Asthma

Gu Ben Ke Chuan Wan
Ingredients: Ren Shen (Ginseng), Chuan Bei Mu (Chuan Fritillaria), Wu Wei Zi (Schizandra), Xi Xin (Wild Ginger), Bai Jie Zi (White Mustard Seed), etc.

Clinical Application:
The formula is used to treat cough, gasping and wheezing associated with bronchitis, bronchial asthma, pulmonary emhysema, and pulmonary heart diseases. One study followed up on 330 patients who took this formula and reported a total effective rate of 92.7%.(2)

Chu, et al. used Gu Ben Ke Chuan Wan to prevent and treat chronic bronchitis. The formula consisted of Huang Qi (Astragalus Root), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Chen Pi (Citrus Peel), Jiang Ban Xia (Pinellia processed w/ginger), Bu Gu Zhi (Psoralea), Fang Feng (Siler), Zi He Che (Placenta), and Gan Cao (Licorice). These herbs were processed into pills to be taken 10g each administration, 3 administrations per day. Of the 139 cases of deficiency-cold type asthma patients, 53.2% significantly improved; of the 16 cases of phlegm-damp type asthma patients, 50% significantly improved; and of the 30 cases of phlegm-heat type asthma patients 43.3% significantly improved. And of the subgroups of mild, moderate, and severe cases, the percentages of those who had significantly improved were 65.5%, 66.6% and 54.7%, respectively.(3)

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi
Yu, et al. used Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Powder to treat 38 cases of cold-type asthma. The ingredients of the powder were: Huo Xiang (Agastache), Hu Po (Amber), Bai Zhu (White Atractylodes), Jie Gen (Platycodon Root), Ban Xia (Pinellia), Bai Zhi (Angelica), Fu Ling (Hoelen), Da Fu Pi (Areca Peel), Chen Pi (Citrus Peel), Gan Jiang (dried Ginger), and Gan Cao (Licorice). Ten days of treatment constituted a treatment unit. After the treatment, 19 cases fully recovered, 17 cases improved, and 2 cases with no response. The total effective rate was 94.7%.(4)

Ping Chuan Tang
Yu used Ping Chuan Tang to treat 42 cases of severe bronchial asthma. This formula contained Zhe Bei Mu (Fritillary Bulb), Di Long (Earthworm), Xuan Shen (Scrophularia), Lu Gen (Phragmites), Ban Lan Gen (Isatis Root), Ma Huang (Ma Huang), Huang Qin (Astragalus Root), Bai Qian (Cynanchum), Chen Pi (Citrus Peel), and Gan Cao (Licorice). Adjustments were made according to the patients' particular symptoms. The formula was taken one dose per day for mild cases and 2 doses for severe cases. During the treatment, any cortical hormones and bronchodilators were avoided. The results: of the 42 cases treated, 36 cases significantly improved, 4 cases improved, and 2 cases with no response. The total effective rate was 95.2%.(5)

Gan Mei Tang
Li used Gan Mei Tang to treat 20 cases of cough variant asthma in children. The formula consisted of Wu Mei (Mume), Gan Cao (Licorice), Bai Qian (Cynanchum), Wu Wei Zi (Schizandra), Chen Pi (Citrus Peel), and Ban Xia (Pinellia). One unit of treatment called for 7 days of continuous treatment. After 3 units of treatment, 5 cases significantly improved, and the other 15 cases improved. The total effective rate was 100%. Follow-up visits in the ensuing six months observed no recurrences.(6)

Xiao Qing Long Tang
Li used modified Xiao Qing Long Tang to treat 80 cases of asthma in children. Xiao Qing Long Tang was made up of Ma Huang (Ma-Huang), Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), Fa Ban Xia (soaked Pinellia), Gan Jiang (dried Ginger), Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Huang Qin (Scutellaria), Xi Xin (Wild Ginger), Wu Wei Zi (Schizandra), Gan Cao (Licorice), and Jin Qiao Mai (Golden Buckwheat Rhizome). After 3-7 days of treatment, 74 of the 80 patients significantly improved.(7)

Huang Long Tang
Song, et al. treated 63 mild and moderate asthma cases with Huang Long Tang aerosol inhalant. The formula consisted of Ma Huang (Ma Huang), Di Long (Earthworm), Jiang Can (Silkworm), and Zhi Gan Cao (processed Licorice). The treatment achieved a total effective rate of 85.72%, and a PEF (peak expiration flow) improvement rate of 84.13%.(8)

Meng, et al. treated 30 cases of asthma by scraping the following acupoints: Zhongfu (LU 1), Tiantu (RN 22), Yutang (RN 18), and Shanzhong (RN 17) of the Ren channel, and Feishu (BL 13), Xinshu (BL 15), Dingchuan (EX-B 1), Qichuan (EX-LE 12), Zhishi (BL 52), Fengmen (BL 12), etc of the Urinary Bladder Meridian. The results: 24 improved, 5 significantly improved, and one case with no response.(10)

Zhu, et al. treated 470 cases of asthma with a combination of a self-prepared herbal extract, cupping, and a desensitization therapy, and reported that 93.2% of the cases improved (61.7% of the total cases treated improved significantly).(11)

Cheng, et al. treated 60 cases of infantile panting syndrome with pricking blood therapy. The congestive subcutaneous veins around the anus were pricked with a sterilized three-edged needle to draw a little blood, and then the local area was applied a layer of alum powder. The patients were not on any other medication while under the present treatment. The results: 24 cases significantly improved, 34 cases improved, and 2 cases with no response. The total effective rate was 96.67%.(13)

Tan treated 19 cases of acute asthma attack by needling acupoint Yuji unilaterally. The needles were inserted obliquely about 6-fen (20 millimeters) deep, manipulated by lifting and thrusting, and then retained for 15-25 minutes. The results: 13 patients had their panting and shortness of breath symptoms relieved after being treated for 7-21 minutes; 6 patients had their symptoms significantly improved after being treated for an average of 23 minutes.(14)

Acupoint Injection Therapy
Wang, et al. treated 260 cases of bronchial asthma by injection at acupoint Dingchuan (EX-B 1). The syringe needle-tip, containing 4ml of Yu Xing Cao, was rapidly inserted and straight into this acupoint about 1cm deep to push the injection solution into the tissue, about 0.5ml for each acupoint. For patients under 15 years of age, Kongzhui (L 6) was treated instead of Dingchuan (EX-B 1). During an asthma attack, the acupoint-injection was administered once a day, with 2ml of Yu Xing Cao solution for each side and bilateral sides were used. After panting had ceased, the acupoint injection was administered once every other day. One unit of treatment consisted of 10 injection sessions. The results: 206 cases fully recovered, 42 cases improved, and 12 cases with no response. The total effective rate being 95%.(15)

Meng, et al. treated 42 cases of panting by injecting the patient's own blood into acupoints Fengmen (B 12) and Feishu (B 13). A suitable amount of fresh blood drawn from the patient's own cubital vein was injected rapidly into the acupoints. This treatment was conducted once every week, and 4 sessions constituted a unit of treatment. The results: after 2 units of treatment, 15 cases fully recovered, 23 cases improved, and 4 cases with no response.(16)

Xiong, et al. treated 88 cases of infantile cough and asthma by acupoint injection therapy. Hegu (LI4), Feishu (B 13), and Dingchuan (EX-B 1) were chosen as the main acupoints to receive treatment, while Zusanli (S 36), Xuehai (SP 10), and Fenglong (S 40) were considered as adjunct acupoints. For infants under 1 year old, 0.25mg of Kadisu was injected into each acupoint. For older infants, the dosage was doubled. For the first 3 days, one application was given each day. After that, the regime was changed to once every 2-3 days. The entire treatment constituted 12 applications. The results: 44 cases fully recovered, 23 had their symptoms brought was under control, 16 cases significantly improved, and the remaining 5 cases improved. The total effective rate was 100%.(17)

Acupoint Application
Lu treated 117 cases of asthma by externally applying a herbal paste to acupoints. The paste was made from a formula called Bai Jie Zi San and applied during the three hottest per