Bronchial Asthma
Bronchial asthma (asthma for short) is a chronic inflammatory airway disease involving multiple cells, including inflammatory cells in the airways and structural cells (such as eosinophils, mast cells, T lymphocytes, neutrophils, smooth muscle cells, and airway epithelial cells), as well as cellular components. This chronic inflammation causes airway hyperresponsiveness, typically with widespread, variable, reversible airflow limitation, and leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or coughing. Symptoms often occur or worsen at night and/or in the early morning. In many patients, symptoms resolve spontaneously or after treatment. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this condition falls under the category of “xiao bing” (wheezing disorder).
TCM Pattern Identification and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Wheezing sounds in the throat, a feeling of fullness and tightness in the chest, white sputum, a dull complexion, and sometimes chills, fever, and body aches. The tongue is pale with a white, slippery coating; the pulse is floating and tight.
In plain language:
- A “wheezing” or whistling sound in the throat
- A tight, full feeling in the chest
- Coughing up white sputum
- A dull or pale-looking complexion
- Possible chills or fever
- Body aches
- A relatively pale tongue with a white, slippery coating
- A relatively superficial, tense-feeling pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm the lungs and dispel cold, transform phlegm and regulate qi.
In plain language:
- Warm the lungs and disperse cold, with the aim of easing discomfort associated with exposure to cold, such as chills, nasal congestion, and coughing.
- Help loosen thick phlegm so it is easier to cough up; regulate the flow of qi downward to ease chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing.
|Related Products
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|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Roaring wheezes in the throat, labored breathing with forceful upward surges of breath, chest oppression and discomfort, bouts of choking cough, and thick, yellow sputum. The face may be flushed, with fever, irritability, and thirst. The tongue is red with a yellow, greasy coating; the pulse is slippery and rapid.
In plain language:
- A roaring wheezing sound in the throat
- Heavy breathing, with breath seeming to surge upward in bouts
- A tight, uncomfortable feeling in the chest
- Bouts of coughing that may cause choking
- Yellow, very thick sputum that is difficult to cough up
- A flushed face
- Fever, irritability, and thirst
- A relatively red tongue with a yellow, thick, greasy coating
- A relatively rapid, slippery-feeling pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat and diffuse the lungs, transform phlegm and direct rebellious qi downward.
In plain language:
- Clear heat and help open the lungs, with the aim of easing discomfort such as fever, sore throat, and chest tightness.
- Help loosen thick phlegm so it is easier to cough up, while directing qi downward to ease breathlessness and coughing associated with the sensation of breath surging upward.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Episodes come and go. During an episode, wheezing is audible in the throat; attacks recur, but between episodes the person may feel normal. Itching of the nose or throat, sneezing, and coughing often occur before an attack. The tongue is pale with a white coating; the pulse is floating and tight.
In plain language:
- Symptoms occur in episodes and may return to normal between episodes.
- A “wheezing” or whistling sound in the throat during an episode
- Episodes may recur
- Itching of the nose or throat, sneezing, and coughing often occur before an episode.
- A relatively pale tongue with a thin, white coating
- A relatively superficial, tense-feeling pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Disperse wind and diffuse the lungs, relieve spasm, direct qi downward, and ease wheezing.
In plain language:
- Disperse external “wind” and regulate lung qi, with the aim of easing nasal congestion, coughing, and throat discomfort.
- Relax airway spasms to ease bouts of tight coughing and chest tightness.
- Help qi flow downward to ease shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, supporting steadier breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Recurrent episodes, sometimes with persistent wheezing and difficulty breathing. Coughing is weak and the voice is low, with shortness of breath that worsens with activity. The lips and nail beds may appear bluish-purple. The tongue is dark purple; the pulse is weak.
In plain language:
- Symptoms recur; in severe cases, shortness of breath and wheezing may persist.
- Difficulty coughing up sputum, with a persistent feeling that the airways have not cleared
- A quiet voice and shortness of breath
- Symptoms become more noticeable or uncomfortable with activity.
- Bluish or dark discoloration of the lips and nails
- A dark purple tongue
- A weak pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Warm yang and support deficiency, direct qi downward and transform phlegm.
In plain language:
- Warm and support the body’s yang, and replenish strength, with the aim of easing signs of weakness such as feeling cold and fatigue.
- Help qi flow downward and loosen thick phlegm so it is easier to cough up, with the aim of easing coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Habitual spontaneous sweating and sensitivity to wind, with frequent colds. Episodes are often triggered by changes in the weather. There may also be fatigue, weakness, poor appetite, and loose stools, with episodes often triggered by dietary indiscretion. Frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose may occur before an episode. The tongue coating is thin and white; the pulse is soggy.
In plain language:
- Prone to sweating in everyday situations
- Sensitive to wind, feeling uncomfortable when exposed to it
- Prone to colds, with episodes more likely when the weather changes
- Often feel tired and weak, have a poor appetite, and are prone to diarrhea; episodes may be more likely after eating cold or greasy foods or following irregular eating habits.
- Frequent sneezing, nasal congestion, and a runny nose often occur before an episode.
- A thin, white tongue coating
- A relatively soft pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Supplement qi and secure the exterior.
In plain language:
- Support strength and resistance, with the aim of reducing easy sweating, sensitivity to wind, and frequent colds.
- Help reinforce the body’s “exterior defenses” and reduce the likelihood of recurrent episodes.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Habitual shortness of breath that worsens with activity, soreness and weakness in the lower back and legs, dizziness, tinnitus, poor tolerance for exertion, cool lower limbs, and clear, copious urination. The tongue is pale; the pulse is deep and thready.
In plain language:
- Some shortness of breath at baseline, which becomes more noticeable with activity
- Aching in the lower back and weakness in the legs
- Dizziness or a spinning sensation, and ringing in the ears
- Easy fatigue and low stamina
- Cold lower legs and feet
- Clear urine in relatively large amounts, with frequent urination
- A relatively pale tongue
- A relatively deep, thready pulse (as noted by a clinician during examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Regulate and tonify the lungs and kidneys.
In plain language:
- Address the lungs and kidneys together, with the aim of supporting strength, resistance, and respiratory endurance.
- Help ease discomfort such as a chronic cough, shortness of breath, frequent colds, soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, feeling cold, or frequent nighttime urination.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for information only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a physician or pharmacist.
References
- Asthma Group, Chinese Thoracic Society, Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment, Education, and Management of Bronchial Asthma) [J]. Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, 2003, 26(3): 132–138.
- Asthma Group, Chinese Thoracic Society, Chinese Medical Association. Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (Definition, Diagnosis, Treatment, Education, and Management of Bronchial Asthma) [J]. Chinese Journal of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases, 2008, 31(3): 177–185.
- Zhang Hongchun. Annotations to the Guidelines for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment in Traditional Chinese Medicine: Respiratory Diseases [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015.
- Pulmonary Diseases Branch, China Association of Chinese Medicine. Expert Consensus on TCM Diagnosis and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma (2012) [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2013, 54(7): 627–629.
- Zhang Boli, Xue Boyu. Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2012.