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Pneumonia (Peripneumonia)



Pneumonia was traditionally called Peripneumonia in the West. It is an infection of the Lungs which may be life threatening, especially to the young and elderly. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million children worldwide aged under 5 die of Pneumonia, and it is the most common cause of hospitalization of children under 2. It is also commonly associated with mortality in the elderly, particularly after Influenza or other Lung infection.

Traditional Symptoms of Peripneumonia inlcude: difficulty breathing, burning Fever, stretching out of the Breast, the tongue is dry, the breath is hot, pricking pains in the chest, face is red, temple veins swell, the sputum is a thin with putrefied matter with blood or froth.

Today, Pneominia is regonised s a Lung infection which may be caused by Bacteria, Virus or Fungii. It causes the alveoli of the Lungs to fill with fluid or pus. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the primary bacterial cause of Pneumonia with others including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.

Of Virus, Respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of Childhood Pneumonia with Influenza and Coronovirus also being a causitive factor. Childhood Penumonia is a mixed viral-bacterial infection in around 25–30% of cases.

There are a number of other types of Pneumonia including:
  • Lobular Pneumonia with Bronchitis and Necrosis
  • Interstitual Pneumonia with thichkening of the alveolar wall
  • Nodular Pneumonia with nodules caused by Mycobateria species
  • Lipoid Pneumonia where lipids accumulate in the alveoli

Symptoms of Pnemonia:
  • Cough which is dry, or productive with yellow, green, brown or blood-streated sputum.
  • Difficulty breathing, with breathlessness or rapid shallow breathing
  • Fever
  • Sweating and shivering
  • Rapid Heart beat
  • Feeling unwell, poor appetite etc.

Antibiotic treatment is most comon in modern medicine and is most effective in Bacterial Pneumonia. However, antibiotics are fairly universally used as the etiology, especially in children, is often difficult. Antibiotics may also be used to stop a secondary bacterial infection in acute viral pneumonia.

In Traditional Medicine it is classed as Lung Heat, Phlegm-Heat, and in advanced cases, Lung Heat with Yin Deficiency. The principle treatment is medicines to clear Lung heat, specifically medicines that treat the pathogen causing Pneumonia.

Some Herbs with Proven Effect against Pneumonia pathogens
Maidenhair
Licorice
Caraway
Cumin
Fennel seed
Linseed
Garlic
Ginger
Mullein
Horehound
Thyme
Stoechas
Beet root leaf
Echinops (Globe Thistle)
Citrus aurantifolia leaf
Pellitory (Pyrethum)
Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao
Acalypha indica
Other Treatment
Bloodletting is useful; the Head vein was often bled.
Western Tradition

Peripnemoniacus–Pneumonia

Pectoral Decoction
Decoction for Catarrh (Alcala)
Syrup of Maidenhair
Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas)
Tragacanth Cooling Powder (Diatragacanth Frigidum)
Diapenidion
Philonium Romanum (Philonium Nicolai) (Nicholas)
Triphera Greater (Triphera Magnus) (Nicholas)
Theriac
Oil of Orris

Copper 25 (Zangs thal nyer lnga) (Tibetan)
Deer Horn Bhasma (Kushta Qarnulaiyal) (Unani)
Garlic Milk (Lasuna Kshira) (Ayurveda)
Garuda 5 (Khyung Lnga) (Tibetan)
Sitopaladi Powder (Ayurveda)



TCM Classification

Wind-Heat and Toxin (Acute)
Fever, sweating, cough, thirst, sore throat, rapid, floating pulse
Yin Qiao San
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin


Lung Heat
Chills, high fever with or without sweat, cough, wheezing, heavy breathing, wants cold drinks, red tongue with yellow coat, rapid pulse
Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
Da Qing Long Tang (with exterior Cold)


Phlegm Heat in the Chest
Chills and fever, bitter taste, cough with yellowish phlegm, sore throat, irritable, wiry pulse
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan
Qing Fei Tang

Sitopaladi Powder (Ayurveda)
Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa) (Tibetan)


Strong Fire, Heat-Toxin–High Fever
High Fever, irritable, delirium, loss of consciousness, spasms, convulsions, thirst
Huang Lian Jie Du Tang
An Gong Niu Huang Wan
Zi Xue Dan
Special Formula

A Nitrous Draught.
  Red Poppy water        3 ounces
  Sal Prunella                  1 dram
  Syrup of Violets           1 ounce
Mix. (Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea)

A Pleuritic Lohoch.
  Syrup of Red Poppy
  Linseed Oil                    2 ounces ea.
  Oil of Aniseed               2 drops
  White Sugar                 2 drams
Mix.
"It's convenient in a true Pleurisie and Peripneumonie, accompanied with difficulty of Breathing and Spitting of Blood; asswages Pain, opens, maturates, lubricates the Passages, and expectorates". (Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea)
San Ao Tang
  Ephedra Ma Huang
  Bitter Apricot Ku Xing Ren
  Licorice Gan Cao
This helps free the breath, stop Cough, open the Lungs, and treats the symptoms of Pneumonia.

Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang
  Ephedra Ma Huang
  Bitter Almond Ku Xing Ren
  Gypsum Shi Gao
  Licorice Gan Cao
This is the same as the former adding Gypsum. Gypsum is very cold and useful for severe Lung Heat. This is better for High Fever and extreme Lung Heat with Cough and Wheezing.

Common additions to Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang for Pneumonia include:
Forsythia Lian Qiao
Houttuyniae Yu Xing Cao
Scutellaria Huang Qin
Pinellia Ban Xia (for excess Phlegm)

Yin Lai Tang
  Lonicera Jin Yin Hua
  Raphanus Lai Fu Zi (Radish seed)
  Forsythia Lian Qiao
  Scutellaria Huang Qin
  Peucedanum Qian Hu
  Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao
  Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren
This formula has been commonly used for Pneumonia and Influenza. Research has demonstrated that it doesnt have a strong effect against Pneumonia pathogens, but it exerts positive effect by enhancing Lung function and Lung environment. (See here)