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Chronic Cough, Chronic Bronchitis and Bronchial Asthma
Disease description:
Coughing is a natural reflex to quickly get rid of germs, harmful and foreign substances in the airways. A cough can last several weeks, but anyone who struggles with coughing for more than eight weeks has a chronic health problem.
The inflammation of upper airways in the lungs, the bronchial tubes, is called bronchitis.
According to the World Health Organization, bronchitis is chronic when the mucus cough appears on almost every day within three months and this for two consecutive years. Like acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is characterized by coughing with mucus (especially in the morning), but it lasts longer. Chronic bronchitis is often the result of regular smoking and can have serious consequences. The ingredients of cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, irritate the bronchial mucosa of our respiratory tract, which is equipped with many small cilia, which consequently become inflamed. Therefore, the body, to get rid of penetrating foreign bodies, has to loosen the stuck mucus through recurring coughing attacks.
Bronchial asthma is one of the most common widespread respiratory tract diseases. The bronchial tubes become constricted in attacks, caused by the contact to personal allergy triggers, resulting in a hypersensitive immune system reaction and symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine calls chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma “Internal Impairment Cough” or “Phlegm Syndrome“. It is usually caused by dysfunction of internal organs. The inducement is Exogenous Wind, Cold or Heat.
Long-term illness consumes Lung and Spleen Qi. Weak Spleen Qi leading to Phlegm retention. The Phlegmstained in the Lungs, congesting the airways, causing coughing and Phlegm.
The Exogenous Pathogens invade the Lungs, resulting in Phlegm obstruction of Lung, and the reverse of the Lung Qi.
The Kidneys accept Qi and help the Lungs to breathe. If the Kidney Qi is weak, the inhaled Qi can’t be supported by the Kidney, then the Lung Qi is reversed as coughing and wheezing.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp Phlegm in the Lungs
An obstruction of Lung by Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in long-term cough, dyspnoea, massive white phlegm that is easily expectorated, stuffiness of the chest, poor appetite.
Er Chen Tang
or, if additionally, symptoms like slightly yellow phlegm or white mix with yellow phlegm take:Â Wheezing Cough Formula
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Heat
The Lung is obstructed by Heat and Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in cough or dyspnoea with thick, sticky, yellow or green phlegm, thirst and dry throat.
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Cold
The Lung is obstructed by Cold and Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in cough, dyspnoea with thin, watery phlegm and a feeling cold in the chest or back.
Recommended formulas to use:
Deficiency of Lung Qi
Asthma attacks at night, chest tightness, wheezing, scant sticky sputum, dry cough, dry throat, weak voice, night sweating, tiredness, susceptibility to colds and flu, palpitations.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Fails to Grasp Qi
Shortness of breath on exertion, rapid, weak breathing, difficulty inhaling, chronic cough, asthma, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus.
