Chronic Cough - Lung-Yin Deficiency Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Chronic Cough · Lung-Yin Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Lung-Yin Deficiency is a chronic pattern in persistent cough, characterized by airway mucosal atrophy, dry cough with scanty sputum, dry throat, and afternoon fever. The core pathogenesis is insufficient Lung-Yin failing to moisten the airways, leading to mucosal atrophy, cough receptor exposure, and chronic dry cough.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Dry cough with scanty sputum, dry throat, hoarseness |

| Associated Symptoms | Afternoon fever, night sweats, heat in palms and soles, dry mouth |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with little or peeling coating, thready and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Lung-Yin deficiency failing to moisten the airways |

| Etiology | Prolonged cough, excessive voice use, smoking, chronic illness |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Feishu (BL13) | On the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to T3 | Back-Shu point of Lung meridian; nourishes Lung-Yin |

| Gaohuang (BL43) | On the upper back, 3 cun lateral to T4 | Nourishes deficiency and moistens the Lung |

| Taiyuan (LU9) | On the wrist crease, radial side | Source point of Lung meridian; nourishes Lung-Yin |

| Taixi (KI3) | Depression between medial malleolus and Achilles tendon | Source point of Kidney meridian; nourishes Kidney Yin |

| Zhaohai (KI6) | 1 cun below the medial malleolus | Nourishes Yin and moistens the throat |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reinforcing method; moxibustion may be applied to Gaohuang to nourish deficiency.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang (沙参麦冬汤)

Composition:

Glehnia (Sha Shen), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), Polygonatum (Yu Zhu), Trichosanthes Root (Tian Hua Fen), Mulberry Leaf (Sang Ye), Hyacinth Bean (Bian Dou), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Nourishes Lung-Yin, moistens dryness, and stops cough.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Severe dry cough | Add Chuan Bei Mu, Bai He to moisten the Lung and stop cough |

| Hoarseness | Add Pang Da Hai, Mu Hu Die to moisten the throat and improve voice |

| Afternoon fever | Add Zhi Mu, Di Gu Pi to clear deficiency heat |

| Blood-tinged sputum | Add Bai Mao Gen, Ce Bai Ye to cool the blood and stop bleeding |

Western Mechanism Reference

Airway mucosal atrophy with reduced goblet cells and mucus secretion, airway dryness, and cough receptor exposure. Lung-Yin Deficiency corresponds to chronic cough with airway dryness, often seen in chronic bronchitis, interstitial lung disease, or post-viral cough with mucosal damage.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Cough with Lung-Yin Deficiency.

  2. DB-TCMJB: Lung-Yin Deficiency.

  3. DB-XJB: Sha Shen Mai Dong Tang.

  4. WHO. (2023). Respiratory health. World Health Organization.

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