Asthma is respiratory disorder related to immune-system issues. Breathing passages become narrow or blocked and are often inflamed. Asthma can be triggered by external causes, such as due to pollens or by internal causes, such as due to stress or physical exertion. Moreover, asthma is a condition that must be treated even when the patient is not currently having an acute attack.
Asthma in Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medicine differentiates between an actual asthma attack and the period in between. During an attack, the patient is in an excess condition. In theory, the element wind has lodged itself in the bronchi and has combined with the elements cold or heat to cause bronchospasms.
When the patient is between attacks, his body is in a deficient condition. Together, lungs and kidneys produce "wei qi," or defensive chi. Consider this life energy analogous to the immune system. Defensive chi is a yang energy, created in the digestion process. While the kidneys are key in producing defensive chi, the lungs spread this chi throughout the body to ward off pathogenic elements like wind, cold and heat. If the lungs and/or kidneys are weak, it is said the patient suffers from a deficiency of defensive chi, making him vulnerable to colds, infections and asthma attacks.
Acupuncture
In traditional Chinese medicine, asthma (including acute cases) is usually treated with acupuncture. The treatment is designed to provide immediate relief by opening up blocked passages. Bronchospasms are the result of over-stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system. As such, the traditional acupuncture points for "calming the spirit" are used. When the needles stimulate these points, patients can feel relief of both physical and emotional stress. This effect is possibly due to the release of neurotransmitters in the brain. The end result is that patients have a physical release from bronchial constriction as well as emotional and/or psychological releases brought on by the fear of suffocation, a common emotion in dealing with asthma attacks.
Herbal Remedies
Besides treating asthma with acupuncture, Chinese doctors will likely use herbal remedies. In Chinese medicine, asthma is characterized by its traits, the amount of mucus, its viscosity and color, the type of cough and if other symptoms are present, such as low back ache, weakness or if the condition is in conjunction with other disorders.
There are numerous Chinese herbal remedies for asthma. Most Chinese herbal remedies are actually blends of several herbs in capsule form. You can even customize your herbal remedy by answering a questionnaire at www.herbchina2000.com and have a specialized remedy made just for you. Or you can find pre-existing remedies, choosing the one that best fits the symptoms you have. At www.drshen.com asthma is categorized as being one of 4 types of asthma with different herbal remedies recommended. Or at www.agelessherbs.com you can find White Tiger Return Formula which is designed to strengthen lungs.
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