中气一旦虚弱，向上则不能滋养肺金而引发咳嗽，向下则不能固摄水液而患带下病。这种病症的咳嗽与带下，从表象来看是上下分别出现，但追溯其根本，则是金（肺）与水（肾）同源，总归是由中气虚弱所致。找到了致病的根源，自然可以根据目前显现的本病，来推测未来可能产生的流变之病，更何况这些已经是已经显现的病端呢？又有人问：东庄认为鼻塞流涕反而是可喜的现象，其中的道理是什么？回答说：皮毛是肺的外合组织。肺失养，则腠理不密，外邪容易侵入。鼻塞流涕，这是太阳经受风邪侵袭的表证。邪气聚集之处，必先侵犯皮毛；一旦进入皮毛，随即犯及太阳经。所以凡是外感病症，以见到咳嗽为轻症；凡是咳嗽病症，以伴有表证为轻症的，是因为邪气……
Once the Middle Qi (Middle Jiao Qi) is deficient, it cannot ascend to generate Metal (Lung) and thus causes coughing; nor can it descend to control Water (Kidney/Fluids) and thus leads to leukorrhea. Generally speaking, for this type of syndrome, although coughing and leukorrhea manifest separately in the upper and lower parts on the surface, seeking their root reveals that Metal (Lung) and Water (Kidney) share the same origin, ultimately all resulting from deficiency of the Middle Jiao. Once the source of the disease is identified, one can naturally predict future pathological developments based on the current primary symptoms, let alone those already manifested. Another question arises: Dongzhuang considers nasal congestion and dripping nose as a welcome sign; what is the rationale? The answer is: Skin and hair are the external correspondence of the Lung. When the Lung loses nourishment, the Couli (pores and interstices) become loose, making it easy for external pathogens to invade. Nasal congestion and dripping nose are, therefore, exterior syndromes of Wind-strike affecting the Taiyang Channel (Taiyang Meridian). Wherever pathogens gather, they first attack the skin and hair; once entering the skin and hair, they immediately affect the Taiyang Channel. Therefore, in cases of external contraction, seeing cough indicates a milder condition; among cough syndromes, having an exterior syndrome indicates a milder condition, because the pathogen...