Phlegm-rheum cough

Cough attributed to phlegm-rheum, with cough as the main sign. Cough is a major sign of phlegm-rheum and is most commonly seen when cold phlegm-rheum evil collects in the lung and stomach. It is associated with expectoration of copious white, sometimes foamy phlegm.

Medicinal therapy: Warm and transform using formulas such as Minor Black Dragon Decoction Plus Gypsum (小青龙加石膏汤 xiǎo qīng lóng jiā shí gāo tāng) and Poria, Cinnamon Twig, White Atractylodes, and Licorice Decoction (苓桂朮甘汤 líng guì zhú gān tāng). Advanced-stage phlegm-rheum, which damages yáng, manifests in additional signs of insufficiency of kidney yáng such as cold limbs and fear of cold, water swelling, and a fine sunken pulse, which calls for additional action to warm yáng and disinhibit water, using formulas such as True Warrior Decoction (真武汤 zhēn wǔ tāng) or Kidney Qì Pill (肾气丸 shèn qì wán). Phlegm-rheum collecting under the rib-side with cough causing rib-side pain is treated by draining water-rheum with formulas such as Ten Jujubes Decoction (十枣汤 shí zǎo tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on LU, SP, and ST. Select BL-13 (Lung Transport, 肺俞 fèi shù), CV-12 (Center Stomach Duct, 中脘 zhōng wǎn), ST-40 (Bountiful Bulge, 丰隆 fēng lóng), LI-4 (Union Valley, 合谷 hé gǔ), LU-9 (Great Abyss, 太渊 tài yuān), SP-3 (Supreme White, 太白 tài bái), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and SP-9 (Yīn Mound Spring, 阴陵泉 yīn líng quán); needle with drainage or with even supplementation and drainage. For cold phlegm-rheum evil collecting in the lung and stomach, add large amounts of moxa. See also phlegm-rheum; propping rheum; suspended rheum.