Asthma and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Asthma is a pulmonary disorder characterized by wheezing and dyspnea due to obstruction and inflammation of the airways, especially prevalent in children. It may be triggered by allergy, exertion, irritant particles, weather changes, psychological stress, etc. Asthma affects approximately 15 million Americans and in the past two decades the number has risen over 50%. Conventional asthma therapy is directed toward reducing inflammation and attenuating bronchial hyper-reactivity. Unfortunately, many current conventional therapies achieve only a qualified success in asthma control. The lack of success and the possible side effects of the conventional asthma drugs, especially the corticosteroids, has resulted in increasing numbers of patients turning to "alternative" or "complementary" medicine as part of their healthcare. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture, an ancient medical system that has been used to treat disease in China for approximately 2500 years, has attracted considerable attention. National Institute of Health in a consensus statement derived from a 1997 consensus conference to assess acupuncture has indicated that acupuncture was useful in pain control and maybe a useful adjunct treatment for the management of asthma. In this article, I will discuss the philosophy and procedures of asthma management with Chinese medicine.

Chinese Herbal Medicine

According to traditional Chinese medicine, disease is caused by the imbalance of Yin-Yang energy in the body. The goal of Chinese medicine is to identify the root problem, balance the energy and then restore the self-healing ability. Chinese organ systems that are directly related to asthma include the Lung, Spleen and Kidney. There are many factors that may cause imbalance of these organs and trigger asthma attack. Examples include the invasion of the external pathogenic factors, diet, emotional disturbances, congenital weakness and chronic illness. The fundamental cause of asthma is the presence of excess heat (Yang) and/or mucus in the Lung system, which block the Qi flow in the Lung and cause asthma attack. The Heat in the Lung could be a result from either the Yin energy deficiency or the excess Yang energy caused by the invasion of the external pathogenic factors. The mucus is usually a by-product from the malfunctioning of the water metabolism, which is regulated by the Lung, Spleen and Kidney. Common treatment strategies for asthma usually focus on clearing the heat, dissolving the mucus and lowering the uprising Lung Qi as well as solving the root problem, which is the imbalance of the Yin-Yang energy in the body. Elder asthma patients always show deficiency in the Spleen and Kidney. Children with asthma generally have congenital Kidney Qi deficiency. Chronic illness, such as patients with chronic cough and recurrent cold/flu, are likely to have Lung deficiency.

A whole body evaluation for asthma patient with Chinese medical theory is the key to identify the imbalance of the body. Herbal formula is prescribed and prepared specifically for that patient. Chinese herbs are usually used in a formula, not single herb, to strengthen the efficacy of the herbs and reduce side effects. The best way to take the herbs is to drink the liquid form (herbal tea) but sometimes capsules or tablets are also used for chronic conditions. Chinese herbal medicine is a natural way to rebalance your body and can be used for both acute and chronic asthma. The long-term benefits of using Chinese herbs include alleviating asthma symptoms, reducing conventional drug usage as well as preventing asthma from happening.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an integral part of an old philosophy of medicine that is known as traditional Chinese medicine. The energy that is held to flow throughout the body or "Qi" provides the human body with life and vitality. The goal of acupuncture, along with other adjunct medical therapies, is to modulate the pathways where the Qi passes through in such a way as to stimulate, when there is a deficiency, or reduce, when excess energy or blockage is present. Asthma is usually caused by the blockage and abnormal rising of the Lung Qi. Thus acupuncture is commonly used to control asthma by smoothing the Qi flow and balancing the organ systems.

Clinical studies have showed promising results in asthma management with acupuncture. Dr. Yan (Yan 1998) from China treated 14 cases of child bronchial asthma with ear acupuncture (auriculotherapy). Of the 14 cases, 9 were male and 5 female, ranging in age from 3 to 15.5 years. She used an electric auricular instrument to detect the sensitive auricular points from the children and gave them non-invasive electric stimulation. Then a 0.6x0.6cm adhesive plaster with Vaccaria segetalis seed or magnetic bead was taped accurately at each of the positive reaction points. The patients or their parents were asked to press the auricular points 4-6 times each day, 3-5 min each time until heat, distension and pain sensation was felt. Body acupuncture was also performed with a non-invasive electric device. The children were treated with acupuncture therapies every 3-5 days for 10 sessions. Of the 14 cases, 8 cases (57.2%) were markedly effective (symptoms and signs disappeared, with no recurrence in over one year); 4 cases (28.5%) were effective (symptoms and signs disappeared for over 6 months, or with occasional mild cough and asthma in the season liable to inducing asthma); and 2 cases (14.3) were ineffective (asthma recurrent 3-5 times within 3 months and hormones were needed). The total effective rate was 85.7%.

Dr. Hu of China reported treating 25 cases of hormone dependent bronchial asthma with classical acupuncture (Hu 1998). His work was done in Germany during 1995 and 1996. Of the 25 patients, the ratio between male and female was 4:6, with the age ranging from 5 to 70 years. The patients took hormone by mouth and/or inspired its aerosol, with dose ranging from 4 to 16 mg per day. Based on the evaluation with Chinese medicine, each patient was given on an average of 30 sessions of classical acupuncture needling. He observed that the asthmatic symptoms in most of the patients began to be improved after several sessions with the dosage of the drug gradually reduced. Generally, the dose of cortisone was decreased by 2 mg every 10 days. Of the 25 cases, a markedly effective rate of 56% (no longer needs hormone or its aerosol, symptoms disappear) and an improved rate of 40% (drug dose reduced, symptoms improved) were observed. The total effective rate was 96%.

Generally speaking, acupuncture and Chinese herbs are safe and effective therapies towards mild and moderate asthma, especially child asthma. Good therapeutic results can also be expected for those cases that have already been treated with hormones.

Reference:

Yan, S. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 18(3): 202-4, 1998

Hu, J. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine 18(1): 27-30, 1998