Cough With Chest Pain

How Chinese medicine differentiates a cough accompanied by chest pain into the six patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. Distinct from this site's Chronic Cough, Dry Cough and Chest Pain pages. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. A cough with chest pain can signal a heart attack, a blood clot in the lung, or pleurisy — sudden, severe, or breathless presentations need emergency assessment.

General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for a cough with chest pain — 3 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

Point	Key action
BL-13	Stimulates the diffusing and descending of Lung-Qi. Expels external Wind. Regulates Nutritive and Defensive Qi.
LU-7	Promotes the descending and diffusing of Lung-Qi. Releases the Exterior and expels exterior Wind. Opens the Directing Vessel.
ST-36	Benefits Stomach and Spleen. Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Original Qi.

The Six Patterns

↑ reinforcing ↓ reducing ⊥ even method.

1. Wind-Cold Invading the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cough with thin white watery phlegm; chills and aversion to cold; clear nasal discharge; itchy throat; no sweating; body aches; a tight or constricting chest pain.

Tongue: Normal or slightly pale, thin white moist coat. Pulse: Floating and tight.

Treatment principle: Gently disperses Wind-Cold, diffuses Lung Qi and resolves Phlegm.

LU-7 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓ BL-13 ↑

Note: moxa is appropriate.

2. Lung Dryness View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A dry, hacking cough with scanty or no phlegm; a scratchy, raw chest pain worse with coughing; dry mouth, throat and nose; dry, cracked lips and skin; thirst.

Tongue: Red, dry surface, thin white or thin yellow dry coat. Pulse: Floating, rapid, fine.

Treatment principle: Clears Heat, moistens the Lungs, nourishes Yin and generates fluids.

BL-13 ↑ LU-7 ↓ KI-6 ↑

Note: no moxa.

3. Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cough with thick yellow or green sputum; chest fullness and oppressive pain; heat or fever; thirst; flushed face; irritability.

Tongue: Red, yellow greasy coat, possibly swollen with red prickles. Pulse: Slippery and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clears Lung Heat, dries Dampness and resolves sticky Phlegm.

BL-13 ↓ ST-40 ↓ LU-5 ↓

Note: no moxa.

4. Wind-Heat Invading the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Cough with thick yellow or green sputum; fever more prominent than chills; a sore, scratchy throat; thirst.

Tongue: Red tip, thin yellow coat. Pulse: Floating and rapid.

Treatment principle: Disperses Wind-Heat, clears Lung Heat and restores the diffusing and descending functions.

BL-13 ↓ LU-7 ↓ L.I.-4 ↓ G.B.-20 ↓

Note: no moxa.

5. Liver Fire Insulting the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Sudden, forceful coughing fits; distending pain along the ribs, worse with coughing; irritability; bitter taste; the face reddens during the cough.

Tongue: Red with redder sides, thin dry yellow coat. Pulse: Wiry and rapid.

Treatment principle: Clears Lung Heat, stops the cough and drains Liver Fire.

LIV-3 ↓ LIV-2 ↓ LU-7 ↓

Note: no moxa.

6. Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: A heavy, oppressive chest pain; copious white sticky phlegm that is easy to expectorate; chest fullness; poor appetite; bloating; loose stools; fatigue and a sluggish body.

Tongue: Pale, swollen, tooth-marked, thick white greasy coat. Pulse: Slippery, like rolling beads.

Treatment principle: Dries Dampness, transforms Phlegm, regulates Qi and directs Qi downward.

ST-40 ↓ LU-7 ↓ ST-36 ↑

Note: moxa is appropriate.

Related conditions

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