Acupuncture treatment for asthma

This is the 3539th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Many elderly people are prone to breathing difficulties in cold seasons, especially those with asthma. The climate is cold and the air is dry in winter. The mucous membranes of asthma patients are stimulated by cold air, which increases airway reactivity and induces asthma attacks. Therefore, patients with a history of asthma should pay special attention to keeping warm in winter. They should take precautions before going out, drink some warm water, wear more clothes, and wear masks and scarves.

1. What is asthma?

Asthma refers to a common recurrent disease with sudden onset of shortness of breath, wheezing in the throat, and even opening the mouth and raising the shoulders, and being unable to lie flat. "Asthma" is characterized by shortness of breath and wheezing in the throat; "wheezing" is characterized by difficulty breathing, and even opening the mouth and raising the shoulders. Clinically, the two often occur at the same time, and their etiology and pathogenesis are roughly the same, so they are described together. This disease has the characteristic of recurrent attacks and can occur at any age and season, especially in cold seasons and when the climate changes suddenly.

In Western medicine, asthma is often seen in bronchial asthma, chronic asthmatic bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema, cardiac asthma, etc.

2. Etiology and pathogenesis

The basic cause of this disease is phlegm and fluid hidden in the lungs. If you prefer salty, greasy or fishy food, the spleen will not function properly, dampness will accumulate and phlegm will form, and phlegm and fluid will block the airway, causing phlegm and asthma. Children are often caused by repeated exposure to seasonal pathogens, while adults are mostly caused by long-term cough, emotions, fatigue, etc., which trigger the phlegm and fluid hidden in the lung meridian. This disease is located in the lungs and is closely related to the kidneys, spleen, heart, etc. The basic pathogenesis is that phlegm and qi are entangled, blocking the airway and the lungs fail to descend.

III. Key points of syndrome differentiation

Main symptoms: rapid breathing, wheezing in the throat, even opening the mouth and raising the shoulders, flaring nostrils, and being unable to lie flat.

Positive symptoms: short course of disease, or during asthma attack, with loud and rough asthma, deep and long breathing, faster breathing, strong constitution, chest tightness or distension, rough and high voice, thin or sticky sputum, and may be accompanied by cold and heat symptoms. Thin tongue coating, floating pulse.

Deficiency syndrome: long course of disease, repeated attacks or intermittent periods of asthma, low voice and weak breath, severe wheezing when moving, shortness of breath and difficulty in continuing, fast breathing with deep inhalation, weak constitution, sweating and cold limbs, thin body and fatigue. Pale tongue, deep and thin or weak pulse.

4. Acupuncture Treatment

The treatment method is to stop asthma and relieve wheezing, focusing on the back-shu points, mu points and yuan points of the lung.

【acupuncture】

1. Main acupoints

Feishu, Zhongfu, Taiyuan, Dingchuan, and Tanzhong.

2. Acupuncture point matching

For excess syndrome, use Chize and Yuji; for deficiency syndrome, use Gaohuang and Shenshu. For wheezing syndrome, use Tiantu and Kongzui; for excessive phlegm, use Zhongwan and Fenglong.

3. Operation

Conventional acupuncture with filiform needles can be combined with moxibustion. Treatment is 1 to 2 times a day during the attack period and once a day or every other day during the remission period.

【Moxibustion】

1. Acupuncture points

Dingchuan, Feishu, Zhongfu, Tiantu, and Tanzhong.

2. Methods

For Dingchuan and Feishu, use ginger moxibustion, you can also use "Sanfu Plaster" or "Sanjiu Plaster". For Zhongfu, Tiantu and Tanzhong, use spiral moxibustion; 1 to 2 times a day, 5 to 10 minutes for each acupoint.

3. Operation

(1) Ginger moxibustion: Cut fresh ginger into thin slices with a diameter of 2-3 cm and a thickness of 0.2-0.3 cm. Puncture several holes in the middle with a needle, place a moxa cone (half the size of an olive) on the part to be moxibustioned, and then light it for moxibustion. When the moxa cone burns out, you can change the moxa cone and moxibustion again. Generally, 3-6 times, until the skin turns red. During the moxibustion process, if the patient feels the burning sensation is unbearable, lift the ginger slice upwards or move it slowly.

(2) Sanfu Plaster: During the Sanfu days, select 10g of Corydalis yanhusuo, 40g of white mustard seeds, 10g of Gelsemium elegans, 10g of Asarum, etc., grind them into powder, mix with ginger juice and apply to the acupuncture points. The application time for each time is generally 0.5-2 hours for children and 4-6 hours for adults.

(3) Sanjiu Patch: During the Sanjiu period, select 10g of Corydalis yanhusuo, 40g of white mustard seeds, 10g of Gelsemium elegans, 10g of cinnamon bark and other drugs, grind them into powder, mix with ginger juice and apply to the acupuncture points. The application time for each time is generally 0.5-2 hours for children and 4-6 hours for adults.

(4) Rotating moxibustion: When applying moxibustion, the burning end of the moxa stick is kept at a certain distance from the skin of the moxibustion area, but it is not fixed. Instead, it is moved to the left and right or rotated repeatedly to make the patient feel local warmth without burning pain, until the skin turns red.

【Auricular acupuncture points】

1. Acupuncture points

Main acupoints: lung, kidney, spleen, adrenal gland, supraclavicular tip, sympathetic meridian, and trachea.

Acupoints: Pillow, Shenmen, Liver, Endocrine, Large Intestine, Fengxi.

2. Operation

(1) Auricular acupuncture is a common method during the attack period. The main acupoints must be used each time, and the auxiliary acupoints are selected according to the symptoms. For exogenous diseases, Fengxi, Gan, and Shenmen are added; for endogenous diseases, Dachang, Zhu, and Neikou are added. Disinfect the corresponding parts of the auricle with 75% ethanol, and needle one side of the auricular point each time, alternating between the two ears. When the symptoms are severe, needle 1 to 2 times a day, and as the symptoms are relieved, needle once every 1 to 2 days, and 10 times is a course of treatment. After the symptoms are relieved, treatment is still required for 2 to 3 times to consolidate the therapeutic effect.

(2) Pill pressing method: After the symptoms are relieved, the auricular acupoint pill pressing method can be used. Select one ear point each time and use it alternately on both ears. After routine disinfection of the auricle, press the selected acupoint with the Chinese medicine Wangbuliuxing seed patch according to the operating routine. Press while sticking and fix it tightly. Instruct the patient to press the ear points 3 to 5 times a day to strengthen the stimulation. Change the patch every other day, and 5 times is a course of treatment. If you are allergic to the tape, remove it in time to avoid ear edema. In the asymptomatic stage of this disease, the pill pressing method can be used for preventive treatment. The kidney, lung, and spleen are taken as the main ones to enhance the body's disease resistance and play a preventive role.

5. Acupoint Location

1. Feishu

On the back, 1.5 inches lateral to the spinous process of the third thoracic vertebra.

2. Zhongfu

On the outer and superior side of the anterior chest wall, 1 cun inferior to Yunmen, at the level of the first intercostal space, and 6 cun lateral to the anterior midline.

3. Taiyuan

On the radial side of the distal transverse line of the palmar wrist, at the radial artery pulsation.

4. Antiasthmatic

On the back, 0.5-cun lateral to the inferior spinous process of the seventh cervical vertebra.

5. Tanzhong

On the chest, on the anterior midline, at the level of the 4th intercostal space, midpoint of the line connecting the two nipples.

6. Chize

In the cubital crease, in the depression radial to the biceps brachii tendon.

7. Thenar

Behind the first metacarpophalangeal joint, approximately on the radial side of the midpoint of the first metacarpal bone, at the junction of the red and white flesh.

8. The

On the back, 3 inches lateral to the inferior spinous process of the fourth thoracic vertebra.

9. Shenshu

On the lower back, 1.5 inches lateral to the inferior spinous process of the second lumbar vertebra.

10. Tiantu

Sit in supine position. On the neck, on the anterior midline, in the center of the suprasternal fossa.

11. Kong Zui

On the radial side of the palm side of the forearm, on the line connecting Chize and Taiyuan, 7 inches above the transverse wrist crease.

12. Zhongwan

In the upper abdomen, on the anterior midline, 4 inches above the umbilicus.

13. Hong Leong

On the anterior and lateral side of the lower leg, 8 inches above the tip of the lateral malleolus, outside the iliac crest, and 2 middle finger widths lateral to the anterior edge of the tibia.

6. Prevention and care

1. Asthma can be seen in many diseases. After the attack is relieved, the primary disease should be actively treated. Acupuncture has a certain effect on relieving asthma attacks. For those with severe attacks or persistent asthma that cannot be relieved in time through acupuncture treatment, medication should be used immediately and comprehensive treatment measures should be taken.

2. Patients should pay attention to keeping warm and avoid contact with irritating gases, allergenic dust, pollen, food, medicines and other suspected foreign objects that may cause asthma attacks.

3. It is advisable to quit smoking and drinking, eat a light and nutritious diet, avoid raw, cold, fatty, sweet, spicy, and fishy foods, so as not to damage the spleen and produce phlegm. Avoid excessive fatigue and emotional stimulation.

4. Encourage patients to choose Tai Chi, Nei Yang Gong, Ba Duan Jin, walking or jogging, breathing gymnastics and other methods for long-term exercise according to their personal physical conditions to enhance their physical fitness and prevent colds.

Author: Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

School of Acupuncture, Massage and Rehabilitation

Professor Chang Xiaorong's team

Written by: Liu Qian, M.S.

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All names and place names are pseudonyms and any similarity is purely coincidental.