Zhang, male, 54 years old, visited on March 1, 1985. He had been suffering from cough and asthma for over 30 years, which was triggered by external contraction 3 months ago. Despite the use of antibiotics and antispasmodic asthma medications, the effect was not satisfactory. Currently, he has frequent cough, asthma that prevents him from lying down, expectorates white, sticky, and copious phlegm, fear of cold, cold back, dry mouth but no desire to drink, poor appetite, and dry stool. The tongue texture is red, with yellow and greasy coating at the root, and the pulse is deep, thin, and rapid. Examination shows mental fatigue, emaciation, cyanosis of the lips, barrel chest, and dry and wet hiccup sounds can be heard in both lungs. Chest X-ray shows coarse and blurred lung markings with increased translucency. Blood test: WBC 1.2×1O⁹/L, N0.80, L0.15, M0.05.

Diagnosed as phlegm asthma. The pattern identification indicates long-term illness with lack of treatment, deficiency of both qi and yin, phlegm-fluid retention internally as the root, external pathogen invasion triggering internal fluid, phlegm transforming into heat. The phlegm turbidity rising is the manifestation. The syndrome belongs to cold and heat in complexity, deficiency and excess coexisting. The treatment should focus on ventilating the lung to disperse stagnation and expel pathogens, warming yang and resolving retained fluid, nourishing yin, harmonizing and consolidating the defensive qi. Prescribed Ephedra Cimicifuga Rhizome Decoction:
Ephedra 9g, Cimicifuga Rhizome 12g, Chinese Angelica 12g, Peony Root 12g, Asparagus Root 20g, Polyghace Seche 20g, Skullcap Root 10g, Anemarrhena 10g, Gypsum 30g, Poria 20g, Cinnamon Twig 10g, White Atractylodes Rhizome 20g, Dried Ginger 9g, Prepared Liquorice Root 6g