TCM Syndrome Differentiation of Lung Qi Deficiency

Lung Qi deficiency syndrome refers to the symptoms manifested by weak lung Qi and weakened lung function activities. It is mostly caused by long-term cough that damages the lung qi or long-term illness that causes lung deficiency or insufficient qi production.

Main clinical manifestations: weak cough and asthma, shortness of breath, especially when moving, with clear and thin sputum; low voice, lazy speech, pale complexion, fatigue; or aversion to wind, spontaneous sweating, easy to catch cold; pale tongue with white coating, and weak pulse.

Pathogenesis analysis: The diagnosis of this syndrome is based on weak cough, wheezing, shortness of breath and general dysfunction. The lung qi is deficient, so the cough and wheezing are weak, and the breath becomes short when moving. The lung qi is insufficient, and the function of distributing water is weakened. Water accumulates in the lung system and forms phlegm, which goes up with the lung qi, so the phlegm is mostly clear and thin. The voice is low and lazy to speak; the complexion is pale and the spirit is tired and exhausted; the tongue is pale with white coating and the pulse is weak, which are signs of qi deficiency. The lung qi deficiency cannot protect the body from the outside, and the pores are not strong, so there is spontaneous sweating and aversion to wind. The defense function is weakened, so it is easy to catch cold.

Differentiation of similar syndromes: Deficiency syndrome; should be differentiated from deficiency of heart qi; deficiency of heart qi is often accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, palpitations, abnormal pulse, cough and easy cold, which should be differentiated from wind-cold restraining the lungs. In differentiation of exogenous infection, the latter has a short course of illness and is a new disease, and the symptoms are generally not serious, of course, except for concurrent symptoms.

Points to note in syndrome differentiation: ① The most important symptom is cough and asthma; ② Relatively minor symptoms are shortness of breath, sputum, chest pain, and sweating; ③ It is necessary to rule out the involvement of the lungs as the main organ, and the syndrome can be established by combining the lung localization symptoms with the qi deficiency syndrome.