Uncle Zhang is 72 years old this year, he was a librarian before retirement, and he has loved reading all his life. In recent years, however, his reading time has often been interrupted by repeated coughing. In autumn and winter, his cough worsens, seriously affecting his quality of life. Despite trying various Western medical treatments, including cough suppressants and antibiotics, the effects are always temporary. It wasn't until he tried the lung moistening and cough suppressant therapy of traditional Chinese medicine that he gradually felt the improvement. This experience made Uncle Zhang deeply feel the unique effect of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of chronic cough.
This story is not unique. Many middle-aged and older people are experiencing similar suffering, and while cough is not a fatal disease, a long-term cough can greatly affect quality of life and can be a sign of other health problems. TCM treatment provides a different perspective and approach, and the treatment of cough is not only a cough suppressant, but also focuses on reconciling the balance of yin and yang in the body to fundamentally improve the physical condition.
Types of cough and their TCM diagnosis: interpreting the body's signals
TCM classification of cough
In TCM theory, cough is not just a simple symptom, it is a manifestation of imbalance in the body. According to its characteristics, cough can be divided into several types:
Dry cough: It is common to have a cough caused by insufficient yin fluid and dry lungs in the body. A dry cough is usually not accompanied by sputum, or the sputum is difficult to cough up, and the voice is hoarse.
Wet cough: This cough is usually associated with damp heat or phlegm dampness in the lungs, and the cough is accompanied by a large amount of viscous phlegm.
Cold cough: Cough caused by excessive cold in the body, common in cold environments or people with cold constitution, with a deep cough.
Hot cough: Cough that occurs when there is internal heat or fire in the body, and the phlegm is yellow and thick when coughing, accompanied by dry mouth.
Diagnosis: Looking, smelling, and seeing
TCM is a unique method of diagnosing cough that involves four steps: looking, smelling, asking, and cutting. Through these methods, doctors can accurately determine the type of cough and its underlying cause.
Look: Observe the external manifestations of the patient's complexion, tongue image, etc., and understand the yin and yang, cold and heat, and virtual and real states in the body.
Smell: Listen to the patient's cough to identify the nature of the cough, and at the same time smell the patient's breath and body odor for further analysis.
Q: Ask in detail about the occurrence and development of cough, including the time, frequency, and changes in symptoms of cough.
Cutting: Determine the depth of the disease and the cold and heat of the disease through pulse diagnosis, so as to provide a basis for treatment.
These diagnostic steps allow TCM to provide personalized treatment recommendations based on each individual's specific situation.
We can see that the treatment of cough in TCM is not simply coughing, but delves into the internal causes of cough and cures the cough by adjusting the internal imbalance. This approach provides a comprehensive and in-depth treatment strategy, especially for middle-aged and older people who have been suffering from cough for a long time.
The treatment principle of TCM moistens the lungs and relieves cough: harmonizes the lungs and spleen and restores lung qi
Cough, as a common respiratory symptom, has plagued many people's lives for a long time. In TCM theory, the lungs are seen as the "master of qi" and are responsible for breathing and regulating the waterways. The core of TCM treatment for cough, especially to moisten the lungs and relieve cough, is to regulate lung qi, enhance lung function, and balance other organs that affect lung health.
Reconcile the lungs and spleen and restore lung qi
In TCM, the health of the lungs and spleen is considered to be interdependent. The spleen transports water, while the lungs transport water throughout the body and expels excess water vapor through breathing. If the spleen function is weak and it is unable to effectively convert water, the lungs will have a wet cough or a lot of phlegm due to the stagnation of water. Therefore, TCM cough treatment is not only for the lungs, but also for the spleen.
Application of Chinese medicine to nourish the lungs
In order to achieve the effect of moistening the lungs and relieving cough, there are a variety of herbal formulas that can be applied in Chinese medicine. For example, Lily Gujin Tang is composed of lily, skullcap, poria cocos and other medicinal materials, which has the effect of clearing heat and moistening the lungs, dissolving phlegm and relieving cough, especially suitable for dry cough caused by lung heat without phlegm or less phlegm and sticky. In addition, Shashen Maidong soup can nourish yin and clear the lungs, and is suitable for patients with weak constitution, dry mouth and sore throat after long-term cough.
Diet & Herbal Medicine: The Power of Natural Remedies
Treat cough with dietary therapy
As a part of TCM treatment, diet therapy can not only provide daily nutrition, but also assist in the treatment of diseases. For patients with cough, dietary therapy aims to moisten the lungs and relieve cough and enhance the body's resistance.
Sydney Honey Soup: Sydney pears have a good effect on moistening the lungs and clearing heat, and when cooked with honey, it can relieve dry cough and sore throat. This soup is suitable for coughs caused by dryness.
Almond Pig Lung Soup: Almond and pig lungs have a good moisturizing effect, which can help clear phlegm and dampness in the lungs, and is suitable for cough caused by external wind chill or wind heat.
Application of Chinese herbal medicines
In the selection of Chinese herbal medicines, Fritillary is a very highly regarded medicinal material, which has the effect of clearing lung heat, dissolving phlegm and relieving cough. Chuanbei stewed pear is a common cough remedy for moistening the lungs, especially suitable for use in autumn and winter.
Chuanbei stewed pears: Steaming Chuanbei powder with pitted pears can effectively relieve cough caused by lung heat.
Houttuynia cordata: It has the effect of clearing heat and detoxifying, dissolving phlegm and relieving cough, and is suitable for phlegm wet cough or cough after infection.