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A patient experiences pain in the chest and diaphragm, which intensifies during coughing. Pressing on the painful area exacerbates shortness of breath. People assume it is an abscess (lung abscess) in the Lung Meridian, but little do they know it is caused by lung heat generating the abscess. The Lung is a delicate organ, inaccessible to medicines and food, making its treatment very difficult. Lung heat damages the Lung; once an abscess forms, what method should be used for treatment? The method seems appropriate to extinguish fire by draining the Lung. Although Lung-specific medicines cannot easily enter the Lung, the Lung is the child of the Spleen (in Five Elements theory, Earth generates Metal, so Spleen is the mother of Lung), and the Spleen Meridian can receive medication. Tonifying the Earth of the Spleen Meridian allows Earth to generate Metal (nourishing Lung Qi). Calming the Wood of the Liver Meridian prevents Metal from controlling Wood (preventing Liver Wood from counter-restricting Lung Metal). Clearing the Fire of the Heart Meridian prevents Fire from punishing Metal (preventing Heart Fire from scorching Lung Metal). Treating these three meridians benefits the Lung without damaging Metal, allowing Lung Qi to be nourished. Subsequently, using detoxifying herbs to directly resolve the pathogenic factors in the Liver, cure will not be difficult. Use Quan Fei Tang (Whole Lung Decoction):
Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae, 3 liang) Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Radix Glycyrrhizae, 5 qian) Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae, 5 liang) Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis, 3 qian) Fu Ling (Poria, 3 qian) Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba, 3 qian) Mai Dong (Rhizoma Ophiopogonis, 2 liang) Decoct with water and take orally. After one dose, pain decreases; after two doses, the internal abscess dissipates.

Generally, for carbuncles and sores, internal resolution is mandatory; they must not be allowed to rupture and discharge toxins. The method of internal resolution essentially involves treating the Spleen, Liver, and Heart meridians, with no other way to dissipate them. One might ask: The Kidney is the child of the Lung; why not treat the Kidney to eliminate the abscess? However, the formation of a lung abscess, although resulting from fire scorching the fluids of Lung Metal, is actually due to the deficiency of Liver Qi. Tonifying the Kidney might prevent Lung Qi from over-nourishing the Kidney, but since Lung Qi is interconnected, tonifying Kidney Water may cause Lung Qi to descend, while the fire-toxin refuses to disperse quickly. It is better to treat only the aforementioned three meridians, nourishing Liver Qi so that it naturally transforms the toxin, leaving no residue in the Kidney, which is the superior approach.

Another patient suffers from chest and diaphragmatic pain, incessant coughing, and severe pain when expectorating sputum. Pressing the painful area is unbearable. A foul, fishy odor is first detected in the throat, followed by the expectoration of pus and blood. This indicates that the lung abscess has not only formed but also ruptured. An unruptured lung abscess is easy to resolve, whereas a ruptured one is difficult to treat because pus and blood cannot be cleared quickly. However, with proper methods, it is not hard to cure. The reason for abscess formation in the Lung is the failure of Lung Fire to dissipate; yet, this Lung Fire arises from Lung Qi deficiency. When Lung Qi is deficient, fire remains stagnant in the Lung, and excessive fire condenses into an abscess. Without tonifying deficiency and dispersing fire, how can the unformed abscess dissipate, the formed abscess disperse, or the ulcerated tissue heal? Therefore, deficiency must be tonified. Which Zang organ should be tonified? One must tonify the deficiency of Liver Qi. Since the Lung cannot be directly tonified for Qi, tonifying Stomach Qi will naturally strengthen Lung Qi. Now that the abscess has ruptured, causing copious expectoration of pus and blood, Lung Qi is particularly deficient. Although pathogens remain, one should not solely purge the toxins. Instead, within the framework of tonifying Qi, employ methods to attack and disperse. This allows toxins to transform easily without injuring healthy Qi. Use Wan Fei Yin (Complete Lung Drink):
Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng, 1 liang) Xuan Shen (Radix Scrophulariae, 2 liang) Pu Gong Ying (Herba Taraxaci, 5 qian) Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae, 2 liang) Tian Hua Fen (Radix Trichosanthis, 3 qian) Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Radix Glycyrrhizae, 3 qian) Jie Geng (Radix Platycodi, 3 qian) Huang Qin (Radix Scutellariae, 1 qian) Decoct with water and take orally. After one dose, pus increases; after two doses, pus gradually decreases; after three doses, pain lightens; after four doses, pain lightens further; after five doses, pain stops, and pus-blood ceases; after six doses, complete recovery is achieved.

This formula tonifies Qi in the Stomach, which simultaneously clears Fire in the Stomach. When Stomach Qi is vigorous, Lung Qi does not decline; when Stomach Fire declines, Lung Fire cannot flourish. Thus, it can defeat toxins and promote flesh regeneration. Although the herbs enter the Lung, they predominantly enter the Stomach (80%) rather than the Lung (20%); thus, they are primarily Stomach-tonifying herbs that benefit the Lung. Someone asks: Since the lung abscess has ruptured and the disease has entered the interior, lifting Lung Qi seems inappropriate. Yu Jiayan from Nanchang suggested guiding the pathogen into the Intestines, yet Mr. Chen still uses Jie Geng to lift Lung Qi, which might not serve as a model. Alas! The herbs I use are none other than those treating the Stomach. Once entering the Stomach, do they not guide into the Intestines? However, when Lung Qi is trapped and its clearing and descending function fails, using Jie Geng to clear the Lung allows upper Qi to flow freely, thereby accelerating lower Qi movement. Thus, lifting from above facilitates rapid descent below.

After prolonged coughing, a patient’s Lung is damaged, presenting with yellowish, emaciated skin, hoarse voice, spontaneous and night sweats, insomnia, and expectoration of thick, foul-smelling sputum. Hair is brittle, complexion is sallow, and during coughing, the patient must hold their breath briefly and gently expectorate sputum to avoid diaphragmatic pain; otherwise, severe unceasing pain occurs. Breathing is faint, showing no sign of revival. People assume a lung abscess, but it is actually Fei Wei (Lung Atrophy) with sores. This condition is originally incurable, but with proper treatment and good nursing, there is hope. Fei Yong (Lung Abscess) differs from Fei Wei (Lung Atrophy). Fei Yong arises from fire-toxin and requires rapid treatment; Fei Wei results from chronic injury and requires slow treatment. Fire-toxin should be treated by draining within tonification; chronic injury should be treated by clearing within tonification. Draining and clearing differ, but tonification is the same. In draining-with-tonification, large doses can be used; in clearing-with-tonification, small doses are appropriate. One must neither forget nor force assistance, maintaining a subtle balance ("like something existing, like nothing existing") to achieve success. Use Yang Fei Qu Wei Tang (Nourish Lung Remove Atrophy Decoction):
Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae, 3 qian) Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Radix Glycyrrhizae, 5 qian) Sheng Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae, 2 qian) Mai Dong (Rhizoma Ophiopogonis, 3 qian) Zi Wan (Herba Asteris Tatarici, 5 qian) Bai Bu (Radix Stemonae, 5 fen) Bai He (Bulbus Lilii, 2 qian) Kuan Dong Hua (Flos Farfarae, 3 fen) Tian Men Dong (Radix Asparagi, 1 qian) Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, 3 fen) Bai Wei (Radix Cynanchi Atrati, 3 fen) Decoct with water and take orally. After ten doses, if diaphragmatic pain lessens, there is hope. After another ten doses, pain lightens further; after another ten doses, gradual recovery ensues. Total of sixty doses are needed for complete cure.

This formula is neither cold nor hot. It nourishes Lung Qi at the brink of exhaustion and protects Lung Lobes before atrophy sets in, achieving miraculous results. Seeking quick effects leads to sudden death; better to endure patiently for survival than to rush and hasten demise.

There are wealthy youths who consume rich flavors, roasted, fried, and grilled foods constantly, along with fine wines. They suffer from dry throat and tongue, expectoration of blood-tinged sputum, wheezing, diaphragmatic pain, and inability to lie down comfortably. People attribute this to blazing Lung Fire, but it is actually a formed lung abscess. The Lung is the canopy of the five Zang organs, preferring the steaming of clear Qi and detesting the burning pressure of dry Qi. Current diet consists entirely of pungent and hot substances, creating a mass of fire within the five Zang organs. Fire flares upward, harming the upper-positioned Lung Metal. Damaged, the Lung cannot generate Kidney Water downward. Deprived of source, the Kidney becomes drier, forcing it to draw resources from Lung Metal, further weakening and drying the Lung. Moreover, various meridians harass each other; fierce fire punishes metal, making lung abscess formation inevitable. Treatment involves resolving toxins while nourishing the Lung, and lowering fire while supplementing the Kidney. This way, formed abscesses may heal, and unformed ones may dissipate. Use Zhi Sang Qing Fei Dan (Branch Mulberry Leaf Clear Lung Pill):
Sang Ye (Folium Mori, 5 qian) Zi Wan (Herba Asteris Tatarici, 2 qian) Xi Jiao Jie (Cornu Rhinocerotis, 5 fen) Sheng Gan Cao (Raw Radix Glycyrrhizae, 2 qian) Kuan Dong Hua (Flos Farfarae, 1 qian) Bai He (Bulbus Lilii, 3 qian) Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae, 7 grains) E Jiao (Colla Corii Asini, 3 qian) Bei Mu (Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae, 3 qian) Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae, 1 liang) Shu Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, 1 liang) Ren Shen (Radix Ginseng, 3 qian) Decoct with water, grind Xi Jiao into powder, and mix for oral administration. Several doses yield results.

This formula treats both Lung and Kidney without directly lowering fire. The fire in the five Zang organs, exacerbated by diet, is deficient fire, not excess fire. Therefore, tonifying Water strengthens Metal Qi, and tonifying Water extinguishes deficient fire. Furthermore, tonification combined with dispersion avoids stagnation, allowing fire-toxin to depart easily.