Asthma is a common disease characterized by prolonged attacks of shortness of breath, with wheezing, and difficulty lying down during attacks.
There are 2 types of asthma in TCM.
- Asthma with sound
- Asthma without sound
The first is characterized by breathing with a wheezing sound from the throat. Silent asthma is characterized by rapid shallow breathing with an open mouth and raised shoulders (in most cases).
Both types can occur simultaneously and be inseparable. The causes of the disease are largely the same.
Cause
There are many factors that cause asthma.
Exogenous pathogenic wind, cold invading the lung and making the lung poor at dispersing Qi.
Incorrect diet can damage the spleen's transforming and transporting function, which will later lead to the accumulation of dampness that will later transform into phlegm. Long-term dampness can turn into heat. Internal accumulation of dampness-heat will mean blockage of Qi passage.
Asthma can also arise from a deterioration of lung Qi with prolonged illness and chronic cough.
Internal damage to kidney essence and deficiency of kidney Qi due to overexertion or after sexual activity means that the kidney cannot receive Qi and can cause asthmatic attacks.
Differences (explanation)
1. Asthma attacks
- Persistent cold in the lung.
Symptoms – Severe respiration, coughing with short breaths and wheezing sound from the throat, thin white sputum, cold limbs, no sweating. Grayish complexion. White or white greasy tongue coating. Superficial greasy pulse. This type of asthma can cause headache and general pain. - Phlegm, heat retention in the lung.
Symptoms: Weak breathing together with loud respiratory sound. Fever, red face, thick yellow sputum that is difficult to cough up, oppressive chest sensation. Thirst with a craving for cold drinks. Scanty urine and constipation. Yellow greasy tongue coating. Rapid greasy, smooth pulse.
2. Asthma in the declining phase
- Weak Qi in spleen and lung.
Symptoms – strange speech, short breath, cough, sweating on exertion, pale complexion, poor appetite, swelling of face and limbs, pale tongue with a white coating and quiet weak pulse. - Weakness in spleen and kidney.
Symptoms – coughing and wheezing that worsens with exertion, evident by open mouth and raised shoulders, exhaustion, weakness and pain in the lumbar region and knees, dizziness with tinnitus, night sweats, cold limbs, dark complexion, pale tongue and deep weak pulse.
Treatment.
(1) Persistent cold in the lung.
Disperse pathogenic cold from the lung, eliminate phlegm and relieve asthma, by using points from the lung meridian and bladder meridian.
Lieque (lu7) Feishu (bl13)
Fengmen (bl12) Renying (st9)
Dingchuan(ex1)
Explanation: Lu7 luo point can disperse lung Qi and remove superficial cold from the body's surface. Bl. 12 and bl.13 are local points that clear the lung and remove pathogenic cold. St.9 and ex.1 to eliminate phlegm and stop asthma.
The treatment lasts 20 minutes, needles are manipulated 2-3 times. It is very effective to use moxa on bl.12 and bl.13 for 10-15 minutes.
(2) Phlegm – heat retention in the lung.
Remove heat from the lung, eliminate phlegm, and aid the circulation of Qi. Especially the lung meridian is important.
- chize (lu5) kongzui (lu6)
- dazhui (du14) Fenglong(st40)
- Danzhong(rn17)Hegu (li4)
Explanation: Lu5, He-sea point as well as the water point of the lung meridian are used together with lu6 xi-cleft point to induce dispersion in the lung, to remove pathogenic heat. St.40 luo point is used together with rn17 influential point for Qi to eliminate phlegm and strengthen the circulation of Qi. Use bl13 and lu1 for severe asthma.
The treatment lasts 20 minutes, needles are manipulated 2-3 times.
2. Asthma in the declining phase.
(1) Weak Qi in spleen and lung. Strengthen spleen Qi to strengthen the lung, by using points from the spleen meridian, stomach meridian, lung and bladder meridian.
- Taiyuan (lu9) Feishu (bl13)
- Zusanli (st36) Taibai (sp 3)
- Gaohuangshu(bl43)
Explanation: Lu9 yuan source and earth point together with bl13 will strengthen lung Qi. St36 earth point and sp3 yuan source point. According to the 5 elements, the lung belongs to metal and the spleen and stomach belong to earth. Earth can strengthen metal, the mother strengthens the son. Therefore, both points from the spleen and stomach are used to strengthen metal as much as possible. Bl43 is effective in treating weak cough and asthma.
The treatment lasts 20-30 minutes, needles are manipulated 2-3 times. Moxa on bl13 and bl43 10-15 minutes.
(2) Weakness in lung and kidney.
Strengthen Qi in lung and kidney and stop asthma with points from kidney, bladder and ren.
Taixi (ki3) Shenshu (bl23) Feishu(bl13)
Danzhong (rn17) Guanyuan (rn4)
Explanation: ki 3 yuan source point and bl23 are good for strengthening the energy in the kidney. Rn17 influential point of Qi together with bl13 strengthens Qi and stops asthma. Rn4 regulates Qi passage of Sanjiao and restores Qi in the body. Use Neiguan pc6 for palpitations and asthma with deficient heart Qi. Strengthens the heart and stops asthma.
The treatment lasts 20-30 minutes. Use moxa on bl23, bl13, ren4 for 10-15 minutes.
Midsummer moxa therapy.
Moxibustion treatment:
Feishu (bl13) Gaohuangshu (bl43)
Pishu (bl20) Shenshu (bl23)
Explanation: make small grains of moxa. Place it on a little ginger on the points. 3-4 grains of moxa on each point. Heat until the skin turns red, blisters must not form. The treatment is performed daily throughout the summer until autumn begins.
