Wind-Heat invading the Lungs
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 concept of Wind The concept of Heat The Lungs in Chinese Medicine
Key attributes
Chinese name: 风热犯肺 Pinyin name: Fēng Rè Fàn Fèi
Pattern nature: Full
Causes
Precursor patterns: Wind-Heat
Common causes: External Wind and Heat
Diagnosis
Common symptoms: Fever Thirst Coughing Sneezing Headaches and seven other symptoms
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Slightly red on the sides or on the front
Treatment
Treatment principle: Release the Exterior, clear Heat, stimulate the descending and diffusing of Lung Qi.
Common formulas: Yin Qiao San
Pathology
It is very similar to the pattern of Wind-Cold invading the Lungs, but this Wind is rather associated with Heat instead of Cold. Therefore, patients are more likely to have fever.
Like the Wind-Cold invasion pattern, patients have symptoms like aversion to cold, because the body's Defensive Qi circulation is blocked and fails to warm the muscles.
The patients may also experience thirst as Body Fluids is dried up by exterior Heat.
The tongue coating is usually white, despite that Heat pattern normally causes yellow coating. It might be due to the external Heat has not yet turn the coating yellow.
Causes
Precursor patterns: Wind-Heat invading the Lungs can derive from Wind-Heat
External Wind and Heat: This pattern is mainly due to the windy and hot environment. It can also be caused by some artificial Wind Heat such as a busy kitchen.
Diagnosing Wind-Heat invading the Lungs
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.
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu) or floating (Fu)
Tongue description: Slightly red on the sides or on the front
Main symptoms: Fever Thirst Coughing Sneezing Headaches Runny nose Body aches Sore throat Blocked nose Swollen tonsils Aversion to cold Coughing of copious thick yellow sputum
Diagnosis commentary: Key characteristic symptoms of this pattern are the aversion to cold, sore throat, fever and Floating-Rapid pulse.
Treating Wind-Heat invading the Lungs
Treatment principle
Release the Exterior, clear Heat, stimulate the descending and diffusing of Lung Qi.
Herbal formulas used to treat Wind-Heat invading the Lungs
Yin Qiao San
Source date: 1798 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Disperses Wind Heat. Clears Heat. Resolves Toxicity.
Formula summary
Yin Qiao San is a 10-ingredient Chinese Medicine formula. Invented in 1798 AD, it belongs to the category of external formulas for External disorders.
Besides Wind-Heat invading the Lungs, Yin Qiao San is also used to treat Wind-Heat or Exterior-Heat.
Diet recommendations
Keep a simple menu, such as rice and black or mung beans until recovered. Fasting on fruit or
vegetable juices or soups.
Avoid being exposed to windy and hot environment. Try cupping over the upper back, breathing exercises.
Consequence patterns
If the Wind Heat penetrates the Defense Qi and reaches the interior Organs, the Heat occurs and settles down in the Lungs.
If the Wind Heat is removed to some degree but not completely expelled, some Heat may become residual and cause Phlegm Heat in the Lungs.
If the Wind Heat is removed to some degree but not completely expelled, some Heat may become residual and cause Phlegm in the Lungs.