Asthma and Bronchitis—Chronic and Acute

Chinese herbs do offer relief from the discomfort of Asthma

缓解哮喘带来的不适

At the root of traditional Chinese medicine's treatment recommendation is the practice of Chi Kung exercises (a type if breath therapy), which will contribute to overall lung health.Chi Kung is combined with an herbal therapy that provides substantial benefits for those who suffer from chronic respiratory diseases.  Chi Kung is a simple set of exercises that expand the lungs ability to function, and classes can be found local to you, or there are several good quality (easy to understand and follow) DVD's that can be purchased online.  Once you get started on these daily breathing exercises you will be amazed at how much better you begin feel. One of the more common respiratory diseases is bronchial asthma; as you are probably aware there are two main types of asthma extrinsic, in which an allergy, usually to something inhaled, triggers the attack, and intrinsic, which has no apparent external cause.  It will be important for you to clarify with us which you are suffering from.The most common allergens responsible for triggering extrinsic bronchial asthma are pollens, home dust, dust mites, animal fur, dander, and feathers.  It can also be the result of a respiratory infection from such triggers as a cold, cough, bronchitis, or by exercising in cold air, inhaling tobacco smoke or other air pollutants, or by an allergic reaction to a particular food or drug (most commonly aspirin). Intrinsic asthma tends to develop later in life than extrinsic asthma, and an attack is most often triggered by emotional factors such as stress, anxiety, or depression. The main symptoms of asthma are breathlessness, wheezing, a dry cough, and tightness in the chest.  During a severe attack breathing becomes increasingly difficult, causing sweating, a rapid heartbeat, great distress, and anxiety.  The sufferer cannot lie down or sleep, may be unable to speak, wheezes loudly, and breathes rapidly.  In a very severe attack the low amount of oxygen in the blood can cause facial cyanosis (blue-purple skin discoloration), in which case the lips and the skin may become pale and clammy.  Such attacks can be fatal; it is therefore advisable to seek emergency professional help!

Although there is no known cure for asthma, attacks can to a large extent be prevented. For sufferers of extrinsic asthma, allergy tests are available to discover which common allergens trigger attacks.  When a specific cause is discovered, steps can be taken to avoid the allergens.  For example, if pollen is the cause, the sufferer will need to avoid parks and gardens during the pollen season; he or she might also consider wearing a surgical mask to filter out the pollen. If the dust mite is responsible, mattresses and pillows should be stored in airtight plastic covers, and the home should be kept as dust-free as possible.Traditional Chinese medicine offers several herbal formulas that can be used during high-pollen seasons or during exposure to other known allergens to minimize attacks and treat related symptoms such as cough, phlegm, and mucus, and wheezing.  Each of the formulas listed below offer the user fast relief and will treat the symptoms of asthma.

Long-term (continuous) use is highly recommended.