Lung Dryness
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Lungs in Chinese Medicine The concept of Dryness
Key attributes
Chinese name: 燥邪犯肺 Pinyin name: Zào Xié Fàn Fèi
Pattern nature: Empty
Causes
Precursor patterns: Stomach Yin Deficiency
Common causes: 1. External dryness, 2. Irregular diet
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Thirst Dry skin Dry cough Dry throat Hoarse voice
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Dry
Treatment
Treatment principle: Moisten the Lungs, nourish Body Fluids.
Common formulas: Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Pathology
Lung Dryness is often accompanied by Body Fluids Deficiency and thus the symptoms of dry throat, dry cough and hoarse voice.
It is a stage before Lung Yin Deficiency but has not yet developed into this more severe pattern.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Lung Dryness can derive from Stomach Yin Deficiency
External dryness: Prolonged exposion to exterior dryness is the most common cause for this pattern, such as living in a dry area such as Australian interior or American South West. It can also happen to these patients who work in very dry and hot working environment.
Irregular diet : This pattern can also be a result of unhealthy dining habits such as irregular eating schedule, late meals, worrying about other thing while eating.
Diagnosing Lung Dryness
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Pulse type(s): Empty (Xu)
Tongue description: Dry
Main symptoms: Thirst Dry skin Dry cough Dry throat Hoarse voice
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the dry cough, the dry throat and the hoarse voice.
Treating Lung Dryness
Treatment principle
Moisten the Lungs, nourish Body Fluids.
Herbal formulas used to treat Lung Dryness
Bai He Gu Jin Tang
Source date: 1573 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Nourishes Lung and Kidney Yin. Lubricates the Lung and clears phlegm.
Formula summary
Bai He Gu Jin Tang is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1573 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that nourish Yin and tonify.
Besides Lung Dryness, Bai He Gu Jin Tang is also used to treat Body Fluids Deficiency or Lung Yin Deficiency.
Consequence patterns
Body Fluids is a Yin element. In case of internal or external Dryness of the Lungs, Body Fluids get dried up and cause Lung Yin Deficiency.