Adult Asthma in Chinese Medicine

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Hello Readers!

Today I am here to write a little about adult asthma from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

For Western Medicine, asthma is characterized by a partial obstruction of airflow in the bronchial tree. This is caused by a temporary narrowing of the bronchi due to muscle spasm, followed by mucosa edema. This narrowing can happen for an unknown cause or because of a reaction to allergens.

For Chinese Medicine, asthma can happen by:

  • Invasion of Cold Wind or Wind Heat
  • Excessive consumption of milk and dairy products
  • Weak constitution
  • Emotional Stress

It is common to see people with asthma in childhood, but when asthma appears in adulthood, we need to redouble our attention. This fact occurs, most of the times by the energetic affection of the Kidney or the Liver, besides of course, the Lung.

When an adult abuses of physical activity or work, eats poorly, gets too stressed or abuses of sexual activity, he seriously impairs the energy of the Kidneys, which weak, will consume the energy of the Lung, resulting in asthma.

Thus, it is important that the adult rebalances daily life habits and some acupuncture points may be useful to alleviate crises, such as: KI-3, KI-25, KI-27, CV-4 and GV-4. In auriculotherapy, the Kidney point and Ping Chuan points are indicated.

It is recommended that neutral foods for the Water Element be placed in the Diet, such as egg yolk, corn, pork, raspberry, black sesame, etc. The table of foods you can find at:

https://www.facilitatingacupuncture.com/therapeutic-food-tables/

The Liver can cause asthma in adults directly due to uncontrolled stress. When there is Stagnation of Liver Qi or Blood, or Liver Fire, there may be a blood or Qi rebellion towards the chest, against dominating the Lung and causing shortness of breath.

In this case, the crises are abrupt and must be controlled through the points that remove the Heat or Stagnation of Liver Qi / Blood, such as LR-2, LR-3, LR-5, LR-8, LR14.

In auriculotherapy the Liver Yang point is recommended in these cases, as well as Ping Chuan points. Fresh and neutral foods for the Wood Element should be consumed, such as: apple, pear, blackberry, dates, strawberry, saffron, carrot, etc.

The Lung should always be strengthened and balanced. Points like: BL-13, BL-42, LU-7 and Lu9 are always a good choice.

Adult asthma, for the most part, has effective control with Acupuncture, Auriculotherapy and Chinese Therapeutic Food, but the patient must be aware of other possible Lung disorders. A visit to the medical professional is recommended for a check up at least once a year 🙂

I hope you enjoyed.

A big hug.

Profa. Fernanda Mara

Rhinitis According to Tradicional Chinese Medicine

Good morning readers

Today our subject is Rhinitis!
Rhinitis is an inflammation of the lining of the nose that can have several causes, such as a cold weather, a change in temperature, and most of the time, an allergic reaction. Rhinitis is characterized by symptoms such as nasal obstruction, runny nose, sneezing, itchy nose, ear, eyes and throat or changes in smell. The crisis can last from a few hours to days at a time.

In Chinese Medicine, rhinitis is characterized by an energy imbalance in the Lung. The Lung is responsible for producing Wei Qi (defense energy) and when the production of this energy is insufficient, the patient is more susceptible to infections and inflammations, such as rhinitis.

As it is, in most cases, a chronic problem, it is understood that a patient suffering from Rhinitis has a chronic energy deficiency of the Lung, and it must be strengthened, especially outside of crisis.

Points to strengthen the Lung: LU-7, LU-9, BL-13, BL-42, SI-11 and CV-17.

In addition to these points, it is important to relieve the patient’s symptoms when the patient is under crisis, so the following points (associated with the symptoms) are suggested:

  • LI- 4, LI- 20: treat coryza and nasal blockage. Opens and facilitates breathing
  • ST-3, GB-14, GB-1: treat itchy eyes
  • SI-19: treats itchy ears
  • ST-9: improves irritability and itchy throat

Some patients experience itching all over their bodies, which can start with a single attack of rhinitis. Thus, we can use the combination of LV-8 + LU-5, which cool the blood and stop the itch.

In addition, the ear points: Lung, Ping Chuan, Internal and External Nose and Urticaria can be great help in the treatment of rhinitis.

Therapeutic Food rich in neutral foods for the Metal element should also be added. For a complete list of these foods, click on the link: http://www.facilitanteacupuntura.com.br/tabelas-de-alimentacao-terapeutica/

Acupuncture shows excellent results in the treatment of rhinitis. And the patient should feel relative improvement in the first three sessions, with one session per week.

If you want to know more about respiratory diseases, we have a handout for you in the blog store! Visit https://loja.facilitanteacupuntura.com.br/store/product/26,  follow the instructions and purchase yours (this material is available only in Portuguese).

I hope you enjoyed.

A big hug.

Profa. Fernanda Mara