Understanding the Origins and Symptoms of Coughs: Insights from the Yellow Emperor

The Yellow Emperor asked: “When the lungs are diseased, they can cause coughing. What is the reasoning behind this?”

Qi Bo replied: “Coughing can be caused by illness in any of the five organs or six bowels, not just the lungs.”
The Yellow Emperor inquired: “Please, enlighten me on the different symptoms of coughs.”
Qi Bo explained: “The skin and lungs are closely connected. When external pathogens first affect the skin, they quickly impact the lungs. Additionally, consuming cold food and drinks causes the cold to ascend from the stomach to the lungs via the lung meridian, resulting in lung cold. This external and internal cold combines, stagnating in the lungs, leading to what we call lung cough.

However, the coughs that arise from the five organs and six bowels are not solely confined to the lung’s domain; rather, they originate from the organs during their respective seasonal vulnerabilities and pass on to the lungs. Just as humans align with the natural world, each organ is prone to illness during its corresponding season. For instance, the lungs are vulnerable in the fall, the liver in the spring, the heart in the summer, the spleen in late summer, and the kidneys in winter.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “How can we distinguish between these different types of cough?”
Qi Bo answered: “The symptoms of lung cough include wheezing, noisy breathing, and even spitting blood. Heart coughs are characterized by coughing with chest pain, and a sensation of obstruction in the throat, possibly accompanied by swelling and difficulty swallowing. Liver coughs result in pain under the ribs on both sides, often to the point that turning to the side is difficult, causing bloating. Spleen coughs bring pain to the right side of the ribs, which can extend to the shoulder and back, worsening with movement. Kidney coughs cause back pain, with coughing and expectoration of phlegm.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “What about coughs caused by the six bowels? How are they affected?”
Qi Bo replied: “If the cough from one of the five organs persists without improvement, it will eventually affect the six bowels. For example, if a spleen cough lingers, it will lead to a stomach illness. Stomach coughs are marked by coughing followed by vomiting, potentially with worms. If a liver cough remains unresolved, it will affect the gallbladder. Gallbladder coughs involve coughing followed by the expulsion of bile. If a lung cough continues, it will lead to a disorder of the large intestine, causing coughing and incontinence. A persistent heart cough will eventually affect the small intestine, resulting in coughing and flatulence, often with a simultaneous loss of energy. Kidney coughs can affect the bladder, leading to coughing and urinary incontinence.

If any of these coughs persist for an extended period, they may progress to affect the Triple Burner, with symptoms including coughing, abdominal fullness, and a lack of appetite. Regardless of which organ or bowel is involved, the evil energy ultimately accumulates in the stomach, following the lung meridian and affecting the lungs. This can lead to excess mucus and phlegm, facial swelling, and a reverse flow of energy during coughing.”

The Yellow Emperor asked: “What treatment methods should be employed?”
Qi Bo responded: “For coughing related to the five organs, treat with their corresponding acupoints. For the six bowels, treat using their associated acupoints. If the patient has both coughing and facial swelling, target the relevant organ and bowel meridians accordingly.”
The Yellow Emperor nodded in approval: “Well said!”