Five Zang-viscera and six Fu-viscera all could lead to cough.The "fire" pathogen of five Zang-viscera and six Fu-viscera influencing lung can also lead to cough.In Professor LI Shimao’ s differentiating symptom

feeling pulse is the mainstay.The pulse manifestation is the main cue.Prof.LI advocated differentiating excess and deficiency first

then differentiating the cause-pathogenesis of deficient fire

excess fire

as well as intermingled deficiency and excess invading lung and differentiating the main pulse

the accompanying pulse of cough owing to the"fire"of five Zang-viscera and six Fu-viscera were suggested.As for treatment

Prof.LI adopted therapeutic methods of clearing heat

dispersing

nourishing Yin and ascending Yang.Meanwhile

Prof.LI emphasized using herbs by channel tropism

especially using herbs of lung and liver channel tropism

in order to soothe cough and relieve fire stagnation.