Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment for Asthma
Traditional Chinese medicine holds that asthma results from deficiency of the lungs and kidneys. Therefore, the treatment principle is "treat the symptoms during acute episodes, treat the root cause during remission." Here, "symptoms" refer to the lungs, while "root cause" refers to the kidneys. This means that during an asthma attack, treatment should focus on relieving symptoms and stopping wheezing; during remission, emphasis should be placed on treating the root cause by tonifying the kidneys and strengthening qi. When both excess and deficiency patterns coexist, treatment must address both aspects simultaneously—treating both excess and deficiency at once.
TCM classifies asthma into three types based on etiology: first, wind-cold asthma, treated with herbs such as Ephedra (Ma Huang), Cinnamon Twig (Gui Zhi), White Peony Root (Bai Shao), Asarum (Xi Xin), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), Licorice (Gan Cao), and Dried Ginger (Gan Jiang). This formula is known as Xiao Qing Long Tang, which has effects of relieving wheezing and dispelling cold. Second, heat-induced asthma, treated with Ephedra (Ma Huang), Apricot Kernel (Xing Ren), Raw Gypsum (Sheng Shi Gao), and Licorice (Gan Cao). This formula is called Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang, possessing clearing heat, resolving phlegm, and stabilizing breathing effects. Third, phlegm-induced asthma, treated with Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), and Licorice (Gan Cao). This formula is named Er Chen Tang, effective in drying dampness, transforming phlegm, lowering qi, and stabilizing breathing. Additionally, if asthma is accompanied by symptoms such as shortness of breath, weak speech, low voice, spontaneous sweating, and aversion to wind due to lung qi deficiency, Liu Jun Zi Tang may be added. Composed of Codonopsis (Dang Shen), Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), Poria (Fu Ling), Licorice (Gan Cao), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), and Pinellia (Ban Xia), this formula strengthens qi, invigorates the spleen, and relieves asthma. If long-standing asthma presents with more exhalation than inhalation, worsening with exertion, difficulty catching breath, sweating, cold extremities, and aversion to cold—indicative of kidney deficiency—Jin Kui Shen Qi Wan may be used. It contains Rehmannia (Shu Di), Yam (Shan Yao), Cornus (Shan Zhu Yu), Moutan Bark (Dan Pi), Alisma (Ze Xie), Poria (Fu Ling), Aconite (Fu Zi), and Cinnamon (Rou Gui), effectively tonifying the kidneys and anchoring qi.