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. The main TCM therapeutic approaches for asthma include: dispelling wind-cold, dispersing lung qi and relieving wheezing, clearing heat and dispersing lung congestion, 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 activities. Numerous treatment options exist for asthma, with medications being the most commonly used approach. Increasingly, people are turning to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for asthma management. So, how is asthma treated in TCM?
TCM Treatment of 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 syndrome differentiation and treatment strategies accordingly. “Lung-focused treatment” refers to interventions during active disease episodes, customized based on the patient’s specific acute presentation. 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 transforming phlegm. Herbal therapy demonstrates excellent efficacy in asthma treatment—not only alleviating symptoms but also fundamentally improving the patient’s constitution and modifying the internal environment that predisposes to disease recurrence. 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 may become irritated in some patients, triggering health complications. Moreover, exposure to secondhand smoke also poses health risks. Passive smoking can provoke coughing, sputum production, and other asthma-related symptoms, thereby worsening asthma control. Therefore, to prevent asthma onset or exacerbation, 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, carrots, and cabbage. Calcium-rich foods may further enhance the airway’s resistance to allergic reactions. We hope this information proves helpful to you.
