Deficiency of the lung qi

Clinical manifestations : Feeble cough, shortness of breath which is worse on exertion, clear dilute sputum, lassitude, lack of desire to talk, low voice, aversion to wind, frigid appearance, spontaneous sweating, a pale tongue with thin, white coating and a weak pulse of the deficient type.

Etiology and pathology : This syndrome is often due to a prolonged cough which damages the qi and gradually leads to weakness of the lung qi. Or it may be due to overstrain and stress, or to weakness of yuan ( primary ) qi after a prolonged illness, either of which may cause insufficiency of lung qi and impairment of the lung ' s function in dominating qi. Feeble cough results from weakness of the lung qi and impairment of the lung ' s function in dominating qi and in descending. Shortness of breath and asthmatic breathing are the outcome of lack of qi following impairment of the lung ' s function in dominating qi. Insufficiency of the lung qi does not allow the qi to perform its function in distributing body fluid, the accumulation of which forms clear and dilute sputum. Weakness of wei ( defensive ) qi at the body surface produces aversion to wind, frigid appearance, spontaneous sweating. Lassitude, lack of desire to talk, low voice, a pale tongue with thin, white coating and a weak pulse of the deficient type are all signs of deficiency of qi.