Lung qì vacuity

A disease pattern chiefly characterized by forceless cough; expectoration of clear thin phlegm; shortness of breath; spontaneous sweating; signs of general qì vacuity; history of enduring cough or panting; constitutional weakness.

Description: Forceless cough with expectoration of clear thin phlegm; scantness of breath, shortness of breath, or panting exacerbated by exertion; low timid voice and laziness to speak; in some cases, spontaneous sweating and fear of wind; tendency to catch cold; physical fatigue and lassitude of spirit; pale-white facial complexion; pale tongue with white fur; a weak pulse. Patients usually have a history of enduring cough or panting or constitutional weakness.

Diseases: Cough; panting; spontaneous sweating; vacuity taxation.

Pathogenesis: Impaired diffusion and depurative downbearing of lung qì as a result of the following factors:

• damage to lung qì from enduring cough or panting;
• spleen vacuity reducing qì production;
• kidney vacuity affecting the lung.

Analysis of signs

• Non-diffusion of lung qì: Forceless cough and panting with expectoration of clear thin white phlegm.
• General qì vacuity: Laziness to speak, low timid voice, scantness of breath; physical fatigue and lassitude of spirit, and pale-white facial complexion.
• Insecurity of defense qì: Spontaneous sweating, fear of wind, and a tendency to catch colds and difficulty shaking them off.
• Tongue: Pale and tender-soft with white fur, reflecting qì vacuity.
• Pulse: Vacuous and weak, reflecting qì vacuity.

Treatment

Medicinal therapy: Lung qì vacuity is treated by boosting lung qì with medicinals such as codonopsis (Codonopsis Radix, 党参 dǎng shēn), astragalus (Astragali Radix, 黄芪 huáng qí), licorice (Glycyrrhizae Radix, 甘草 gān cǎo), and schisandra (Schisandrae Fructus, 五味子 wǔ wèi zǐ).

A representative formula is Lung-Supplementing Decoction (补肺汤 bǔ fèi tāng), to which Jade Wind-Barrier Powder (玉屏风散 yù píng fēng sǎn) can be added for insecurity of the defensive exterior. Six Gentlemen Decoction (六君子汤 liù jūn zǐ tāng) with additions may also be used.

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on back transport points, LU, SP, and CV. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), BL-43 (Gāo-Huāng Transport, 膏肓俞 gāo huāng shù), LU-9 (Great Abyss, 太渊 tài yuān), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), SP-3 (Supreme White, 太白 tài bái), CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ); needle with supplementation and moxa. See also heart-lung qì vacuity; kidney failing to absorb qì.