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Lung Yang Deficiency

Fèi Yáng Xū 肺阳虚
Affects: Lung

Educational content Consult qualified TCM practitioners for diagnosis and treatment

Diagnostic Signs

Tongue

Swollen pale tongue with slippery white coating

Pulse

Slow (Chi), Slowed-down (Huan), Wiry (Xian)

Other Associated Symptoms

Diagnostic Considerations

Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the coughing and wheezing with profuse clear thin sputum.

Causes & Pathology

Common Causes

Pathological Mechanism

The general symptom of Lung Yang Deficiency is coughing and wheezing with profuse sputum, but the sputum is thin and watery. There is also Cold characters such as cold limbs and back, feeling of cold and easy to get cold or flu. It is because the lacking of Yang fails to warm the body.

If this pattern is seen in consumptive lung disease, there are additional manifestations such as short of breath, no thirst, frequent urination an etc. It is because the Deficient Qi and Yang fails to generate Body Fluids to moisten the Lungs. Use Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang together with Si Jun Zi Tang.

If this pattern is seem in asthma, There are additional symptoms like wheezing, short of breath, weak voice, spontaneous sweating. The Cold invade the Lungs and settles down there. Often there is also Phlegm accompanying. In this case, use Sheng Mai San together with Gan Cao Gan Jiang Tang and Milkvetch roots.

Lung Yang Deficiency is more seen among the elderly or these with weak constitution. It gets worse during winter season or in cold environment.

Treatment Approach

Treatment Principle

Warm the Lungs, strengthen the Spleen, remove Phlegm, tonify Lung Qi and Yang

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Pattern Relationships

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Related TCM Concepts

Lungs Yang Deficiency