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.
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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 in the pattern “Oedema”. As you will see below, we have in record four 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 four 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 four "patterns of disharmony" that can cause labored breathing
In Chinese Medicine labored breathing is a symptom for 4 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Water Plantain (Ze Xie) is the king ingredient for Wu Ling San, a formula used for Oedema
Oedema
Pulse type(s): Slowed-down (Huan), Hidden (Fu)
Tongue coating: Thick white coating
Oedema manifests itself as swellings due to the retention of Body Fluids. Chinese Medicine believes that it originates from the leaking of Body Fluids from their normal pathways into the space between skin and muscles.
Oedema is often treated with Wu Ling San, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Water Plantain - Ze Xie - as a key herb). Wu Ling San belongs to the category of "formulas that promote urination and leach out dampness", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Promotes urination,".
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 Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
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 Hot-Phlegm".
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 Pericardium Fire include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
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".
Ginkgo Nuts (Bai Guo) is the king ingredient for Ding Chuan Tang, a formula used for Wind-Cold invading the Interior with Phelgm-Heat
Wind-Cold invading the Interior with Phelgm-Heat
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Slippery (Hua)
Tongue coating: Yellow coating
Wind-Cold invading the Interior with Phelgm-Heat is often treated with Ding Chuan Tang, a herbal formula made of 9 herbs (including Ginkgo Nuts - Bai Guo - as a key herb). Ding Chuan Tang belongs to the category of "formulas for a rebellious qi", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Lung Heat".
Read more about Wind-Cold invading the Interior with Phelgm-Heat here
Four herbal formulas that might help with labored breathing
Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang
Source date: 220 AD
Number of ingredients: 6 herbs
Key actions: Diuretic, clears Excess fluid and removes edema. Tonifies the Spleen Qi. Calms External Wind.
Why might Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Oedema' of which labored breathing is a symptom.
Ding Chuan Tang
Source date: 1550 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Clears Lung Heat. Expectorant for asthma.
Why might Ding Chuan Tang help with labored breathing?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Wind-Cold invading the Interior with Phelgm-Heat' of which labored breathing is a symptom.
Wen Dan Tang
Source date: 1174 AD
Number of ingredients: 8 herbs
Key actions: Clears Hot-Phlegm. Clears Gallbladder heat. 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 'Phlegm Fire harassing the Pericardium' of which labored breathing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Phlegm Fire Harassing The Pericardium include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
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 'Pericardium Fire' of which labored breathing is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Pericardium Fire include red face, palpitations and bitter taste in the mouth.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat labored breathing
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 Wu Ling San for instance.
Poria-Cocos Mushrooms is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart, the Kidney and the Lung.
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 Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Lung.
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 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 Ding Chuan Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
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 Goldthread Rhizome (Huang Lian) help with labored breathing?
Because Goldthread Rhizome is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat labored breathing as a symptom, like Xie Xin Tang or Huang Lian Wen Dan Tang for instance.
Goldthread Rhizomes is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart, the Large intestine and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Expels Damp-Heat especially in the Lower Burner. Eliminates Fire toxicity especially when there is associated Dampness. Acts as a sedative by eliminating Heart Fire. Eliminates Stomach Fire. Expel parasites
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 Fang Ji Huang Qi Tang or Wu Ling San 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.
Other symptoms often associated with labored breathing
Red face Palpitations Bitter taste in the mouth Insomnia Anxiety Dream disturbed sleep Mild chest pain Stifling sensation in the chest Mouth ulcers Tongue ulcers