Regulating qi to stop cough

"Regulating qi to stop cough" (Li Qi Zhi Ke) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapeutic principle rather than a discrete biological molecule, receptor, or enzyme (WHO International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine, 2007). It describes the collective pharmacological effect of restoring the natural downward movement of Lung-Qi to alleviate coughing and dyspnea, which are viewed in TCM as the result of "rebellious Qi" rising upward (State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China). Herbs and formulas associated with this action, such as those containing Perilla frutescens or Citrus reticulata, are traditionally used to treat respiratory conditions like chronic bronchitis, asthma, and COPD by modulating the flow of internal energy and resolving phlegm (Pharmacopoeia of the People's Republic of China, 2020). While it is not a specific molecular target, the individual bioactive compounds within these herbs often interact with various physiological pathways, including the cough reflex arc and bronchial smooth muscle receptors. Consequently, this term serves as a clinical classification for traditional therapies rather than a target for modern molecular drug design.

Other names

Li Qi Zhi KeRegulating lung-Qi to relieve coughDescending lung-QiQi-regulating antitussive actionDirecting Qi downward to stop cough

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the mechanism involves restoring the physiological 'descending' function of Lung-Qi to counteract 'rebellious' upward Qi movement that triggers the cough reflex (WHO International Standard Terminologies, 2007). Modern pharmacological interpretation suggests this action is achieved through bronchodilation, suppression of the cough center in the medulla, and anti-inflammatory effects on the respiratory mucosa (Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2019).