on deficiency injuries regarding rapid breathing and phlegm patterns. If rapid breathing is accompanied by stabbing pain in the diaphragm area, Fenqi Yin (Separating Qi Drink) is suitable. When treating cough and asthma, Wuweizi (Schisandra Berry) is used frequently. However, Wuweizi comes from southern and northern sources. To generate fluids, quench thirst, moisten the lungs, benefit the kidneys, and treat consumptive cough, Northern Wuweizi is suitable. If wind-pathogens are in the lungs, Southern Wuweizi is suitable. It is better to use both together.

(Attached: Nausea)

The distinction between Ou (vomiting) and Tu (spitting up) has been discussed in Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Cold Damage). However, the patterns are not uniform: there are cold ou, hot ou, qi (stagnant qi) ou, tan (phlegm) ou, food ou, blood tu, roundworm tu, enxin (nausea), and ganou (dry heaving). Except for hot ou and blood tu, the terms "ou" and "tu" are generally used interchangeably in modern times, which causes little harm and is theoretically acceptable. Xiaobanxia Fuling Tang (Minor Pinellia and Poria Decoction), Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction), or Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) can be used, with extra Shengjiang (Fresh Ginger Rhizome) added for decoction. Shengjiang is the supreme herb for treating vomiting. Severe pain with a complexion resembling green vegetable leaves indicates a fatal prognosis.

Cold Ou: Cold stagnates in the Zhongwan (CV12) region. The patient prefers spicy and hot foods, but vomits immediately after swallowing. Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) with ten Dingxiang (Clove) grains, or Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) with Banqian (half qian) of Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange) is suitable. If ineffective, Wenzhong Tang (Warm the Middle Decoction) is used. For severe cases, Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Regulate the Middle Decoction) or Dingfu Tang (Clove and Aconite Decoction) are used, and they must be taken cold. Because cold meets cold, they penetrate each other, preventing vomiting. If there is fluid retention, and porridge or medicine is vomited immediately upon reaching the mouth, people often mistake this for Fanwei (reversal stomach/cancer), but this is incorrect. This is actually phlegm-qi knotting in the throat and diaphragm area. First, administer Lingsha Dan (Cinnabar Pill) with Jiangsu Tang (Ginger and Perilla Decoction). Once medicines can be retained, follow up with qi-regulating herbs.

Additionally, there are cases of vomiting/diarrhea and dysentery, or cold abdominal pain, where vomiting and reversal occur because hot agents were administered too rapidly. Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) with Banqian (half qian) each of Sharen (Amomum Fruit) and Baiddoukou (White Cardamom) is suitable. For severe cases, add a small amount of Chenxiang (Agarwood). Beyond the six types of vomiting (cold, heat, qi, food, phlegm, blood), there is also Louqi Zoubu (Leaking Qi and Food Reflux). "Louqi" refers to upper jiao heat, where food must be vomited before descending. Sweating with body heat indicates stomach heat causing Zoubu. Lower jiao heat causes qi reversal and discontinuation, obstruction of urination and defecation, and uncontrollable vomiting.

Hot Ou: See the section on injuries. For cold damage vomiting, if symptoms worsen with hot medicines, seek treatment within cold ou patterns. Hot ou is suitable for Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) with Qian (one qian) of Huanglian (Rhizoma Coptidis).

Qi Ou: Chest fullness and diaphragmatic distension, obstruction of Guan Ge (gate and lock), feeling full even without eating, and vomiting with qi reversal after eating. This results from eating while in a state of extreme anger. Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) with Banqian (half qian) each of Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange) and Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) is suitable, or Wuzhuyu Tang (Evodia Decoction). If ineffective, Dingchen Touge Tang (Clove and Agarwood Penetrating Obstruction Decoction) and Wuge Kuanzhong Tang (Five Obstructions Widening Middle Decoction) are used.

Food Ou: Often caused by emotional disturbances, or by external pathogens combined with irregular diet. Generally, treatment begins with Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), or Erchen Tang (Two Aged Substances Decoction) with Qian (one qian) of Zhishi (Immature Bitter Orange); or adding Qifen (seven fen) of Nanxing (Arisaema Cum Bile), and Sifen (four fen) each of Chenxiang (Agarwood) and Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) is also good. Alternatively, only Zhinan Tang (Immature Bitter Orange and Arisaema Decoction) or Daotan Tang (Great Phlegm Resolving Decoction) can be taken.

There is also latent phlegm in Zhongvan (CV12) that flares up upon exposure to cold, commonly known as Lengxian (Cold Epilepsy). Xinfa Banxia Tang (New Method Pinellia Decoction) or Zhuapi Tang (Grasp Spleen Decoction) can be taken. For vomiting caused by hot phlegm, Xiaobanxia Fuling Tang (Minor Pinellia and Poria Decoction) with Zhu Ru (Bamboo Shavings) the size of a coin is suitable. If vomiting phlegm leads to syncope, it is Han Tan Ni Men (Cold Phlegm Reversal Stifling), called Tan Jue (Phlegm Syncope). Jiangfu Tang (Ginger and Aconite Decoction) is suitable, using Sheng Fu (Raw Aconite) instead of Shu Fu (Prepared Aconite).

Tu Hui (Vomiting Roundworms): Generated by stomach cold. The classics state that roundworms are long parasites. Cold in the stomach causes vomiting of roundworms, forming Hui Jue (Roundworm Syncope). Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) with five fried Chuanjiao (Sichuan Pepper) grains and Banqian (half qian) of Binglang (Areca Seed), taken with Wumei Wan (Mume Pill), is suitable.

Enxin Ganou (Nausea and Dry Heaving): Desire to vomit but unable to do so, palpitations in the epigastrium, feeling as if afraid of riding a boat. Banxia Tang (Pinellia Decoction), Xiaobanxia Fuling Tang (Minor Pinellia and Poria Decoction), Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction), or Zhizhong Tang (Regulate the Center Decoction) are all applicable.

For vomiting unresponsive to various medicines, heavy sedatives should be borrowed to suppress rebellious qi. Lingsha Dan (Cinnabar Pill) administered with Jiangsu Tang (Ginger and Perilla Decoction), 100 pills per dose, is suitable. Once effective, Yangzheng Dan (Nourishing the Right Pill) or Banshu Wan (Half Sulfur Pill) can guide the expulsion. Vomiting depletes body fluids, leading to thirst. Do not assume heat solely based on thirst.

In cases of vomiting unresponsive to medicines, without preceding phlegm-qi symptoms, it is due to roundworms disturbing the chest and diaphragm, causing vomiting. The worms move upon seeing medicine, rejecting intake, so medicine exits but worms do not. Although not identical to direct vomiting of worms, worm-treating herbs are suitable. Adding ten fried Chuanjiao (Sichuan Pepper) grains to anti-emetic formulas works because roundworms immobilize their heads upon encountering pepper.

A patient once took Fuzi Lizhong Tang (Aconite Regulate the Middle Decoction) and Sini Tang (Reverse the Extremities Decoction) with Dingxiang (Clove), but vomited immediately upon ingestion. Later, Ganjiang (Dried Ginger) was removed, leaving only Renshen (Ginseng) and Fuzi (Aconite), with Dingxiang (Clove) and Muxiang (Aucklandia Root) added to the decoction, and Chenxiang (Agarwood) ground in. The vomiting stopped immediately. This is because deficiency-phlegm and qi were knotted; Ding and Fu provided warmth, while Chen and Muxiang promoted circulation. Ganjiang and Baizhu (Atractylodes Macrocephala Rhizome) would have been cloying and obstructive.