Labored breathing according to Chinese Medicine
The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
dyspnoea and rapid breath redirect here
Labored breathing can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like labored breathing here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here labored breathing is often associated with shortness of breath on exertion, weak breath and chronic cough in the pattern “/tcm-education-center/patterns/kidneys-failing-to-receive-qi”. As you will see below, we have in record three patterns that can cause labored breathing.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of labored breathing we’ve identified five herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat labored breathing.
The three "patterns of disharmony" that can cause labored breathing
In Chinese Medicine labored breathing is a symptom for 3 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
The Kidneys is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine
Kidneys failing to receive Qi
Pulse type(s): Deep (Chen), Tight (Jin), Weak (Ruo)
In addition to labored breathing, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/kidneys-failing-to-receive-qi include shortness of breath on exertion, weak breath and chronic cough.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/kidneys-failing-to-receive-qi is often treated with You Gui Wan, a herbal formula made of 10 herbs (including Prepared Aconite - Zhi Fu Zi - as a key herb). You Gui Wan belongs to the category of "formulas that warm yang and tonify", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang".
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Pericardium Fire
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Full (Shi)
In addition to labored breathing, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/pericardium-fire include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/pericardium-fire is often treated with Xie Xin Tang, a herbal formula made of 3 herbs (including Rhubarb - Da Huang - as a key herb). Xie Xin Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that clear heat and resolve toxicity", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Drains Fire".
The Pericardium is a so-called "Zang" Organ. Learn more about the Pericardium in Chinese Medicine
Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium
Pulse type(s): Overflowing (Hong), Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian), Full (Shi)
In addition to labored breathing, other symptoms associated with /tcm-education-center/patterns/phlegm-fire-harassing-the-pericardium include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
/tcm-education-center/patterns/phlegm-fire-harassing-the-pericardium is often treated with Wen Dan Tang, a herbal formula made of 8 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Wen Dan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Phlegm".
Five herbal formulas that might help with labored breathing
You Gui Wan
Source date: 1624 AD
Number of ingredients: 10 herbs
Key actions: Warms and tonifies Kidney Yang. Replenishes the Essence. Tonifies the Blood.
Why might You Gui Wan help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/kidneys-failing-to-receive-qi' of which difficulty in inhaling is a symptom.
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang
Source date: 650 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Directs rebellious Qi downward. Arrests wheezing. Stops coughing. Warms and transforms Phlegm-Cold.
Why might Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/kidneys-failing-to-receive-qi' of which difficulty in inhaling is a symptom.
Xie Xin Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 3 herbs
Key actions: Drains Fire. Resolves Toxicity. Dries Dampness.
Why might Xie Xin Tang help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/pericardium-fire' of which rapid breath is a symptom.
Zi Xue Dan
Source date: 752 AD
Number of ingredients: 17 herbs
Key actions: Clears Heat. Opens the sensory orifices. Controls spasms and convulsions. Extinguishes Wind.
Why might Zi Xue Dan help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/pericardium-fire' of which rapid breath is a symptom.
Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder. Regulates Qi. Harmonizes the Stomach.
Why might Wen Dan Tang help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern '/tcm-education-center/patterns/phlegm-fire-harassing-the-pericardium' of which rapid breath is a symptom.
Acupuncture points used for labored breathing
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat labored breathing
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with labored breathing?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Ping Wei San for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung, the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Poria-Cocos Mushroom (Fu Ling) help with labored breathing?
Because Poria-Cocos Mushroom is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Wu Pi Yin or Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Kidney, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Encourages urination and drains Dampness. Tonic to the Spleen/Stomach. Assists the Heart and calms the Spirit.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with labored breathing?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Wen Dan Tang or Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Why might Atractylodes Rhizome (Bai Zhu) help with labored breathing?
Because Atractylodes Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Zhen Wu Tang or Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang for instance.
Atractylodes Rhizomes is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Stomach.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Fortifies the Spleen Yang and dispels Damp through urination. Tonifies Qi and stops sweating. Calms restless fetus when due to Deficiency of Spleen Qi.
Why might Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi) help with labored breathing?
Because Cinnamon Twig is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Ling Gui Zhu Gan Tang or Shen Qi Wan for instance.
Cinnamon Twigs is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Heart, the Lung and the Spleen.
Its main actions are: Adjusts the nutritive Ying and defensive Wei Qi. Relieves the Exterior through sweating. Warms and disperses Cold. Removes obstruction of Yang. Promotes the circulation of Yang Qi in the chest. Regulates and moves blood.
Other symptoms often associated with labored breathing
Red face Shortness of breath on exertion Weak breath Chronic cough Asthma Spontaneous sweating Cold limbs Swelling of the face Listlessness Lower back pain