Chinese Medicine for Coughing Out Blood

In Chinese medicine, coughing out blood is a sign of imbalance in the body’s inner heat, dryness, or circulation. It can appear from weakness, rising liver fire, or dryness that damages the lungs. Each pattern has its own signs, cause, and treatment method.

Wind–Dryness

Common Signs

  • Coughing up blood with dry or scant sputum

  • Dry throat, nose, or skin

  • Itchy throat or chest pain

  • Little or no sweating

  • Headache or fever

  • Wrinkled skin, dry nails

  • Pain in the upper abdomen

  • Worse in autumn or dry climates

  • Thirst

Treatment Principle
Disperse wind and heat, moisten dryness, and lubricate the lungs.

Herbal Formula: Sang-Xing-Tang or Si-Sheng-Wan

Helpful Foods: Peppermint, spearmint, sweet basil, celery, coconut meat, green onion, asparagus, egg, honey, pear, sesame oil, yellow soybean, spinach, tofu

Liver-Fire Upsurging

Common Signs

  • Coughing out bright or fresh blood

  • Dizziness or ringing in the ears

  • Headache on both sides or near the eyes

  • Red, swollen, or pink eyes

  • Anger or irritability

  • Dry mouth or throat

  • Nosebleeds

  • Upper or lower abdominal pain

  • Reddish-yellow urine

  • Difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

Treatment Principle
Calm and cool the liver, lubricate the lungs, and stop bleeding.

Herbal Formula: Ke-Xue-Fang

Helpful Foods: Spinach, chestnut, shepherd’s purse, rye, black fungus, vinegar, abalone, asparagus, chicken egg, white fungus, pork, royal jelly

Yin Deficiency

Common Signs

  • Coughing up light-colored or large amounts of blood

  • Dry mouth, throat, or stool

  • Afternoon headache or fever

  • Hot palms and soles

  • Night sweats

  • Dizziness and fatigue

  • Toothache or gum bleeding

  • Swallowing pain

  • Short, reddish urine

  • Thin or underweight body

Treatment Principle
Nourish yin, clear internal heat, moisten dryness, and stop bleeding.

Herbal Formula: Bai-He-Gu-Jin-Tang

Helpful Foods: Bird’s nest, cheese, kidney bean, abalone, asparagus, chicken egg, cuttlefish, duck, duck egg, white fungus, oyster, pork, royal jelly

When coughing up blood, Chinese medicine focuses on understanding why the lungs are bleeding—whether from dryness, fire rising from the liver, or deep yin weakness. Healing involves cooling the body, nourishing fluids, and supporting lung and liver balance. By restoring harmony, the blood is contained and the lungs are soothed.