Rebellious Lung Qi
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
At a glance
Preliminary reading: What is a pattern? The Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 肺气上逆 Pinyin name: Fèi Qì Shàng Nì
Pattern nature: Full
Pattern hierarchy: Specific pattern under Rebellious Qi
Causes
Precursor patterns: Rebellious Liver Qi Rebellious Stomach Qi
Common causes: 1. External Evils, 2. Emotional stress
Diagnosis
Treatment
Treatment principle: Descend the rebellious Lung Qi, invigorate the Lung, Stomach and Liver Qi.
Common formulas: Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang Jin Fei Cao San
Pathology
The rebellious Lung Qi goes upwards instead of descending, thus the typical symptoms of coughing, asthma, chest oppression and distension.
When the pattern is caused by rebellions Liver Qi, typical symptoms are headache, dizziness and faint.
Rebellious Qi from the Stomach can also lead to this pattern. In this case, there are additional manifestations such as vomiting and nausea.
Sometimes Blood can be driven upwards by the Rebellions Qi and cause vomiting of blood.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Rebellious Lung Qi can derive from Rebellious Liver Qi Rebellious Stomach Qi
External Evils: It is mainly the cause of Rebellions Qi of the Lungs. Due to external Evils (Wind, Cold, Heat, Dryness etc) invading the Lung, the normal descending of Lung Qi is disturbed, hence the symptoms of coughing or asthma. External Evils can also hurt the Stomach and cause Stomach Qi Rebellions.
Emotional stress: When the emotional stresses, especially anger, frustration, worry and resentment, occur intensively over a short period of time, it can largely disturb the Liver' Qi circulation function. The rebellious Liver Qi then goes upward and stirs the Lung Qi so that it can not descend properly.
Diagnosing Rebellious Lung Qi
Diagnosing a pattern in Chinese Medicine is no easy feat and should be left to professional practitioners. In particular one has to know how to differentiate between different types of pulses and tongue coatings, shapes and colors as well as learn to read from a long list of seemingly unrelated symptoms.
Main symptoms: Asthma Nausea Coughing Vomiting Fainting Dizziness Headaches
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the coughing and asthma.
Treating Rebellious Lung Qi
Treatment principle
Descend the rebellious Lung Qi, invigorate the Lung, Stomach and Liver Qi.
Herbal formulas used to treat Rebellious Lung Qi
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Directs rebellious Qi downward. Arrests wheezing. Stops coughing. Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold.
Formula summary
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang is a 8-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 650 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas for a rebellious Qi.
Besides Rebellious Lung Qi, Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang is also used to treat Rebellious Qi or Kidneys failing to receive Qi.
Jin Fei Cao San
Source date: 1107 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind-Cold. Descends Lung Qi. Transform Phlegm . Stop cough and calms wheezing .
Formula summary
Jin Fei Cao San is a 9-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1107 AD, it belongs to the category of formulas that clear Wind-Cold.
Besides Rebellious Lung Qi, Jin Fei Cao San is also used to treat Wind-Cold.