Bronchiectasis
Bronchiectasis is the pathological, permanent dilation of the bronchial tree caused by various factors. It is a chronic airway inflammation that leads to recurrent suppurative infections. Bronchiectasis is a common chronic respiratory disease with a long course and irreversible structural changes. Recurrent infections, particularly in widespread bronchiectasis, can severely damage lung tissue and function, substantially affect quality of life, and impose a considerable socioeconomic burden. Although Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) does not have a disease name that directly corresponds to “bronchiectasis,” physicians throughout history have described related symptoms and causes and mechanisms of disease in medical texts from different periods, sometimes using different disease names. TCM conditions are often named after their symptoms. Based on the symptoms and clinical manifestations of bronchiectasis, it falls within the TCM categories of “cough,” “hemoptysis,” “lung abscess,” “consumptive cough,” and “dilation of the lung collaterals.” Among these, “lung abscess,” “hemoptysis,” “consumptive cough,” and “dilation of the lung collaterals” are particularly relevant to bronchiectasis.
TCM Pattern Differentiation and Medication Reference
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Cough with copious sputum; expectoration of yellow-white, sticky sputum or purulent sputum; blood-streaked sputum or blood mixed with sputum, with bright-red blood and possibly a hot, fishy odor. Red tongue with yellow or yellow, greasy coating; rapid or slippery-rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough with a lot of sputum
- Sputum is yellow-white and sticky, or purulent
- Bright-red streaks of blood in the sputum, or blood mixed with sputum; it may have a hot, fishy odor
- The tongue appears red
- The tongue coating is yellow or relatively thick and sticky
- The pulse may be fast or feel slippery (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear heat from and purge the Lung, transform phlegm, and stop bleeding.
In plain language:
- Reduce heat and inflammation and clear “toxic heat” in the body (a TCM concept associated here with inflammation or infection), easing discomfort such as fever, redness, swelling, and pain
- Promote circulation and unblock stagnation, helping to discharge accumulated pus (such as purulent sputum or an abscess) and relieve swelling and pain
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Cough with expectoration of white, thick sputum that is easy to cough up; chest oppression and fullness; a heavy feeling throughout the body; reduced appetite and poor appetite. Pale tongue with a white, greasy coating; wiry or slippery pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough with white, sticky sputum that is relatively easy to bring up
- A feeling of tightness in the chest
- A feeling of fullness or uncomfortable pressure in the upper abdomen
- A heavy feeling throughout the body
- Poor appetite and eating less
- The tongue appears pale
- The tongue coating is white, sticky, and relatively thick
- The pulse may feel taut or slippery (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Transform phlegm, direct rebellious Qi downward, diffuse the Lung, and stop cough.
In plain language:
- Help loosen sticky phlegm so it is thinner and easier to cough up, easing chest tightness and the sensation of blockage in the throat
- Help Qi descend and promote the Lung’s dispersing function, easing cough and the sensation of breathlessness from Qi rising upward, so breathing feels easier
|Related Products
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|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Rebellious Qi with cough; coughing causes pain in the chest and flanks; blood-streaked sputum or expectoration of a large amount of bright-red blood; a small amount of white, sticky sputum; bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat; irritability and a tendency to anger; symptoms may be triggered by emotions. Red tongue with a thin white or thin yellow coating; fine, wiry pulse.
In plain language:
- During coughing, it may feel as though the breath is rising upward, making breathing uncomfortable
- Coughing may cause pain in the chest or along the sides of the ribs
- Bright-red streaks of blood in the sputum, or even expectoration of a larger amount of bright-red blood
- Usually only a small amount of white, sticky sputum
- A bitter taste in the mouth and a dry throat
- Irritability and a short temper; coughing may become more noticeable when emotions fluctuate
- The tongue appears red, with a thin white or thin yellow coating
- The pulse is relatively fine and feels taut (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Clear and calm Liver heat, regulate the Lung, cool the Blood, and stop bleeding.
In plain language:
- Regulate Liver heat and calm the Lung, easing discomfort such as irritability, chest tightness, sore throat, cough, and wheezing
- Clear “heat in the Blood” (a TCM concept) and help stop bleeding such as coughing up blood, blood-streaked sputum, or nosebleeds associated with excess heat
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Weak, low-pitched cough with yellow-white, sticky sputum and difficulty coughing it up; fatigue, spontaneous sweating, dizziness, poor appetite, aversion to cold, and tinnitus. Light-red tongue with a thin white coating; slippery pulse.
In plain language:
- A quiet, weak-sounding cough
- Coughing up thick, sticky yellow or white sputum
- Difficulty coughing up sputum, with a persistent feeling that it has not all cleared
- Easy fatigue and low energy
- Sweating easily, even without activity
- Dizziness
- Poor appetite or difficulty eating
- Feeling cold easily
- Ringing in the ears
- The tongue is light red, with a thin white coating
- The pulse feels slippery (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Strengthen the Spleen and supplement Qi, transform phlegm, and stop cough.
In plain language:
- Support digestion and energy according to TCM, which may help with poor appetite, fatigue, abdominal fullness, and a sticky feeling in the mouth
- Help loosen sticky phlegm so it is easier to cough up, easing cough, chest tightness, and shortness of breath
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Cough with a small amount of yellow, sticky or purulent sputum that is difficult to expectorate; hemoptysis or blood-streaked sputum; shortness of breath, spontaneous sweating, night sweats, fatigue, reluctance to speak, dry or bitter mouth, aversion to heat, afternoon tidal fever, facial flushing, poor appetite, irritability, frequent colds, and shortness of breath. Red tongue with a thin white coating; fine, rapid pulse.
In plain language:
- Cough
- A small amount of yellow, sticky or purulent sputum that is difficult to cough up
- Blood-streaked sputum or coughing up bright-red blood
- Rapid breathing or shortness of breath; becoming breathless with slight activity
- Easy sweating and night sweats
- Fatigue, low energy, and little desire to talk
- Dry mouth or a bitter taste in the mouth
- Feeling hot, with episodes of feverishness in the afternoon and a hot face
- Poor appetite or difficulty eating
- Irritability and restlessness
- Frequent colds
- The tongue appears red, with a thin white coating
- The pulse is relatively fine and fast (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Nourish Yin and supplement Qi, and clear deficiency heat.
In plain language:
- Nourish bodily fluids and support energy, easing discomfort such as dry mouth and throat, night sweats, irritability, and fatigue
- Clear “internal heat” associated with deficiency (deficiency heat), easing afternoon tidal fever, warmth in the palms and soles, and low-grade fever with restlessness
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
|Common Symptoms
Clinical description:
Yin deficiency: cough with little sputum or blood-streaked sputum; dry mouth and throat; hoarse voice; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; irritability and poor sleep; tidal fever with a sensation of heat in the bones; night sweats and flushed cheeks; red tongue with little coating; fine, rapid pulse.
Yang deficiency: cough, coughing with wheezing and shortness of breath; chest tightness and dull pain; aversion to cold in the back; cold extremities; soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees; frequent urination at night; pale tongue with a white coating; fine, weak pulse.
In plain language:
- (Predominantly deficiency-heat type) Cough with little sputum, sometimes blood-streaked
- Dry mouth and throat; the voice may become hoarse easily
- Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees
- Irritability and poor sleep
- Episodes of feverishness in the afternoon or at night, a sensation of internal heat, night sweats, and often flushed cheeks
- The tongue appears red, with very little coating
- The pulse is relatively fine and fast (as noted during a medical examination)
- (Predominantly cold and weakness type) Cough with shortness of breath or difficulty catching one’s breath
- Chest tightness and a dull ache
- The back feels cold; the hands and feet feel cold
- Soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees
- Frequent urination at night
- The tongue appears pale, with a white coating
- The pulse is relatively fine and weak (as noted during a medical examination)
|Treatment Approach
Clinical description:
Tonify the Lung and benefit the Kidney.
In plain language:
- Support the Lung according to TCM, addressing symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, cough, and frequent colds
- Also nourish Kidney Qi according to TCM, addressing soreness and weakness in the lower back and knees, feeling cold, and frequent nighttime urination
|Related Products
The products below are provided for informational reference only and do not constitute medical advice or a prescription. Follow the product packaging and instructions, and use under the guidance of a doctor or pharmacist.
References
- Cai Baiqiang, He Quanying. Expert consensus on the diagnosis and treatment of bronchiectasis in adults (2012 edition) [J]. Chinese Journal of Critical Care Medicine (Electronic Edition), 2012, 5: 315-328.
- Hu Tonglin, Peng Kang. Tanreqing Injection in the treatment of 39 cases of bronchiectasis [J]. Journal of Emergency in Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2009, 18(2): 287.
- Ouyang Li, Wang Limin. Tanreqing Injection as an adjunctive treatment in 76 cases of bronchiectasis [J]. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2012, 28(8): 662.
- He Xia. Xiyanping combined with Western medical treatment in 38 older patients with bronchiectasis [J]. China Pharmaceuticals, 2013, 22(22): 81-82.
- Wang Jixia. Drug treatment of hemoptysis in 46 cases of bronchiectasis [J]. China Healthcare Innovation, 2012, 7(3): 43, 71.
- Loebinger MR, Wells AU, Hansell DM, et al. Mortality in bronchiectasis: a long-term study assessing the factors influencing survival[J]. Eur Respir J，2009，34(4)：843-849.
- Martínez-García MA1, de la Rosa Carrillo D, Soler-Cataluña JJ, et al. Prognostic value of bronchiectasis in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease[J]. Am J Respir Crit Care Med，2013，187(8)：823-831.