Treating Post-Infectious Cough in Children Based on the Theory of "Accumulating in the Stomach and Relating to the Lung"
10.13288/j.11-2166/r.2026.21.015
- VernacularTitle:从“聚于胃、关于肺”分期论治儿童感染后咳嗽
- Author:
Zhuan ZHAO
1
;
Wenxia CHEN
1
;
Yongbin YAN
1
Author Information
1. School of Pediatric Medicine，Henan University of Chinese Medicine，Zhengzhou，450000
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
post-infectious cough;
chronic cough;
children;
lung-stomach correlation
- From:
Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine
2026;67(21):2344-2348
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Based on the theory of "accumulating in the stomach and relating to the lung" from the Basic Questions·Treatise on Cough （《素问·咳论篇》） ， and taking into account the pediatric physiological and pathological characteristics of "the spleen being frequently insufficient" "yang being frequently in excess" "tendency toward relapse due to improper diet after illness"， it is proposed that the core pathogenesis evolution of post-infectious cough in children can be summarized as a dynamic transmission process from accumulation in the stomach， to stomach qi counterflow， invasion of the lung， spleen deficiency， and last involvement of the kidney. The overall trend progresses from excess to deficiency， from the middle to the upper， from the lung to the kidney， and from the exterior to the interior. Accordingly， a four-stage treatment protocol is formulated. In the triggering and aggravation stage， characterized by food accumulation with stomach qi counterflow and turbid qi assailing the lung， the treatment principle is to promote digestion and abduct stagnation， descend counterflow， and transform phlegm， with modified Baohe Pill （保和丸） combined with Banxia Houpo Decoction （半夏厚朴汤）. In the protracted phlegm-cough stage， characterized by spleen deficiency with phlegm accumulation and phlegm-turbidity lingering in the lung， the treatment principle is to fortify the spleen and assist transportation， and transform phlegm to stop coughing， with modified Liujunzi Decoction （六君子汤） combined with Sanzi Yangqin Decoction （三子养亲汤）. In the recovery and consolidation stage， characterized by spleen-stomach weakness with earth failing to generate metal， the treatment principle is to fortify the spleen and boost the lung， and supplement qi to secure the exterior， using modified Yupingfeng Powder （玉屏风散） combined with Yigong Powder （异功散）. In the root-securing and recurrence-preventing stage， characterized by prolonged illness affecting the kidney with kidney failing to govern qi transformation， the treatment principle is to warm the kidney and grasp qi， and transform rheum to stop coughing， with modified Jingui Shenqi Pill （金匮肾气丸） combined with Linggan Wuwei Jiangxin Decoction （苓甘五味姜辛汤）.
