Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Asthma
Aug 24, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Guo Xiheng
Introduction
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatment of asthma is stage-specific, tailored to the different phases of the disease—such as the acute exacerbation phase or the remission phase—using distinct pattern differentiation and treatment strategies. “Lung-focused treatment” refers to therapeutic interventions administered during active disease episodes, customized according to the patient’s specific acute presentation. Key TCM treatment approaches for asthma include: dispelling wind-cold, dispersing lung Qi and relieving wheezing, clearing heat and dispersing lung pathogens, and resolving phlegm.
Many people suffer from asthma in daily life. When severe, it significantly impairs quality of life, hindering physical exercise and even minor physical activities. There are numerous treatment options for asthma, with pharmacotherapy being the most commonly used approach. Increasingly, people are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for asthma management. So, how does TCM treat asthma?
Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Asthma
TCM treatment of asthma is stage-specific, tailored according to the disease’s progression—for instance, distinguishing between the acute exacerbation phase and the remission phase—and applying different pattern differentiation and treatment strategies accordingly. “Lung-focused treatment” refers to interventions during active disease episodes, customized based on the patient’s specific presentation during acute attacks. Key therapeutic principles in TCM asthma management include: dispelling wind-cold, dispersing lung Qi and relieving wheezing, clearing heat and dispersing lung pathogens, resolving phlegm, calming wheezing, strengthening the spleen, and resolving phlegm. Herbal medicine demonstrates excellent efficacy in asthma treatment—not only alleviating symptoms but also fundamentally improving patients’ constitutional imbalances and modifying the internal environment that predisposes them to disease. TCM employs two primary approaches for asthma: internal treatment (e.g., oral herbal formulas) and external treatment (e.g., acupuncture, moxibustion, or topical applications).
Many individuals enjoy smoking; however, smoking is harmful to health. During smoking, respiratory mucosa can become irritated—triggering various health issues. Moreover, exposure to secondhand smoke also adversely affects health. Passive smoking may provoke coughing, sputum production, and other asthma-related symptoms, thereby worsening asthma control. Therefore, to prevent asthma onset or exacerbations, patients should minimize smoking frequency—or ideally, quit entirely.
It is recommended to regularly consume foods with lung-clearing and phlegm-resolving properties, such as vegetables and fruits—including carrots and cabbage. Calcium-rich foods may also enhance the respiratory tract’s resistance to allergens. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
