Treatment of Chronic Cough of Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome Based on the Theory of “Removing the Earth Stagnation” / 中医杂志

ABSTRACT

This paper discussed the treatment of chronic cough of phlegm-dampness type based on the theory of “removing the earth stagnation”. It is believed that stagnation of qi in the middle energizer caused malfunction of water metabolism in the human body， which is the key pathogenetic mechanism leading to phlegm-dampness cough. Pathogenesis like cold and dampness attacking the spleen， dampness-heat obstruction， weakness of the middle energizer， failure to ascend clear yang， and internal blazing of yin fire may lead to “earth stagnation”， which triggered phlegm-dampness cough. The treatment advocated “removing the stagnation” to improve qi transformation in the middle energizer， eliminate stagnation， and use different treatment methods such as warming the middle， circulating qi， transforming phlegm and dampness based on different disease cause and mechanism to calm cough. As for prescriptions， Jiangling Banxia Decoction （姜苓半夏汤） could be used for cold-dampness syndrome， Banxia Xiexin Decoction （半夏泻心汤） plus Xiangsu Powder （香苏散） used for damp-heat syndrome， and Buzhong Yiqi Decoction （补中益气汤）， Tiaozhong Yiqi Decoction （调中益气汤）， Shengyang Yiwei Decoction （升阳益胃汤） and Bupiwei Xieyinhuo Shengyang Decoction （补脾胃泻阴火升阳汤） could be selected for spleen-stomach weakness syndrome according to different characteristics and pathogenesis.