Acute Tracheobronchitis
Acute tracheobronchitis (急性气管-支气管炎) is an acute inflammation of the tracheobronchial mucosa caused by biological, physical or chemical irritants, or by factors such as allergies. Cases are usually sporadic, without a tendency to occur in outbreaks; older adults and people in poor health may be more susceptible. The main clinical symptoms are cough and sputum production. It often occurs during cold weather or when the climate changes abruptly, and may also follow an acute upper respiratory tract infection that does not resolve. In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), this condition falls within the category of “cough.”
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, white sputum, thin watery sputum, aversion to cold, thin white tongue coating, floating or floating-tight pulse. Secondary symptoms: nasal congestion, clear nasal discharge, itchy throat, fever, absence of sweating, body aches.
In plain language:
- Cough with thin, clear or white sputum
- Feeling cold or having chills
- A thin white coating on the tongue
- The pulse may feel superficial or tight (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Nasal congestion and clear, watery nasal discharge
- Itchy throat
- Fever may occur
- Little or no sweating
- Body aches or soreness
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Disperse wind and cold, diffuse Lung qi, and relieve cough.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, disperse external wind-cold from the body’s surface to ease chills, head and body aches, and clear nasal discharge associated with exposure to cold.
- Promote the flow of Lung qi and ease coughing and sputum, with the aim of relieving chest tightness and supporting more comfortable breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, yellow sputum, dry throat that may become sore, fever, aversion to drafts, red tongue tip, yellow tongue coating, floating or floating-rapid pulse. Secondary symptoms: thick, sticky sputum that is difficult to expectorate, nasal congestion, cloudy nasal discharge, dryness and a warm sensation in the nasal passages, itchy throat, thirst, thin tongue coating.
In plain language:
- Cough with yellow, sticky sputum
- Dry throat, which may become sore
- Fever
- Feeling cold when exposed to drafts
- The tip of the tongue may appear red
- Yellow tongue coating, sometimes thin
- The pulse may feel superficial or fast (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Difficulty bringing up sputum
- Nasal congestion with cloudy, thick nasal discharge
- Dryness and a warm sensation inside the nose
- Itchy throat
- Thirst and a desire to drink more water
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Disperse wind and clear heat, diffuse Lung qi, and transform phlegm.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, disperse external “wind-heat” from the body’s surface and clear heat, with the aim of easing fever, headache, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
- Promote the flow of Lung qi and transform phlegm, with the aim of easing cough, making sputum thinner and easier to bring up, and supporting more comfortable breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: dry cough, cough, dry lips and nose, dry mouth, dry throat that may become sore, thin tongue coating, floating pulse. Secondary symptoms: sticky sputum that is difficult to expectorate, thirst, fever, aversion to drafts, red tongue tip, thin yellow or thin white dry tongue coating, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Dry cough or cough with little sputum
- Dry lips and nose
- Dry mouth and a desire to drink water
- Dry throat, which may become sore
- A very thin tongue coating
- The pulse may feel superficial (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Thick, sticky sputum that is difficult to cough up
- Fever may occur
- Feeling cold when exposed to drafts
- The tip of the tongue may appear red
- The tongue coating may be thin and yellow, or thin, white, and dry
- The pulse may be fast (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear and moisten the Lung, disperse wind, and clear heat.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, clear Lung heat and moisten dryness, with the aim of easing dry cough, scant and difficult-to-expel sputum, dry or sore throat, and chest tightness.
- Disperse external “wind-heat” and clear heat, with the aim of easing fever, headache, sore throat, and nasal congestion.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, yellow sputum, thick, sticky sputum, red tongue body, yellow greasy tongue coating, slippery or slippery-rapid pulse. Secondary symptoms: abundant sputum, difficulty expectorating, thirst, chest tightness, fever, constipation.
In plain language:
- Cough
- Yellow, very thick sputum
- The tongue may look red, with a yellow, relatively thick and sticky coating
- The pulse may feel slippery or fast (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Abundant sputum that is difficult to clear completely
- Thirst and a desire to drink more water
- Chest tightness
- Fever may occur
- Hard stools or constipation
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat, transform phlegm, direct qi downward, and relieve cough.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, clear heat and transform thick phlegm, with the aim of thinning sputum so it is easier to cough up and easing discomfort from thick yellow sputum or a sticky, blocked sensation in the throat.
- Help qi descend to ease a feeling of pressure or breathlessness attributed in TCM to qi rising, reduce coughing episodes, and support more comfortable breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, copious sputum, white sticky sputum or sputum with bubbles, white or white greasy tongue coating, slippery pulse. Secondary symptoms: sputum that is easy to expectorate, sticky sensation in the mouth, chest tightness, poor appetite, reduced food intake, epigastric fullness and distention, teeth marks along the edges of the tongue, wiry or soggy pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough
- Abundant, whitish, sticky sputum, sometimes with bubbles
- A white coating on the tongue, sometimes slightly sticky and thick
- The pulse may feel slippery (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Sputum is relatively easy to cough up
- A sticky or unpleasant feeling in the mouth
- Chest tightness
- Poor appetite or difficulty eating
- Fullness or discomfort in the upper abdomen (stomach area)
- Teeth marks may be visible along the edges of the tongue
- The pulse may feel taut or soft and weak (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Strengthen the Spleen, dry dampness, transform phlegm, and relieve cough.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, support Spleen and Stomach function and address excess “dampness” in the body, with the aim of easing a sticky sensation in the mouth, poor appetite, and abdominal bloating.
- Transform thick, sticky phlegm and ease coughing, with the aim of thinning sputum so it is easier to bring up and easing chest tightness or shortness of breath.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, spontaneous sweating, worsening with exertion, sensitivity to wind and cold, pale tongue body, white tongue coating, weak or thready pulse. Secondary symptoms: lack of energy, frequent colds, thin tongue coating, deep or moderate pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough
- Slight shortness of breath, more noticeable with activity
- Easy fatigue and lack of strength
- Easy sweating even at rest, with more sweating during activity
- Sensitivity to wind and cold
- The tongue may appear pale, with a white or thin white coating
- The pulse may feel weak or thready (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Low energy and a tendency to feel tired
- Frequent colds
- The pulse may feel deep or slow (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify Lung qi, diffuse Lung qi, and relieve cough.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, support Lung function and replenish qi, with the aim of easing shortness of breath, fatigue, easy sweating, and frequent colds.
- Promote the flow of Lung qi and make sputum easier to bring up, with the aim of easing cough and chest tightness and supporting more comfortable breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Primary symptoms: cough, scant sputum, dry cough, lack of energy, fatigue, worsening with exertion, frequent colds, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, red tongue body, scant tongue coating, thready pulse. Secondary symptoms: shortness of breath, aversion to drafts, heat in the palms and soles, dry mouth, thirst, a swollen tongue that may have teeth marks along its edges or a small, thin tongue, pale or red tongue body, thin or patchy tongue coating, deep, rapid, or weak pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough with little sputum, or a dry cough
- Easy fatigue and low energy, more noticeable after activity
- Frequent colds
- Easy sweating even at rest, and night sweats
- The tongue may appear red, with very little coating
- The pulse may feel thready (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
- Slight shortness of breath
- Aversion to drafts
- Heat in the palms and soles
- Dry mouth and thirst
- The tongue may be swollen with teeth marks, or small and thin; it may appear pale or red
- The tongue coating may be thin or patchy, with areas where it is missing
- The pulse may feel deep, fast, or weak (as noted during a clinician’s examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify qi and nourish yin, moisten the Lung, and relieve cough.
In plain language:
- In TCM terms, replenish qi and nourish the body’s fluids, with the aim of easing fatigue, dry mouth and throat, and night sweats.
- Moisten the Lung and ease airway dryness, with the aim of transforming phlegm, relieving cough, and supporting more comfortable breathing.
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Refer to the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- China Association of Chinese Medicine. Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Tracheobronchitis [J]. Chinese Journal of Continuing Education in Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2011, 9(12): 114.
- Pulmonary Diseases Committee of the China Association of Chinese Medicine. Diagnostic Criteria for TCM Patterns of Acute Tracheobronchitis (2013 Edition) [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2014, 55(3): 259–261.
- Zhang Hongchun. Annotations to the TCM Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines: Respiratory Diseases [M]. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2015.
- Li Jiansheng, Wang Zhiwan, Li Suyun, et al. Research and Development of Diagnostic Criteria for Patterns of Acute Tracheobronchitis [J]. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 2013, 28(6): 1727–1731.
- Li Suyun, Li Ya, Li Jiansheng, et al. Literature Analysis of TCM Patterns and Clinical Characteristics of Acute Bronchitis [J]. China Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, 2010(10): 1651–1654.
- Zhong Nanshan, Liu Youning. Respiratory Medicine [M]. 2nd ed. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2012.
- Li Xuelin, Cui Ying, Cao Junling. Practical Clinical Chinese Materia Medica (Chinese Patent Medicines) [M]. Beijing: People’s Medical Publishing House, 2013.
- Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission. Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China: Clinical Medication Guide—Chinese Patent Medicines [M]. Beijing: China Medical Science Press, 2010.