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Deficiency-cold cough arises not from external invasion of cold, but from insufficient Yang Qi in the Upper and Middle Jiao (Upper and Middle Burners), causing cold to stir within. In some cases, although it initially stems from heat/fire, excessive use of cold-cooling and purgative/digestive drugs damages the Spleen Earth, thereby depriving the Lung of nourishment further. When presenting with a faint pulse, shortness of breath, and inability to take food, urgent treatment should focus on warming and nourishing the Spleen and Lung.

Jiawei Lizhong Tang (Modified Regulate the Middle Decoction): Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, raw), Gancao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried), Juhong (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Rubrum), Fuling (Poria), Banxia (Pinelliae Rhizoma), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), Wuwei Zi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) (all in equal parts).
Crush the herbs. Take 3 qian per dose, decoct with fresh ginger and jujube, and administer before meals. Dai Yuanli stated: "Drinking one or two mouthfuls of water and having the cough temporarily cease indicates heat cough." Conversely, finding relief by sipping hot soup indicates cold cough. For treating heat cough, Xiaochaihu Tang (Minor Bupleurum Decoction) added with Wuwei Zi is used; for cold cough, Lizhong Tang (Regulate the Middle Decoction) added with Wuwei Zi is used; both are proven effective. The Lizhong Wan (Regulate the Middle Pill) from *Zhizhi Fang* adds Ejiao (Donkey-hide Gelatin) and Wuwei Zi.

Ziwan Tang (Asterniae Decoction) from *Jisheng Fang*: Treats deficiency-excess cough and wheezing with urgency due to Lung deficiency/excess, where no heat symptoms are present.
Ziwan Rong (Asterniae Flos, washed), Ganjiang (Zingiberis Rhizoma, processed), Huangqi (Astragali Membranacei Radix), Renshen (Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma), Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus), Zhonglushi (Gypsum Fibrosum), Xingren (Prunus Armeniacae Semen, stir-fried with flour, skin and tips removed), Gancao (Licorice Radix et Rhizoma, honey-fried) (each 5 qian).
Crush the herbs. Take 4 qian per dose, decoct with one sheng of water, five slices of fresh ginger, and one jujube, then administer.

When Kidney deficiency leads to rebellious Qi ascent, the Kidney meridian ascends from the Kidney, pierces the Liver and diaphragm, enters the Lung, and follows the throat. If Yin Fire from the Kidney flares upward into the Lung, it causes cough. If Yin Water from the Kidney follows the meridian into the Lung, it also causes cough. *Neijing* states: "Cough accompanied by vexation and distress is due to the rebellion of Kidney Qi." Furthermore, regarding Shaoyin (Lesser Yin), the text mentions cough, vomiting, and upper body wheezing/asthma; this occurs because Yin Qi is below and Yang Qi is above, causing all Yang Qi to float without foundation or direction, thus resulting in cough, vomiting, and upper body wheezing/asthma. For water retention, Shengji Shenqi Wan (Kidney Qi Supplementing Pill from *Jisheng Fang*) is used to tonify and expel water; for fire patterns, Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) and Duqi Wan (Duqi Pill) are used to guide the fire downward. There is another type of Shaoyin Kidney pattern where water-fluid retention combines with interior cold to cause cough, accompanied by abdominal pain and diarrhea; Zhenwu Tang (True Warrior Decoction) modified is suitable for treatment.

Zhenwu Tang (True Warrior Decoction): Bai Fuling (Poria), Baizhu (Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma), Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba) (each 1 liang), Shu Fuzi (Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparata) (0.5 liang).
Cut into pieces to make a powder. Take 2.5 qian per dose, add Sheng Ganjiang (Raw Dried Ginger), Xixin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma), and Wuweizi (Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus) each 0.5 qian, and three slices of fresh ginger. Decoct and administer before meals.