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This condition arises from wind-dampness toxic qi, which initially ascends from the feet, then enters the abdomen, and subsequently attacks the qi mechanism, resulting in ascending qi (rebellious qi).

This is due to deficiency of blood and qi. If exposed to wind-cold-dampness toxicity, the pathogenic factors travel with the blood through the skin and interstices. When the pathogen is strong and the healthy qi is weak, the blood and qi become stagnant. Stagnation leads to bi-syndrome (obstruction syndrome), and deficiency leads to weakness; thus, numbness and weakness occur.

This is caused by wind-dampness toxic qi clashing with blood and qi. The healthy qi and pathogenic factors engage in conflict, but the healthy qi fails to disperse, resulting in pain. When the pathogen resides in the skin and interstices, the blood and qi become stagnant. Stagnation causes the skin to thicken; scratching feels like touching fabric without sensation, known as bi-numbness (numbness and insensitivity).

In Hong Kong foot disease, there are cases complicated by wind-toxicity. Wind-toxicity clashes with the sinews, causing sinew spasms. Wind-dampness invades the blood vessels, leading to bi-syndrome, hence presenting with bi-syndrome and spasms.

This is due to wind-dampness toxic qi ascending from the feet into the interior, clashing with the qi of the zang-fu organs, accumulating and failing to dissipate, thereby causing abdominal distension and urgency.

This is due to wind-dampness toxic qi clashing with the Kidney Meridian. The Kidneys govern water metabolism. Now, being attacked by pathogens, the Kidney qi cannot circulate and unblock the water fluids. The water fluids fail to transmit to the Small Intestine, causing stagnation and overflow within the zang-fu organs. Once the organs are soaked by dampness, the fluid overflows between the skin, resulting in swelling and fullness.

Warm-dampness forms Hong Kong foot, complicated by wind-toxicity. If the toxicity is slight and the wind is abundant, the wind symptoms manifest predominantly on one side. When wind-pathogen arrives, it initially lodges in the skin and interstices, then passes through the fu-zang organs. Due to organ deficiency, the pathogen enters vacuously, wandering through the five zang organs and clashing with the shen-qi (spiritual qi). When the shen-qi is invaded by the pathogen, palpitations and fright occur.

Cough results from the Lung being affected by cold. Mild cases develop into cough. The Lung governs qi and connects with the skin and hair. When pathogens first injure the body, they lodge in the skin and hair, so the Lung is affected first. The five zang and six fu organs have exterior-interior relationships and all derive qi from the Lung. With the changing seasons, the five zang and six fu organs can all suffer disease; each contracts illness by feeling cold in its corresponding season, hence cough presentations vary.

Cough of the five zang organs: In autumn, the Lung is affected first. Symptoms of Lung cough include coughing with wheezing and audible sounds; severe cases involve spitting blood. In summer, the Heart is affected first. Symptoms of Heart cough include heart pain during coughing, a sensation of obstruction in the throat as if choked; severe cases involve swollen throat and throat obstruction. In spring, the Liver is affected first. Symptoms of Liver cough include pain under both hypochondria during coughing; severe cases make turning difficult, with fullness under both hypochondria. In late summer, the Spleen is affected first. Symptoms of Spleen cough include pain under the right hypochondrium during coughing, radiating to the shoulders and back; severe cases prevent movement, worsening the cough upon movement. In winter, the Kidney is affected first. Symptoms of Kidney cough include pulling pain between the waist and back during coughing; severe cases involve reverse qi (coughing upward). These are the coughs of the five zang organs.

If cough of the five zang organs persists for a long time, it transmits to the six fu organs. Unresolved Spleen cough affects the Stomach. Symptoms of Stomach cough include coughing with vomiting; severe cases expel roundworms. Unresolved Liver cough affects the Gallbladder. Symptoms of Gallbladder cough include coughing and vomiting bile. Unresolved Lung cough affects the Large Intestine. Symptoms of Large Intestine cough include coughing with fecal incontinence. Unresolved Heart cough affects the Small Intestine. Symptoms of Small Intestine cough include passing flatus along with coughing. Unresolved Kidney cough affects the Bladder. Symptoms of Bladder cough include urinary incontinence during coughing. Long-standing cough affects the Sanjiao (Triple Burner). Symptoms of Sanjiao cough include abdominal fullness and loss of appetite. All these conditions gather in the Stomach and relate to the Lung, causing excessive phlegm and saliva, facial edema, and rebellious qi.

There are also ten types of cough. 1. Wind cough: interrupted speech due to coughing, unable to finish sentences. 2. Cold cough: drinking cold liquids or eating cold food causes cold to enter the stomach, ascend via the Lung meridian, combining internally and externally to induce cough. 3. Branch cough: hardness and fullness below the heart, pain radiating during coughing, pulse is surprisingly slow. 4. Liver cough: coughing with radiating pain to the hypochondrium. 5. Heart cough: coughing with spitting blood, radiating to the Hand-Shaoyin channel. 6. Spleen cough: coughing with continuous salivation, radiating to the lower abdomen. 7. Lung cough: coughing with radiating pain to the neck and spitting frothy sputum. 8. Kidney cough: deafness during coughing, radiating to the waist and umbilicus. 9. Gallbladder cough: coughing with radiating headache and bitter taste. 10. Jueyin cough: coughing with radiating pain to the root of the tongue.

Diagnose the cunkou pulse on the right hand, known as the qikou pulse before the meridian, belonging to the Large Intestine Meridian of Hand-Yangming. A floating pulse indicates Yang; excess Yang presents with abdominal fullness and frequent wheezing/coughing. A slightly large pulse indicates Liver Bi-syndrome, with cough radiating to the lower abdomen. For cough, a floating pulse with wheezing indicates survival; a small, deep, hidden pulse indicates death.

It is also said: A straight floating pulse indicates survival; a deep and hard pulse indicates death. Cough with vomiting, abdominal distension with diarrhea, and a wiry, rapid pulse nearing extinction indicate death. Cough with emaciation and fever, and a small, firm, rapid pulse indicate death. Cough with emaciation and a firm, large pulse indicate death. Cough with hematuria, emaciation, and a large pulse indicate death.