A Bone Steaming Cough

A Bone Steaming Cough

People with blood loss who cough persistently for a long time, with fever and night sweats, are commonly referred to as having bone-steaming labor cough. This is because the blood in the liver is stagnant and clotted, causing the liver qi to be depressed and disharmonious. The liver harbors the fire of mutual interaction, and the liver qi is precisely that fire. This fire circulates through the three jiao internally and the skin and flesh externally. When there is no blood stasis, the skin and flesh are unblocked, allowing the fire to flow freely, warming the muscles without suppression. Therefore, the muscles are not cold, thanks to the fire's warmth, and there is also no fever, because the fire does not suppress the qi. Observing women with irregular menstruation, every time they have their period, they experience chills and fever, which is caused by blood stasis. Therefore, bone-steaming cough in people with blood loss is due to blood stasis, which depresses the liver fire and causes the condition. Xiao Chai Hu Tang can be used to clear this. If the condition persists for a long time, with fever and coughing continuing, there is a risk of tuberculosis, so use Tuan Yu Wan to regulate lung qi, nourish liver blood, and combine attack and replenishment—the best method.