Asthma
Asthma is a common illness characterized by repeated attacks of
paroxysmal dyspnea with wheezing. Generally speaking, it involves a
variety of disorders resulting from disturbance of qi activities,
and can be divided into two types: deficiency and excess.
Etiology and Pathogenesis
The causative factors are varied from the exogenous pathogenic
factors to weakened body resistance. Asthma due to exogenous
pathogenic factors is of excess type, and that due to weakened body
resistance is of deficiency type. a )
Excess type:
Wind - cold type: It denotes asthma due to invasion of wind cold,
which impairs the smooth flow of the lung qi, injures the skin and
hair, and makes the pores closed. Since the lung and the superficial
defensive system are weakened, the lung qi fails to disperse and
descend, leading to cough.
Phlegm - heat type: It refers to asthma due to failure of the spleen
in transformation and transportation, resulting in production of
phlegm from the accumulated dampness. Long - standing retention of
phlegm turns into heat, or excessive fire of the lung evaporates the
fluids to phlegm. When the phlegm fire stays in the lung, the lung
qi is stagnated and the normal activity of the lung is impaired.
Failure of the lung qi in descending function results in asthma.
Deficiency type:
Lung deficiency: A prolonged and protracted cough can weaken and
injure the lung qi. Overstrain and internal injury can also bring
about deficiency of the lung qi. In either case, shortness of breath
and dyspnea may occur.
Kidney deficiency: Overwork and sexual indulgence can injure the
kidney. A severe or chronic disease weakens the body resistance and
damages the essential qi. Long - standing asthma also affects the
kidney. In any of the above cases, failure of the kidney in
receiving qi may give rise to asthma.
Excess type
Wind - cold type:
Main manifestations: Cough with thin sputum, rapid breathing,
accompanied by chills, fever, headache, and anhidrosis at the early
stage, absence of thirst, white tongue coating, superficial and
tense pulse.
Analysis: The lung is in charge of respiration and is associated
with the skin and hair, which are first attacked by wind cold in the
invasive procedure. If wind cold resides in the lung, stagnation of
qi and failure of the lung qi in dispersing result in cough with
thin sputum and rapid breathing. If wind cold still resides in the
superficial part of the body to make the pores close, there appear
chills, fever, headache and anhidrosis. Since the wind cold has not
transformed into heat yet, thirst is absent. White tongue coating,
superficial and tense pulse are the signs of wind cold staying in
the lung and the defensive system.
Treatment
Method: Points of the taiyin LU and yangming ST are selected as the
principal points. Reducing method is applied in combination with
moxibustion to eliminate wind cold and soothe asthma.
Prescription: [BL13 – BL12 – DU14 – LU7 – LI4].
Explanation: BL13 and BL12 are the points of taiyang BL and located
in the vicinity of the lung. They are able to clear the lung and
eliminate wind. DU14, LU7 and LI4 are in function to eliminate wind
and cold, clear the lung and soothe asthma.
Phlegm - heat type:
Main manifestations: Rapid and short breathing, strong and coarse
voice, cough with thick yellow sputum, sensation of chest
stuffiness, fever, restlessness, dryness of the mouth, thick yellow
or sticky coating, rolling and rapid pulse.
Analysis: Phlegm heat turned from dampness or long - standing phlegm
fire gathered in the lung blocks the air passage, causing impairment
of the lung qi, and thus presenting rapid and short breathing,
strong and coarse voice, and cough with thick yellow sputum. When
the phlegm stays in the lung, sensation of chest stuffiness appears.
Fever, restlessness and dryness of the mouth are due to the presence
of the fire heat. Thick yellow or sticky coating, rolling and rapid
pulse are the signs of the phlegm heat.
Treatment
Method: Points of taiyin LU and yangming ST are selected as the
principal points with reducing method applied to resolve phlegm,
reduce heat and soothe asthma.
Prescription: [BL13 – Dingchuan (Extra) – RN22 – LU5 – ST40].
Explanation: LU5, the he-sea point of taiyin LU is able to reduce
phlegm heat and soothe asthma. ST40, a point of yangming ST is able
to strengthen the spleen function and resolve phlegm. BL13 is
applied to clear the lung and regulate the flow of qi. RN22 is in
function to descend qi and resolve phlegm. Dingchuan (Extra) is an
empirical point to pacify breathing.
Deficiency type
Lung deficiency:
Main manifestations: Short and rapid breathing, feeble voice, weak
and low sound of coughing, sweating on exertion, pale tongue, pulse
of deficiency type
Analysis: The lung dominates qi. When there is deficiency of the
lung qi the function of the lung is impaired. There appear short and
rapid breathing, feeble voice, weak and low sound of coughing. When
the lung qi is weak, and the superficial defensive system is not
strong, even mild exertion will induce sweating. Pale tongue and
pulse of deficiency type are the signs of deficiency of the lung qi.
Treatment
Method: Points of the taiyin LU and yangming ST are selected as the
principal points with reinforcing method applied to strengthen the
lung qi. Moxibustion is also advisable.
Prescription: [BL13 – LU9 – ST36 – SP3].
Explanation: LU9, the yuan-primary point of taiyin LU, is able to
reinforce the lung qi. BL13 used in acupuncture and moxibustion, can
strengthen the lung qi. ST36 is the he-sea point of Yangming ST. SP3
is the yuan-primary point of taiyin SP. The lung pertains to metal
and the spleen to earth, which is able to promote metal. Reinforce
the mother in case of deficiency. ST36 and SP3 are selected here to
strengthen the lung through invigorating the spleen and stomach.
Kidney deficiency:
Main manifestations: Dyspnea on exertion after longstanding asthma,
severe wheezing, indrawing of the soft tissues of the neck, short
breath, lassitude and weakness, sweating, cold limbs, pale tongue,
deep and thready pulse.
Analysis: Long - standing asthma affects the kidney which is the
source of qi. The kidney in lowered functioning fails to receive qi,
and therefore dyspnea on exertion, severe wheezing and short breath
appear. When there is deficiency of the kidney qi in a chronic case,
emaciation and lassitude happen. Exhausted kidney yang may lead to
weakening of the superficial defensive yang, and hence sweating. If
the yang qi fails to warm up the body surface, cold limbs appear.
Pale tongue, deep and thready pulse are the signs of weakened kidney
yang.
Treatment
Method: Points of Shaoyin KI and Ren are selected as the principal
points with reinforcing method applied to strengthen the kidney
function in receiving qi. Moxibustion is also advisable.
Prescription: [KI3 – BL23 – BL13 – RN17 – RN6].
Supplementary points:
Explanation: KI3, the yuan-primary point of shaoyin KI, is able in
combination with BL23 to strengthen the primary qi of the kidney.
RN17, the qi point of the Eight Influential Points, and BL13, the
metameric LU shu point, are needled to reinforce qi and pacify
breathing. RN6, an important point to reinforce qi, is able to
regulate qi in the lower jiao, reinforce shaoyin KI, strengthen the
primary qi, invigorate yang and control essence. Puncture on these
points strengthens the kidney in receiving qi and pacify breathing.
Moxibustion on DU12 and BL43 may relieve chronic asthma, while
moxibustion on RN12 and BL20 may strengthen the function of the
spleen and reinforce qi.
This condition includes bronchial asthma, asthmatic bronchitis,
obstructive pulmonary emphysema and dyspnea present in some other
diseases. However, for symptomatic dyspnea, a combined treatment
should be taken into account.
