Chronic cough according to Chinese Medicine
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.
Chronic cough can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like chronic cough here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here chronic cough is often associated with dizziness, tinnitus and shortness of breath on exertion in the pattern “Kidneys failing to receive Qi”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of chronic cough we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat chronic cough.
Kidneys failing to receive Qi, a "pattern of disharmony" that can cause chronic cough
In Chinese Medicine chronic cough is a symptom for the pattern "Kidneys failing to receive Qi". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys failing to receive Qi
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Tight (Jin), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to chronic cough, other symptoms associated with Kidneys failing to receive Qi include dizziness, tinnitus and shortness of breath on exertion.
Kidneys failing to receive Qi is often treated with You Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). You Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm yang and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang".
Two herbal formulas that might help with chronic cough
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with chronic cough?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' of which chronic cough is a symptom.
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Directs rebellious Qi downward. Arrests wheezing. Stops coughing. Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold.
Why might Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang help with chronic cough?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' of which chronic cough is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for chronic cough
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat chronic cough
Why might Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui) help with chronic cough?
Because Cinnamon Bark is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat chronic cough as a symptom, like You Gui Wan or Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang for instance.
Cinnamon Bark is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and Kidneys and tonifies the Yang. Expels Cold, Warms the meridians, promotes circulation of Qi and Blood and relieves pain. Used with tonics to assist in the generation of Qi and Blood.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with chronic cough?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat chronic cough as a symptom, like Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang or You Gui Wan for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Liver and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Prepared Aconite (Zhi Fu Zi) help with chronic cough?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' (a pattern with chronic cough as a symptom)
Prepared Aconite is a Hot herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Raises the collapse of Yang. Warms the meridians and relieves pain caused by Cold. Reduces Damp caused by Deficiency in Yang.
Why might Perilla Seed (Zi Su Zi) help with chronic cough?
Because it is a key herb in Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' (a pattern with chronic cough as a symptom)
Perilla Seeds is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Lung.
Its main actions are: Stops coughing and wheezing, expels Phlegm and redirects Rebellious Lung Qi. Lubricates the Intestines.
Why might Deer Antler Glue (Lu Jiao Jiao) help with chronic cough?
Because it is a key herb in You Gui Wan, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern 'Kidneys failing to receive Qi' (a pattern with chronic cough as a symptom)
Deer Antler Glue is a Warm herb that tastes Salty and Sweet. It targets the Kidney and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Yang tonification of the Kidneys and Liver, and to nourish vital Essence and Blood
Other symptoms often associated with chronic cough
Dizziness Tinnitus Vertigo Tidal fever Coughing Shortness of breath on exertion Rapid breath Weak breath Asthma Spontaneous sweating