Acupuncture Treatment of Diseases Respiratory 2: Cough 咳嗽

Definition: 1.Is the chief symptom of disorders of the respiratory system. 2.“Ke” 咳 means there are sounds but without sputum. 3.“Shou” 嗽 means sputum formation without sounds. 4.Can be classified into 2 categories: external contraction type and internal injury type. 5.Coughing is frequently seen in diseases such as URTI, acute and chronic bronchitis, bronchiectasis, pneumonia and pulmonary TB.

Pathogenesis : 1.External contraction caused by invasion of wing-cold or wind-heat into the lung resulting in dysfunction of the lung. 2.Internal injury is caused by disorders in the function of the zang-fu, such as the lung, speen, liver and kidney.

Clinical Manifestations: 1.Cough due to external contraction A.Wind-cold type i.Short duration. ii.Forceful. iii.White watery sputum iv.Nasal obstruction with discharges v.Headache. vi.Aversion to cold. vii.Fever. viii.Soreness of the limbs. ix.Light coloured tongue with thin white coating. x.Floating tight pulse.

Clinical Manifestations: 1.Cough due to external contraction B.Wind-heat type i.Cough with a coarse breathing. ii.Thick, sticky and yellow sputum. iii.Sore throat. iv.Headache. v.Fever. vi.Sweating. vii.Slight aversion to wind. viii.Red tongue tip. ix.Thin yellow coating x.Floating rapid pulse.

Clinical Manifestations: 2.Cough due to internal injury A.Obstruction of phlegm type i.Long duration. ii.Easy expectoration of white sputum. iii.Stuffiness in the chest and epigastrium. iv.Abdominal distention. v.Poor appetite. vi.Light coloured tongue. vii.White greasy coating. viii.Slippery pulse.

Clinical Manifestations: 2.Cough due to internal injury B.Liver fire scorching the lung type i.Long duration. ii.Difficulty in expectoration of scanty and sticky sputum. iii.Hypochondriac pain while coughing. iv.Red eyes. v.Bitter taste in the mouth. vi.Red tip and margin of the tongue. vii.Thin yellow coating. viii.Wiry and rapid pulse.

Clinical Manifestations: 2.Cough due to internal injury C.Deficiency of lung yin type i.Long duration. ii.Dry cough, worsen in the afternoon and at dusk. iii.Scanty sputum with blood. iv.Fever v.Night sweat. vi.Emaciation and lassitude. vii.Red tongue. viii.Little coating. ix.Thready and rapid pulse.

For all types of external contraction type of cough Principle of treatment Expel wind and disperse evils. Principle channels: 1.LU channel. 2.LI channel. 3.BL channel.

Principle acupoints: 1.LU 7 Lieque 列缺. 2.LI 4 Hegu 合谷. 3.BL 13 Feishu 肺俞.

Prescription explanation (Principle acupoint): 1.LU 7 Lieque 列缺 : Luo-Connecting point of the LU channel. 2.LI 4 Hegu 合谷 : Yuan-Source point of the LI channel. Both acupoints are chosen to expel external evils from the body surface and enhance the function of the lung. 3.BL 13 Feishu. Channel acupoint of the BL channel, chosen to regulate the function of the lung and allow the lung to dissipate the phlegm.

Principle of treatment (Wind-cold type of cough): Expel wind and disperse cold evils. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: 1.BL 12 Fengmen 风门. 2.LU 9 Taiyuan 太渊.

Principle of treatment (Wind-heat type of cough): Expel wind and disperse heat evils. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: 1.GV 14 Dazhui 大椎. 2.LI 11 Quchi 曲池. 3.LU 11 Shaoshang 少商.

For all types of internal injury type of cough Principle of treatment Regulate the function of the lung and soothe stagnation. Principle channels: 1.LU channel. 2.SP channel. 3.BL channel.

Principle acupoints: 1.LU 9 Taiyuan 太渊. 2.SP 6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交. 3.BL 13 Feishu 肺俞.

Prescription explanation (Principle acupoint): 1.LU 9 Taiyuan 太渊 : Yuan-source point of the LU channel, chosen to benefit the Qi of the lung and to dissipate phlegm. 2.SP 6 Sanyinjiao 三阴交 : Crossing point of the spleen, liver and kidney, chosen to soothe the stagnated liver and invigorate the spleen to dissipate phlegm.. 3.BL 13 Feishu. Channel acupoint of the BL channel, chosen to regulate the function of the lung.

Principle of treatment (Obstruction of Phlegm type of cough): Invigorate the spleen and dissipate phlegm. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: 1.ST 40 Fenglong 丰隆. 2.SP 9 Yinlingquan 阴陵泉.

Principle of treatment (Liver fire scorching lung type of cough): Dispels the liver fire and soothe the liver stagnation. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: 1.LR 2 Xingjian 行间.

Principle of treatment (Lung yin type of cough): Nourish Lung yin and stop bleeding. Principle acupoints: as stated Supplementary acupoints: 1.BL 43 Gaohuang 膏肓. 2.LU 6 Kongzui 孔最.

TCM medical advises: 1.Keep warm. 2.Avoid exposure to cold and wind. 3.Good diet habit avoiding raw, cold and pungent food. 4.Stop smoking and drinking. 5.Suitable exercise.