Cough

咳嗽

Persistent or recurrent coughing that may be dry or productive.

Quick Facts

Health Topic	Respiratory Care
Also Known As	Coughing, Persistent cough, Chronic cough, Tickly cough, Hacking cough
Common Symptoms	A repeated or persistent cough, either dry or bringing up phlegm. Often comes with throat irritation, a tight or aching chest, a hoarse voice, or disturbed sleep. May be worse at night, on lying down, or on exposure to cold air.
Related TCM Patterns	Wind-Cold · Wind-Heat · Lung Heat · Qi Deficiency · Phlegm-Heat
Related Classical Formulas	Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang · Ma Huang Tang · Sang Ju Yin · Xing Su San · Yin Qiao San · Da Qing Long Tang · Bai Du San · Shen Su Yin · Xiao Qing Long Tang · Jing Fang Bai Du San · She Gan Ma Huang Tang · Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang · Hua Gai San · Zhi Sou San · Ding Chuan Tang · Xie Bai San · Qing Fei Tang · Jin Fei Cao San

Cough in Traditional Chinese Medicine

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, cough is not read as a single condition with a single answer. The same cough may be understood through different patterns, and it is the pattern, not the symptom, that the classical formulas are matched to. Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat and Lung Heat are three of the patterns a cough may be associated with. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying features rather than the cough on its own: whether it is dry or productive, the colour and thickness of any phlegm, whether there is fever, chills, thirst or a sore throat, and when in the day the cough is worst.

TCM Patterns Associated With Cough

The same presentation may be understood through more than one pattern. Pattern differentiation weighs the accompanying signs, not the symptom on its own.

Pattern	Common Features	Related Formulas
Wind-Cold風寒證Exterior Patterns	Chills that outweigh the fever, no sweating, a stuffy or runny nose with clear discharge, an itchy or scratchy throat rather than a sore one, body aches, and a cough with thin white phlegm. Symptoms often start abruptly after exposure to cold or wind. Tongue with a thin white coating; pulse floating and tight.	Ma Huang Tang Xing Su San Da Qing Long Tang Bai Du San Xiao Qing Long Tang Jing Fang Bai Du San She Gan Ma Huang Tang Gui Zhi Jia Hou Po Xing Zi Tang Hua Gai San Zhi Sou San Jin Fei Cao San
Wind-Heat風熱證Exterior Patterns	Fever that is more noticeable than chills, mild sweating, sore throat, thirst, and a cough that may be dry or with yellow phlegm. The onset is often abrupt after exposure to wind or heat. Nasal discharge can turn yellow, and the face may look flushed. Tongue tip red with a thin yellow coating; pulse floating and rapid.	Sang Ju Yin Yin Qiao San
Lung Heat肺熱證Heat Patterns	Cough with yellow or sticky phlegm, thirst, a feeling of heat in the chest, and possible shortness of breath or flaring of the nostrils in stronger presentations. Fever may be present without marked chills, and the throat can feel sore or dry. Tongue red with a yellow coating; pulse rapid, possibly slippery.	Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang Xie Bai San Qing Fei Tang
Qi Deficiency氣虛證Deficiency Patterns	Easy fatigue, shortness of breath on mild effort, a soft or low voice, and spontaneous sweating with light activity. The complexion is often pale, and recovery after exertion is slow. There may be a tendency to catch external pathogens more easily. Tongue pale with a thin white coating; pulse weak or empty.	Shen Su Yin
Phlegm-Heat痰熱證Phlegm Patterns	Yellow or sticky phlegm that is hard to expectorate, chest tightness, and a sense of heat or restlessness. There may be a bitter taste, thirst, and constipation or dark urine when heat is marked. Cough can be forceful with a rattling sound. Tongue red with a yellow greasy coating; pulse slippery and rapid.	Ding Chuan Tang