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Asthma
Asthma manifests with wheezing or difficulty breathing and shortness of Breath.
There are 2 conditions which commonly fall under "Asthma":
In Traditional Medicine, the primary differential diagnosis is Hot, Cold, Dry or Moist.
It is also important to ascertain if it is an excess or deficient condition. If the person is strong with strong symptoms, it is a condition of excess, and stronger medicines including purgatives can be useful. If the condition is chronic, or the person is old or weak, invariably there is deficiency and Lung tonics are required.
From a Humoral perspective, we may differentiate it thus:
Chinese Medicine has some other useful differentiations. Firstly, acute or chronic. Acute Asthma may be associated with an acute attack of Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold. This occurs during or just after a Cold or Flu, and may become chronic if not treated properly. .
Another useful observation in chronic Wheezing and Breathlessness is Yang deficiency. In this case, usually seen in the elderly, there is l;ower Back pain and weakness, difficult, frequent or nocturnal urination, feeling of coldness, low and slow pulse.
There are 2 conditions which commonly fall under "Asthma":
- Bronchial Asthma–chronic inflammation of the airways
- Asthmatic Bronchitis–Asthma with or leading to acute Bronchitis
In Traditional Medicine, the primary differential diagnosis is Hot, Cold, Dry or Moist.
- Hot-type Asthma: wheezing, flaring nostrils, red face, red tongue, fast pulse
- Cold-type Asthma: wheezing, pale face, feels the cold, pale or wet tongue, slow pulse
- Dry-type Asthma: wheezing, dry mouth and throat, unproductive cough, dry skin
- Wet-type Asthma: wheezing, excess mucus, phlegm rattling, wet tongue coat
It is also important to ascertain if it is an excess or deficient condition. If the person is strong with strong symptoms, it is a condition of excess, and stronger medicines including purgatives can be useful. If the condition is chronic, or the person is old or weak, invariably there is deficiency and Lung tonics are required.
From a Humoral perspective, we may differentiate it thus:
- Bile: wheezing, flaring nostrils, red face, red tongue, fast pulse; most associated with inflammation or allergy
- Phlegm: wheezing, excess mucus, mucus rattling in the throat, wet or white tongue coating; most associated with congestive Asthma
- Wind: wheezing, dry mouth, worse when stressed or nervous; most associated with Nervous asthma.
Chinese Medicine has some other useful differentiations. Firstly, acute or chronic. Acute Asthma may be associated with an acute attack of Wind-Heat or Wind-Cold. This occurs during or just after a Cold or Flu, and may become chronic if not treated properly. .
Another useful observation in chronic Wheezing and Breathlessness is Yang deficiency. In this case, usually seen in the elderly, there is l;ower Back pain and weakness, difficult, frequent or nocturnal urination, feeling of coldness, low and slow pulse.
Special Formulas:
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Pills for Phlegm Asthma
Pills of Agaric 2 scruples Foetid Pills 1 scruple Agaric 0.5 scruple Rock Salt 1 grain Form 9 pills with Syrup of Licorice. (Herbarius latinus, Petri, 1485) The following are from the Syrian "Book of Medicine", trans. by Wallis Budge, 1913:
DECOCTION FOR ASTHMA & DIFFICULTY BREATHING Raisins, stoned Fenugreek equal parts Decoct in Rain Water. Give a draught from several times daily. 'It gives relief immediately'. DECOCTION FOR CHRONIC ASTHMA Figs Rue Oregano equal parts Decoct and add Honey. PILLS FOR ASTHMA AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH (1) Sulphur Wild Rue seed Birthwort Wormwood Frankincense Gum Ammoniac equal parts Beat with Vinegar and form pills the size of bean. Take 3 morning and evening. PILLS FOR ASTHMA AND SHORTNESS OF BREATH (2) Aniseed Sulphur 6 drams each Gum Ammoniac Castoreum Nigella 4 drams each Beat with water and form pills the size of bean. Take 5 morning and evening, taking oxymel after. ASHES OF MILLIPEDES 'Throw two measures of the insects that collect under the water jars and are called “millIpedes” into a potter's vessel, heat them over the fire, and when they are white rub them down and mix the powder with boiled honey, and administer in the form of a linctus one spoonful fasting'. DECOCTION FOR ASTHMA OF ZACHARIA.
Fig Raisins stoned 10 drams Dates 7 drams Celery seed Fennel seed Maidenhair Licorice Hyssop Horehound Fenugreek 5 drams Decoct in sufficient water Take 1 oz. with Honey DECOCTION FOR ASTHMA FROM CRASS HUMORS OF HAMECH. Celery root Fennel root Anise root 6 aureos* Licorice 4 aureos Sweet Almond Bitter Almond 4 drams Anise Hyssop Mallow seed 5 drams Raisins Jujubes 20 drams Figs 6 *Aureos = 8.18 grams Decoct in 7 lbs to the third part; give with honey or Sugar Penids. ELECTUARY FOR ASTHMA. Licorice juice Violet 10 drams Bitter Almond Marshmallow seed Tragacanth Fennel seed 3 drams Mix with Mucilage of Psyllium, Linseed and Quince seed and syrup of Violet to form an Electuary. |
1. WHEEZING DECOCTION (Ding Chuang Tang)
Ephedra Ma Huang 3 grams Phellodendron Huang Bai 5 grams Ginkgo nut 15 grams Green tea 6 grams Sugar to taste Used for acute attacks of bronchial asthma, including allergy-induced.. 2. HAWTHORN AND WALNUT TEA Hawthorn (Shan Zha) 50 grams Walnut (Hu Tao Ren) 150 grams Soak the Walnuts, rinse, add water and grind to a paste. Wash then beat the Hawthorn, boil three times in water, discard the fruit and reduce to 1 liter. Add White Sugar (200 grams) and boil to a syrup, then slowly add the Walnut paste while stirring. This is good for Lung deficiency Cough and Wheezing. 3. GINSENG AND WALNUT TEA Ginseng 4 grams Walnuts 5 pieces Decoct. This is good for Wheezing from Lung and Kidney weakness, as seen in the aged or in chronic Asthma. |