Cough - Ke Sou

Definition

Although Ke Sou is a main symptom of pulmonary disease, in TCM it is also an independent syndrome.

Ke means an audible cough without Phlegm and Sou is an inaudible cough with phlegm.

Ke and Sou happen together most of the times.

Here we only deal with syndromes with cough being the main complaint.

Symptoms: Heavy and coarse cough with thin white phlegm, dyspnoea with itchy throat, headache, nasal obstruction with clear rhinorrhea, bodily aches, fever, aversion to cold and anhidrosis.
Tongue: Pale tongue with thin white coating
Pulse: Floating and Tight
Treatment strategy: Disperse wind-cold and facilitate lung qi flow to stop cough
Formula: Xing Su San and Zhi Sou San
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Frequent cough with coarse respiration and coarse voice, thick yellow phlegm difficult to expectorate, sore throat, slight thirst, headache, fever, aversion to wind, sweating, bodily aches and yellow nasal discharge.
Tongue: Thin and yellow tongue coating
Pulse: Floating and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Disperse wind-heat, clear lung and resolve phlegm to stop cough
Formula: Sang Ju Yin
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Dry and choking cough with little sticky phlegm difficult to expectorate and with traces of blood, chest pain after cough, itchy and dry throat, dry nose and lips, nasal obstruction, headache, mild fever and chill.
Tongue: Reddened tongue tip with dry thin and yellowish coating
Pulse: Thready and slightly Rapid
Treatment strategy: Disperse wind, clear lung and moisturising dryness to stop cough
Formula: Sang Xing Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Frequent recurrence of cough with coarse voice and thick white sticky phlegm, stomach distension and poor appetite, lassitude and lack of strength, nausea and vomiting with loose feces.
Tongue: Greasy white tongue coating
Pulse: Soggy and Slippery
Treatment strategy: Invigorate spleen to eliminate dampness and resolve phlegm to stop cough
Formula: Er Cheng Tang and San Zi Yang Qin Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Cough with dyspnoea and coarse respiration or rale in the throat, much thick yellow phlegm difficult to expectorate and with fish-stench or even blood, chest and hypochondriac distension aggravated by coughing, flushed cheeks, fever and thirst for fluids.
Tongue: Red tongue with greasy yellow coating
Pulse: Rapid and Slippery
Treatment strategy: Remove heat to resolve phlegm and purify lung to stop cough
Formula: Qing Jin Hua Tan Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Paroxysmal cough with little sticky phlegm in throat difficult to expectorate, flushed cheek and dry throat, pulling pain in chest and hypochondria when coughing, bitter mouth, symptoms can be aggravated by emotions.
Tongue: Dry tongue with thin yellow coating
Pulse: Wiry and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Remove liver fire and clear lung heat to stop cough
Formula: Dai Ge San and Xie Bai San
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Weak cough with dyspnoea, aggravated by slight exertion, little thin phlegm, lassitude, aversion to wind and cold, cold limbs, spontaneous sweating and a pale complexion.
Tongue: Pale tongue with white coating
Pulse: Thready, Deep and Weak
Treatment strategy: Tonify lung qi to relieve cough and dyspnoea
Formula: Bu Fei Tang
Acupoints:

Symptoms: Dry cough with breathlessness, little sticky phlegm or with blood traces or haemoptysis, dry mouth and throat with hoarse voice, afternoon tidal fever, night sweat, dysphoria, flushed face, insomnia, weight loss and lassitude.
Tongue: Red tongue with little coating
Pulse: Thready and Rapid
Treatment strategy: Nourish yin and moisturise lung to stop cough and resolve phlegm
Formula: Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang
Acupoints: