Asthma – Xiao Chuan Bing

Asthma is an acute sudden onset of difficult breathing (dyspnoea) with wheezing sound in throat, recurring with cough.

Etiology (causes) of Asthma in Traditional Chinese Medicine:

1. Hidden phlegm -dysfunction of spleen produces phlegm stored in lung)

2. External pathogens -attack lung creating lung dysfunction, produce hidden phlegm

3. Diet -over consumption of greasy, sweet, alcohol, smoking

4. Emotion -too much stress

5. Deficiency of the Internal Organs

6. Season- aggravated in fall season

Differentiation of Different Patterns of Asthma:

Cold - wheezing- water sounding gurgle with white clear phlegm

Hot - wheezing – loud, sawing rough sound with sticky yellow phlegm

Treatment Methods:  

Treat the branch of the problem during an attack and treat the root of the problem during remission.

DURING ATTACK (Eliminate phlegm)

Cold Type Wind cold symptoms, itchy throat/nose, watery phlegm with cough, tightness in chest, coldness on upper back, pale complexion,

Tongue - pale, white slippery coating Pulse - floating tense  

Principle of Treatment: expel wind cold, promote lung function to eliminate phlegm

Acupuncture points for Asthma

– hand Taiyin, Ren, sedate, Lung 7, 5, Bladder 13 (expel patho., relieve asthma), Ren 17, ding chuan - wheezing – Ren 22 - runny nose – Large Intestine 20, Stomach 3 - Phlegm – Stomach 40 - Fever – Large Intestine 4, Large Intestine 1

Herbal Medicine Formula for Asthma:

Shi Gan Ma Huang Tang, Xiao Gan Long Tang, Hou Pi Ma Huang Tang, Jiu Bao Tang, Xiao Qing Long Tang -or- Shi Gan Ma Huang Tang

Eliminate phlegm herbs - Bai Jie Zi, Su Zi

Descend Qi Herbs - Dai Zhi Shi, Hou Po

Eliminating Constipation Herbs - Lai Fu Zi, Gua Lou

Hot Type Wind heat symptoms, difficulty breathing, fast shallow (panting) breaths, loud wheezing, sweating, yellow sticky phlegm, irritable, tight chest, fever, thirst, constipation

Tongue - Red, yellow coating Pulse - slippery, rapid

Principle of Treatment: clear heat, disperse lung function to eliminate phlegm

Acupuncture points for Asthma

– Large Intestine 4, 11, DU 14 (clear heat), Lung 1, 6 (relieve asthma), Ren 17, ding chuan (descend Lung Qi), Stomach 40 (Phlegm) - heaTongue - bleed Large Intestine 1, 1 - wheezing – Ren 22 - Phlegm – Ren 12 - Liver Fire attack Lung – Liver 3, 14

Herbal Medicine Formulas for Asthma:

Yue Bi Jia Ban Xia, Ding Chuan Tang (int. phlegm heat)

Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (more external heat)

Complicated Cold and Hot - Da Qing Long Tang

Complicated Deficiency and Excess - Du Qi Wan + Shi Gan Ma Huang Tang

Treatment During Remission of Asthmatic Symptoms:

Kidney/Lung Deficient Type

Between attacks slight wheezing all the time, palpitations, spontaneous sweating, agg. By over exertion, weaker than hot/cold type

Tongue - pale, white coating Pulse - deep, weak

Principle of Treatment: tonify lung and kidney, eliminate phlegm

Acupuncture points for Asthma

– hand Taiyin, back-shu, ding chuan, Lung 9, Bladder 13, 43

Herbal Medicine Formulas for Asthma:

Ping Chuan Gu Ben

DURING REMISSION (treat organ deficiency, LU/SP/KD)  

 Lung Qi Deficiency Pale, low voice, spontaneous sweat, easily gets cold

Principle of Treatment: Tonify lung Qi to eliminate hidden phlegm

Herbal Medicine Formula for Asthma:

Yu Ping Feng San

Spleen Qi Deficiency

Digestive symptoms, easily bloated, tired after eating  

Principle of Treatment: Tonify Spleen Qi to eliminate hidden phlegm

Herbal Medicine Formula for Asthma :

Si Jun Zi Tang

Spleen Yang Deficiency General cold symptoms, and spleen Qi deficiency symptoms, indigested food in stool

Principle of Treatment: Strengthen Spleen yang to eliminate cold and hidden phlegm

Herbal Medicine Formula for Asthma: Fu Zi Li Zhong

Kidney Yang Deficiency Urine and bowel symptoms, usually spleen yang deficiency with kidney yang deficiency symptoms, lower back/knee pain

Principle of Treatment: Strengthen Kidney yang to eliminate hidden phlegm

Herbal Medicine Formula: Shen Qi Wan

Kidney Yin Deficiency Deficient heat symptoms (dizzy, vertigo, poor memory, lack of concentration, poor hearing, long term, 5-centre heat sensation, menstruation disorders  

Principle of Treatment: Nourish Kidney yin to eliminate hidden phlegm

Herbal Medicine Formula for Asthma: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan  

Acupuncture points for Asthma 

– Lung Qi : Lung 9, Bladder 13, 20, 43, - Spleen Qi: Lung 9, Bladder 13, 43, Stomach 36, 40, Spleen 3, - Kidney Qi: Lung 9, Bladder 13, 43, 23, 24, Kidney 3  

Alternative Treatment Methods for Asthma 

auricular – LU, shenmen, bronchi, adrenal, sympathetic  

Moxa – back-shu during remission stage

herbal application – Bai Jie Zi 21g, Yan Hu Suo 21g, Xi Xin 15g, Gan Sui 12g, place on ding chuan, Bladder 13, Ren 20, Stomach 16 (may cause ber)

electro stimulation – Lung 5, 6

Wheezing

Wheezing Caused by External Wind

Acupuncture - Lung 7, 5, Bladder 11, 13

Wind Heat - Small Intestine 4, Du 14, Lung 1, Ren 6, 7

Phlegm-Damp - Bladder 20, Liver 13, Stomach 40, Lung 7, Ren 17, 22

Damp Fluids attack Heart difficult breathing, cough frothy bubbles, edema, palpitation - Ren 4, Stomach 36, Spleen 9, Pericardium 6, Bladder 13

Lung and Spleen deficiency - Bladder 20, 13, Stomach 36, Lung 9, Bladder 43, ding chuan

Lung and Kidney deficiency - ding chuan, Bladder 13, 23, 24, 43, Lung 9, Kidney 3

Alternative Treatment Methods for treating Wheezing 

auricular – adrenal, sub-cortex, sympathetic

7 star – Lung meridian to sternocleidomastoid muscle area.