Invasion of the lung by pathogenic wind

Clinical manifestations : Invasion of the lung by wind cold displays such signs as cough with mucous sputum, absence of thirst, nasal obstruction, watery nasal discharge ; possible chills and fever ; absence of sweating, headache, a thin, white tongue coating and a superficial, tense pulse. Invasion of the lung by wind heat generates cough with yellow purulent sputum, thirst, sore throat ; possibly with heat sensation of the body and aversion to wind ; headache, a thin, yellow tongue coating and a superficial, rapid pulse.

Etiology and pathology : The syndrome is due to invasion of the lung system by exogenous pathogenic wind complicated with either cold or heat. Invasion of the lung by wind cold impairs the lung ' s function in dispersing and descending and produces cough with mucous sputum. As the lung opens into the nose, invasion of the lung by pathogenic cold affects the corresponding orifice and gives rise to nasal obstruction with watery nasal discharge. Since the lung is closely related to the skin and hair, invasion of the body surface by wind cold causes disharmony of ying ( nutrient ) qi and wei ( defensive ) qi, producing chills and fever, absence of sweating, and heat and body aches. A thin, white tongue coating and a superficial, tense pulse are both signs of wind cold affecting the body surface. Invasion of the lung by wind heat impairs the function of the lung in dispersing and descending, manifesting as cough with yellow purulent sputum. The consumption of body fluid by pathogenic heat is the cause of thirst. Upward disturbance of wind heat generates sore throat. The invasion of the body surface by wind heat impedes wei ( defensive ) qi, which explains heat sensation of the body, aversion to wind and headache. A thin, yellow tongue coating and a superficial, rapid pulse are both signs of wind heat affecting the body surface.