Emphysema is called lung distension in Chinese medicine, which is categorized into cold drinks stopping the lung, phlegm congestion of the lung, phlegm-heat depression of the lung, phlegm clouding the orifices of the spirit, yang deficiency and water flooding (yang qi deficiency caused by the impediment of the body’s water and fluid operation), phlegm stasis obstructing the lung, lung and kidney qi deficiency evidence.
1. External cold and internal drinking: manifested as malignant cold (fear of cold) and fever, no sweating, coughing and shortness of breath, swelling and fullness, etc., treated with Xiaoqinglong Tang.
2. Phlegm congestion of the lungs: manifesting as chest fullness, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing with much sputum, white and greasy, epigastric plumpness and dullness (no appetite, reduced food intake), etc., using Su Zi Descending Qi Soup combined with San Zi Nourishing Relatives Soup.
3. Phlegm-heat depletion of the lungs: manifesting as coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, chest fullness, irritability, yellow sputum, dryness of the bowels and redness of the tongue, etc., use Echidna Plus Semixia Tang.
4. Phlegm clouding the mind: manifesting as trance, restlessness, drowsiness, coughing, shortness of breath (shortness of breath), sputum, etc., with the use of phlegm cleansing soup combined with Angong Niuhuang Pill or Zhi Bao Dan for treatment.
5. Yang deficiency and water flooding: manifested as palpitation, coughing, floating face, swollen limbs, low urine, etc., use Zhenwu Tang combined with Wu Ling San.
6. Phlegm and stasis obstructing the lungs: coughing with much sputum, white or foamy, sputum sounding in the throat, unable to lie down with wheezing, fullness in the chest, stuffiness like congestion, gray and dark face, cyanosis of lips and nails, etc., treating with Drabanemerosa hebecarpa and Dazaojiao Lung Laxative Soup combining with Gui Zhi Fu Ling Pill.
7. Lung and kidney qi deficiency: manifested as shallow and short breathing, low voice, timid, open mouth and shoulder lifting, coughing, cold limbs, waist and knee soreness and weakness, etc., treat with tonifying deficiency soup and ginseng and clam powder.
If emphysema occurs, consult the clinician and follow the doctor’s instructions. All the above medicines should be used under the guidance of professional physicians.