Understanding and Treating Dog Cough: Causes and Remedi
Phlegm, at its core, is a watery pathological product. The excess phlegm in the lungs often originates from external pathogens attacking the lungs, impaired lung function, and abnormal fluid metabolism, such as cold and windinduced coughs or windheatinduced coughs. Additionally, individuals with a predisposition to phlegm, like those with asthma, may experience this condition. From a modern medical perspective, we can more clearly understand the nature of "pathogens entering water" in phlegm, such as infectious coughs and sputum, which are caused by microorganisms entering the respiratory system. The inflammatory response in the respiratory tract, along with the body's immune response to these microorganisms, results in the formation of pus or neutralizing agents, which, when mixed together, form sputum. In the case of bronchial asthma, the sputum is a result of allergic factors triggering abnormal secretion of mucus by inflammatory cells in the airways. All these are pathological processes involving "pathogens entering water."
Phlegm caused by external pathogens. The genesis of phlegm starts with external pathogens attacking the body, followed by the obstruction of Qi flow, and ends with abnormal distribution of body fluids. External pathogens are most likely to invade the superficial muscles and the respiratory system. "External phlegm" can be synonymous with "coughing up sputum." Phlegm primarily originates in the lungs, and coughing is the body's pathological physiological stress response to expel phlegm. These two are causally related and coexist.
Therefore, the fundamental approach to treating external phlegm is to eliminate the pathogens attacking the lungs, regulate the lung's Qi flow, and expel the phlegm. The movement of lung Qi is mainly manifested in the aspects of promoting, descending, and regulating waterways. Dysfunction in promoting, descending, and regulating waterways is an intermediate pathological link that promotes the formation of phlegm.
For those with insufficient promotion, herbs like Mahuang (Ephedra sinica), Jiegeng (Platycodon grandiflorus), Shengma (Cimicifuga foetida), and Guizhi (Cinnamomum cassia) can be used to aid lung promotion. Baibai (Oroxylum indicum), Ziai (Inula japonica), Zhike (Citrus reticulata), Chenxiang (Acorus tatarinowii), and Zhishi (Fructus aurantii) can promote descent.
Regulating waterways is part of regulating Qi flow. Herbs like Dilong (Pheretima), Tongcao (Cynanchum stauntonii), Lugen (Phragmites australis), Xianlianzi (Semen Euryales), and Fuling (Poria cocos) can regulate waterways.
Expelling the phlegm that is formed: commonly used expectorant herbs include Fanzha (Pinellia ternata), Jiegeng, Zhuru (Bambusa textilis), Baizhi (Inula japonica), Ziyuhuang (Bombyx batryticatus), Guāluópi (Pericarpium Citri reticulatae), Yuxingcao (Houttuynia cordata), and Jinqiaomai (Fagopyrum esculentum). Formulas like Erchen Decoction, Qingqi Huatan Decoction, and Sangbaipi Decoction can be selected.
Phlegm due to Qi stagnation. Qi stagnationrelated phlegm is primarily associated with the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in their ascending and descending movements, followed by the liver and gallbladder. The common manifestation areas are the throat. Treatment includes soothing the liver and gallbladder, strengthening the middle burner, regulating Qi and promoting lung function, and alleviating emotional stagnation.
Soothing the liver and gallbladder can be achieved with herbs like Chaihu (Bupleurum chinense), Yujin (Curcuma zedoaria),蒲公英 (Taraxacum mongolicum), Jinqiancao (Lysimachia christinae), Foshou (Ficus carica), Xiangfu (Rhizoma Cyperi), and Cijiali (Fructus Tribuli). Strengthening the middle burner can be done with Jinenjinhua (Atractylodes macrocephala), Huangqi (Astragalus membranaceus), Huaiyao (Rhizoma dioscoreae), Baizhu (Atractylodes macrocephala), Zhike, Zhishi, Fanzha, Fuling, and Xuanfuhua (Inula japonica). Regulating Qi and promoting lung function can be achieved with Chenpi (Pericarpium Citri reticulatae), Zhike, Mahuang, and Suyu (Perilla frutescens). Alleviating emotional stagnation can be achieved with Shigao (Acorus tatarinowii), Yuanzhi (Polygala tenuifolia), Hehuanhua (Platycodon grandiflorus), and Baihe (Lilium lancifolium). Formulas like Banxia Houpu Decoction or Yueju Wan can also be considered.
Phlegm with an old root. The most common type is asthma, often caused by both Qi and Yang deficiency, and cold phlegm retention. The treatment approach is to invigorate Qi and Yang, and transform phlegm and fluid. For asthma, formulas like Xiaoxiong Decoction and Yanghe Decoction can be modified accordingly.
Deficiencyrelated phlegm. Deficiencyrelated phlegm emphasizes the significant role of deficiency in the formation of sputum, and this type of phlegm tends to be more "water泛滥" in nature. Deficiency of the Qi, especially spleen deficiency with poor transformation, lung deficiency with poor regulation, and kidney deficiency with poor warming, can all lead to the obstruction of fluid movement and the formation of phlegm. In the treatment process, it is crucial to support the body's vital energy, starting with strengthening the spleen, replenishing the lung, and warming the kidney to treat the root cause, followed by expelling phlegm and transforming fluid to treat the symptoms.
Sticky phlegm. Symptoms include numbness, acid and stuffy discomfort, sudden cold and heat, tremors, abnormal mental state, tumors, and other strange symptoms. The signs may include sputum nodules, masses, atrophy, and arthralgia. To expel sticky phlegm, it is essential to use strategies such as dispersing nodules and dissolving phlegm, "increasing water to promote phlegm movement," dredging through collaterals and purging phlegm, and expelling phlegm externally. Herbs like Banxia, Zhebeimu (Bulbus Fritillaria thunbergii), Hai藻 (Sargassum pallidum), Kunsu (Laminaria japonica), Maozhaocao (Rheum palmatum), Nanshen (Rhizoma polygonati), and Lianqiao (Fructus forsythiae) can be used to disperse nodules and dissolve phlegm. Herbs like Lugen, Tianhuafen (Talcum), Zhuru, Tianzhuhuang (Bombyx batryticatus), Shengdihuang (Rehmannia glutinosa), and Beishashen (Semen Adenophorae) can increase water to promote phlegm movement. Herbs like Jiangcan (Bombyx batryticatus), Wugong (Scolopendra subspinipes), Baijiezi (Semen Sinapis alba), and Tongcao can be used to dredge through collaterals and purge phlegm. Expectorating phlegm externally refers to choosing an appropriate outlet to guide sputum out of the body, with the Pishitongtan (Pulvis Tungshen) formula being a typical representative.
Hidden phlegm. There is no visible sputum coughed up or excreted, but symptoms such as dizziness, nausea, masses, numbness, and greasy tongue coating are present. This is often due to excessive intake of rich and sweet foods, leading to the transformation of excessive nutrients into phlegm turbidity, such as obesity, fatty liver, and hyperlipidemia. Phlegm turbidity may become trapped in the body and cannot be expelled, such as in cases of muscle atrophy due to phlegm turbidity infiltration or lymph node enlargement due to phlegm and blood stasis. Treatment commonly involves strengthening the spleen and assisting in transformation, dredging through collaterals and promoting Qi flow, and transforming phlegm and removing turbidity.
In this case, the dog suddenly began to cough up sputum at two months old, and the sputum contained dog food. It is suspected that this is related to the dysfunction of the spleen and stomach in their ascending and descending movements. Treatments can include Jinenjinhua, Huangqi, Huaiyao, Baizhu, Zhike, Zhishi, Fanzha, Fuling, Xuanfuhua, and the use of traditional Chinese medicine like Baohe Wan (Pill for Harmonizing the Stomach).
