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Treating Asthma with TCM
Asthma is the pulmonary disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction, airway inflammation or increased airway responsiveness to allergens. Although many asthmatics suffer throughout the year, symptoms become more acute in fall and spring. This is because most asthma attacks are caused by an IgE-mediated Type I allergic reaction, which mainly arises in these seasons. In five phase theory, the fall season is associated with the metal element, and metal is associated with the Lung organ. Since the Lung is the main organ involved with the pathological process of asthma, it is easy to see why the season associated with the Lung would be a time when the condition is exacerbated. Spring is associated with the Wood element, which in turn is associated with the Liver organ. Wood is controlled by metal, and in spring when Wood is in abundance, it may go against the controlling cycle and disrupt Lung functions. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Lung is the yin organ that governs qi. The Lung takes in and downbears clear natural qi and expels turbid qi. Lung also governs the skin and is closely associated with defensive qi. External pathogenic factors enter the body through the skin and affect the Lung first. The causes of asthma in TCM can be divided into two categories: excess and deficient patterns. Excess patterns include external invasion of wind-cold and internal accumulation of phlegm heat in the Lung, while deficient patterns include Lung and Kidney deficiency unable to grasp qi. In asthma due to invasion of wind-cold, the main symptoms include coughing with thin white sputum and rapid, labored breathing. The wind-cold pathogen obstructs the flow of Lung qi and makes the Lung unable to disperse and descend qi. The acupuncture points often prescribed are Lu7 (Lie Que), Lu5 (Chi Ze) on the Lung channel, UB12 (Feng Men), UB13 (Fei Shu) on the Urinary Bladder channel and extra point Ding Chuan. Ma Huang Tang/Ephedra Decoction is one of the common formulas used in this pattern. Points or herbs may be added or taken out of the prescription according to individual presentation. In asthma due to phlegm heat, a product of Spleen deficiency, the main symptoms include short and rapid breathing, wheezing, and coughing with thick yellow sputum. When Spleen deficiency causes dampness eventually turns into phlegm and heat. The phlegm in the Lung will gradually stagnate the qi impeding the flow of Lung qi, resulting in asthma. The treatment principle for this pattern is to first dispel phlegm and clear heat, following up with a Spleen tonifying formula Chronic types of asthma involve deficient patterns, including Lung and Kidney deficiency. The Lung is the organ that takes qi in and directs it down, giving it a descending function. Kidney, on the other hand, has a grasping effect on the qi once it is in the body. Both organs must function properly in order for the clear qi to circulate through the body. When Lung qi is weak, there will be short and rapid breathing, feeble voice and weak cough. When Kidney qi is deficient, some of the signs include dyspnea upon exertion, server wheezing, short breath, lassitude and weakness and cold limbs. Points often described are UB23 (Shen Shu) on the Urinary Bladder channel, Kid3 (Tai Xi) on the Kidney channel, UB13 (Fei Shu) on the Urinary Bladder channel, Ren 17 (Tan Zhong), Ren 6 (Qi Hai) on conception vessel, and Ding Chuan. The typical formula for this pattern is Jin Gui Shen Qi Wan. Acupuncture is free of the side effects associated with asthma medications, and often results in few attacks. The Word Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health both recognize the use of acupuncture in the treatment of respiratory disorders including asthma. For more information on the treatment of asthma with TCM, please contact Pacific Professional Health Services in New York at (212) 982-4600, or the Pacific College Clinic in San Diego at (619) 574-6932.
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