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Herbal Medicine

Q: Can cough temporarily worsen during herbal treatment?

It is possible. We divide it into a few cases. There are cases where the cough increases in the process of expulsion as the sputum becomes thinner. In this case the sputum comes up well and it tends to settle within a few days. However, there are also cases where the medicine does not suit you . If a medicine of warm nature enters a state where there is heat, the symptoms can worsen. In that case we adjust the prescription. The following may not be a problem of the medicine but a change of state, so confirmation is needed: fever, breathlessness, chest pain, blood in the sputum, or a sharp increase in yellow sputum . Please do not simply keep taking it — contact us.

It is not something you must take — acupuncture and physical therapy alone are often enough. We cannot say that it fundamentally changes your constitution, and we regard rhinitis and asthma as conditions to be managed. Do not stop an asthma controller inhaler on your own, even when you have no symptoms.

Expert VerifiedHyo-seop KimChief Director

Herbal Medicine

Q. Can cough temporarily worsen during herbal treatment?

As accumulated phlegm-fluid (痰飮) in the lungs is expelled, cough may temporarily increase. This is a healing reaction, usually subsiding in 3–5 days.

📝 Detailed Answer

It is possible. We divide it into a few cases.

There are cases where the cough increases in the process of expulsion as the sputum becomes thinner. In this case the sputum comes up well and it tends to settle within a few days.

However, there are also cases where the medicine does not suit you. If a medicine of warm nature enters a state where there is heat, the symptoms can worsen. In that case we adjust the prescription.

The following may not be a problem of the medicine but a change of state, so confirmation is needed: fever, breathlessness, chest pain, blood in the sputum, or a sharp increase in yellow sputum.

Please do not simply keep taking it — contact us.

Expert Verified

Hyo-seop Kim

Chief Director

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