Asthma |
The effects of acupuncture are cumulative. After a series of treatments, one often notices a reduction in the frequency and severity of attacks. Acupuncture has the effect of strengthening a person's constitution and overall health so that their allergic response is reduced.
Chinese herbal formulas serve as a useful adjunct to acupuncture in relieving asthma. In fact, when I received advanced herbal training in China, half of the patients I saw were suffering from asthma or bronchitis. Herbs are used to reduce phlegm production, combat infection, moisten the lungs and astringe coughing. There are many different types of asthma in Chinese medicine, and different herbal formulas are appropriate.
DEFINITION:
In Chinese medicine, asthma is called "xiao chuan, " which means wheezing and dyspnea, respectively. Chinese medicine classifies xiao and chuan as two separate illnesses with different treatments. Xiao (wheezing) is characterized by a whistling sound during breathing, increased respiration rate, dyspnea and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Chuan (shortness of breath) is characterized by dyspnea, constant opening of mouth to grasp air, raised shoulder, flared nostrils and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Patients with xiao (wheezing) generally will have chuan (shortness of breath), while patients with chuan (shortness of breath) may or may not have xiao (wheezing). In Western medicine, wheezing and shortness of breath are both considered as symptoms which may be present in many different types of pulmonary syndromes such as asthma, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
ETIOLOGY:
In Oriental Medicine, there are many factors that may trigger an asthma attack. Examples include the invasion of the external pathogenic factors, diet, emotional disturbances, congenital weakness and chronic illnesses.
External pathogenic factors, such as cold or heat, commonly induce asthma attacks. Lung dominates the Qi and manifests on the skin. As the environment affects the skin, the change is reflected in the Lung. As the Lung is attacked, its function to regulate water passage becomes impaired, water begins to stagnate and phlegm starts to form. Asthma attacks due to the invasion of external pathogenic factors is most likely to occur when the temperature is cold or if there is a rapid change in weather. External pathogenic factors may also include pollen, cigarette smoke, and any other allergens.
Diet can also trigger an asthma attack. Raw and cold food may injure the Spleen and tend to contribute to the stagnation of fluid circulation and the increase in the production of phlegm. Heavy, sweet, and greasy food tend to create phlegm and heat in the body. Fish, crabs, shellfish and other seafood have also been noted to increase the likelihood of asthma attacks as well.
Congenital weakness and chronic illness are also common causes of asthma. Children with asthma generally have congenital Kidney Qi deficiency. On the other hand, chronic illness, such as patients with chronic cough and recurrent cold/flu, are likely to have Lung deficiency.
PATHOLOGY:
The fundamental cause of asthma is the presence of phlegm. In Oriental Medicine, the passage of water is controlled by three organs, namely Lung, Spleen and Kidney. Lung regulates the water passages in the upper jiao, the Spleen transports and transforms water in the middle jiao, and Kidney dominates water metabolism in the lower jiao. Imbalance of Yin and Yang in any of these three organs may lead to stagnation of the water circulation, which then contributes to the production and storage of phlegm in the Lung. Storage of phlegm in the Lung becomes the main cause for recurrent asthma attacks.
In addition to the phlegm, chronic asthma will lead to deficiency of Lung, Spleen and Kidney. Deficiency of the Lung creates an inability of the Lung to inhale the air, and deficiency of the Kidney creates an inability of the Kidney to receive or grasp air. This will be complicated further if the Spleen is also deficient and there is an excess amount of phlegm that obstruct the airway. Overall, the condition becomes more and more complicated as the underlying syndrome represents a "deficient" condition and the symptoms an "excess" condition.
ASTHMA ATTACK:
Asthma attack is considered as the acute or excess phase of the illness where urgency of treating the symptoms may outweigh that of the cause. Treatment principles during asthma attacks should focus on lowering the uprising Lung Qi, relieving wheezing (bronchial spasms) and dyspnea, and dissolving the phlegm. Herbal treatment of asthma attack is quite effective. However, severe asthma patients who have been on long-term steroids treatment may not respond as quickly or as effectively to herbal treatment.
1. Asthma Due to Cold
When cold initially attacks the Lung, the normal activity of the Lung to dominate Qi and control respiration will be disturbed. The pathogenic cold factor has a tendency to constrict the bronchi leaving the patient feeling congested in the chest. Patients will show hyperventilation, shortness of breath, tachypnea, tightness and a suffocating feeling of the chest. The Lung will be also lose its function to regulate the water passages and as a result, the formation of phlegm. Clinically, the phlegm is manifested as audible wheezing in the throat, high-pitched rhonchi, thin, white foamy sputum or tenacious, white sputum that is difficult to expectorate; amount can vary from scanty to profuse. Chills, intolerance to cold (cold temperature, cold food, drinks), absence of perspiration, headache, body aches and pain, grayish, and cyanotic complexion are general signs and symptoms of cold attacking the body. Tongue coating is usually white and greasy. The pulse is wiry and tight.
2. Asthma Due to Heat
When heat attacks the Lung, the Lung will no longer be able to dominate Qi and control respiration. Patients generally experience a choking sensation, coughing spells and intercostal distention. Patients will also have phlegm as characterized by wheezing, crackling or moist rales, roaring sound in the throat from copious sputum that is thick and difficult to expectorate. Sputum is usually yellow but may be white in some cases where heat is not as prominent. It is common for patients to raise their shoulders to help breathing. Fever, irritability, perspiration, headache, thirst with desire to drink, flushed face, possible fever with aversion to cold are some of the symptoms of asthma due to heat . The tongue is red with yellow greasy coating. The pulse is superficial rapid or wiry.
3. Asthma Due to Deficiency
It is very common for patients who have recurrent asthma attacks to have Kidney deficiency. When under attack, such patients are said to have "upper excess with lower deficiency." "Upper excess" refers to phlegm stagnation in the Lung and is characterizes by recurrent or continuous wheezing (worsens after exertion), labored inhalation and smooth exhalation, snoring sound in the throat, low-pitched rhonchi, audible wheezes, shortness of breath, a frail cough with scanty, thin, or frothy sputum, and a dry throat. "Lower deficiency refers to Kidney Qi or Yang deficiency and is characterized by difficult inhalation as Kidney cannot grasp and hold the air down. In addition, the patients may also have deficiencies of the Lung and the Spleen. Deficiency of the Lung is characterized by aversion to wind and spontaneous sweating while deficiency of the Spleen is characterized by increased production of phlegm and sputum. Patients may have red cheeks, red tongue with scanty coat. Pulse is thready and rapid.
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