Asthma in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different asthma patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition characterized by inflammation and narrowing of the airways, leading to difficulty breathing. It is marked by recurring episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, particularly at night or early in the morning. Triggers for asthma attacks can include allergens, respiratory infections, physical activity, cold air, and stress. Effective management of asthma involves identifying and avoiding triggers, as well as using medications to control symptoms and prevent flare-ups.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), asthma is seen as a manifestation of underlying patterns of disharmony within the body. TCM practitioners believe that imbalances in Qi, Phlegm accumulation, and Deficiencies in organ functions contribute to the development of asthma symptoms.
Unlike Western medicine, which often focuses on treating the symptoms, TCM aims to address the root causes by identifying the specific pattern of disharmony. This holistic approach ensures that treatment is tailored to the individual, leading to more effective management of the condition.
TCM Patterns for Asthma
Phlegm
Causes: Asthma
Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Pale face, Sputum, Stifling sensation in the chest, Shortness of breath, Discomfort when lying down, Wheezing, Nausea, Feeling of heaviness, Dizziness, Profuse white sputum, Chest distension
Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Edema, Stifling sensation in the chest, Dizziness, Profuse white sputum
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat, Thirst, Head and body heaviness, Dizziness, Copious thick yellow sputum
Yang Deficiency
Causes: Asthma
Kidney Yang Deficiency
Asthma
Along with: Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills, Weak legs, Bright pale face, Generalized fatigue, General weakness, Leg edema, Female infertility, Diarrhea, Depression, Erectile dysfunction, Premature ejaculation, Oligospermia, Low sex drive, Pale and abudant urination, Constipation
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Asthma
Along with: Edema of the lower extremities, Cold sensation in legs and back, Abdominal distention, Lumbar pain, Chills, Scanty clear urination, Palpitations, Shortness of breath, Cold hands, White and watery sputum, Coughing
Qi Rebellion
Causes: Asthma
Rebellious Lung Qi
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Nausea, Vomit, Dizziness, Headaches, Loss of consciousness
Rebellious Qi
Asthma
Along with: Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing
Dampness
Causes: Asthma
Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Pale face, Sputum, Stifling sensation in the chest, Shortness of breath, Discomfort when lying down, Wheezing, Nausea, Feeling of heaviness, Dizziness, Profuse white sputum, Chest distension
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
Asthma
Along with: Edema of the lower extremities, Cold sensation in legs and back, Abdominal distention, Lumbar pain, Chills, Scanty clear urination, Palpitations, Shortness of breath, Cold hands, White and watery sputum, Coughing
Heat
Causes: Asthma
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
Asthma
Along with: Shortness of breath, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness, Flushed face, Thirst, Bitter taste in the mouth, Eye hyperemia, Scanty and dark urine, Constipation
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
Asthma
Along with: Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat, Thirst, Head and body heaviness, Dizziness, Copious thick yellow sputum
Herbal Formulas for Asthma
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address asthma
Er Chen Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm
- Regulates Qi and harmonizes the Middle Burner (Stomach and Spleen)
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Pale face, Sputum, Stifling sensation in the chest, Shortness of breath, Discomfort when lying down...
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Wu Ling San
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Promotes urination,
- Warms the Yang
- Strengthens the Spleen
- Promotes Qi transformation function
- Drains Dampness
- Clears edema
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Edema of the lower extremities, Cold sensation in legs and back, Abdominal distention, Lumbar pain, Chills, Scanty clear urination...
Ren Shen Ge Jie San
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Qi
- Augments the Kidneys
- Stops coughing
- Arrests wheezing
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Ji Sheng Shen Qi Wan
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies the Kidneys
- Warms Yang
- Promotes water transformation
- Reduces water retention
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency with Water overflowing
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Edema of the lower extremities, Cold sensation in legs and back, Abdominal distention, Lumbar pain, Chills, Scanty clear urination...
Wen Dan Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Phlegm
- Clears Gallbladder
- Regulates Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Transforms Phlegm
- Directs Rebellious Qi downwards
- Stops coughing
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Lung Qi
- Clears Heat
- Calms wheezing by directing rebellious Qi downward
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Qing Xin Li Ge Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Toxic-Heat
- Unblocks the stool
- Benefits the throat
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Pi Pa Qing Fei Yin
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Lung Heat
- Cools the Blood
- Clears Dampness
- Invigorates the Blood
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Shortness of breath, Wheezing, Stifling sensation in the chest, Sputum, Feeling of heat...
Ba Wei Di Huang Wan
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Yang
- Warms the Kidneys and lower extremities
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Kidney Yang Deficiency
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Lower back pain, Dizziness, Tinnitus, Weak and cold knees, Lower back coldness, Chills...
Jin Fei Cao San
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Wind-Cold
- Descends Lung Qi
- Transform Phlegm
- Stop cough and calms wheezing
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Lung Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Nausea, Vomit, Dizziness, Headaches, Loss of consciousness
Long Dan Xie Gan Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat and Fire from the Liver and Gallbladder
- Clears and drains Damp-Heat from the Lower Burner
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Shortness of breath, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness, Flushed face...
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Releases the Exterior
- Transforms Phlegm-Fluids
- Warms the Lungs
- Directs Rebellious Qi downward
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Edema, Stifling sensation in the chest, Dizziness, Profuse white sputum
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Arrests wheezing
- Stops coughing
- Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Lung Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Nausea, Vomit, Dizziness, Headaches, Loss of consciousness
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing
Ke Xie Fang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Fire
- Transforms Phlegm
- Preserves the Lungs
- Stops coughing and bleeding
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Liver Fire insulting the Lungs
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Shortness of breath, Hypochondriac pain and discomfort, Cough with yellow or blood tinged sputum, Headaches, Dizziness, Flushed face...
Ling Gan Wu Wei Jiang Xin Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Warms the Lungs
- Transforms congested Fluids
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Phlegm-Fluids above the diaphragm
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Coughing, Edema, Stifling sensation in the chest, Dizziness, Profuse white sputum
Xuan Fu Dai Zhe Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Regulates the downward flow of Stomach Qi
- Expectorant, treats hiccups
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing
Ju Pi Zhu Ru Tang
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Directs rebellious Qi downward
- Stops hiccup
- Augments Qi
- Clears heat
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood
- Alleviates pain
- Harmonizes Blood
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing
Si Ni San
Addresses these asthma patterns:
Main Actions
- Regulates Liver and Spleen
- Eliminates Internal Heat
Addresses These Asthma Pattern Variations
Rebellious Qi
How it manifests:
Asthma
Accompanying symptoms:
Hiccups, Belching, Nausea, Vomit, Coughing