Heat cough

Cough attributed to depressed heat damaging the lung. Heat cough is treated in different ways depending on the quantity of phlegm.

Differentiation

Scant yellow phlegm Heat cough is usually associated with scant thick sticky yellow phlegm that takes repeated coughing to expectorate and that may be flecked with blood, and attended by a dry sore throat, hot breath issuing from the nose, and sometimes heat effusion.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and moisten the lung using formulas such as Coptis Phlegm-Transforming Beverage (黄连化痰饮 huáng lián huà tán yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on LU and LI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LU-10 (Fish Border, 鱼际 yú jì), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), and GV-14 (Great Hammer, 大椎 dà zhuī); needle with drainage. Prick LU-11 (Lesser Shang, 少商 shào shāng) to bleed.

Copious yellow phlegm In some cases, heat cough is associated with copious yellow phlegm with a fishy smell, accompanied by fullness and oppression in the chest and stomach duct, heat vexation, red facial complexion, and rapid pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Treat by clearing heat and sweeping phlegm with formulas such as Minor Chest Bind Decoction (小陷胸汤 xiǎo xiàn xiōng tāng) or Scutellaria and Pinellia Pill (芩半丸 qín bàn wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on LU and LI. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LU-10 (Fish Border, 鱼际 yú jì), LU-5 (Cubit Marsh, 尺泽 chǐ zé), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), CV-22 (Celestial Chimney, 天突 tiān tú), and CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng). Needle with drainage.