In Chinese medicine, asthma is called “xiao chuan, ” which means wheezing and dyspnea, respectively. Chinese medicine classifies xiao and chuan as two separate illnesses with different treatments. Xiao (wheezing) is characterized by a whistling sound during breathing, increased respiration rate, dyspnea and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Chuan (shortness of breath) is characterized by dyspnea, constant opening of mouth to grasp air, raised shoulder, flared nostrils and inability to rest in a horizontal position. Patients with xiao (wheezing) generally will have chuan (shortness of breath), while patients with chuan (shortness of breath) may or may not have xiao (wheezing). In Western medicine, wheezing and shortness of breath are both considered as symptoms which may be present in many different types of pulmonary syndromes such as asthma, acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbs may help:
1)improve and balance the immune system
2)reduce allergic reaction
3)reduce bronchial inflammation
4)adjust the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system in order to expand the walls of the airways
5)reduce and withdraw mucus and phlegm
6)increase the capacity of the lungs
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