Acupuncture for Asthma

•Acupuncture Treatment for Asthma

•Research on Acupuncture and Asthma

•Acupuncture Points for Asthma

ShareThis

ACUPUNCTURE FOR ASTHMA

Several different lung conditions are commonly diagnosed as asthma by MDs . But
acupuncturists see asthma in a different light. To an acupuncturist, asthma could be
any combination of the following syndromes:

Spleen Deficiency Asthma creating dampness in the lung

Liver Heat Asthma which scorches the lung
Lung Qi Deficiency Asthma and consequent lung weakness
Kidney Qi Deficiency Asthma which leave the lungs unable to grasp the qi.

ACUPUNCTURE TECHNIQUE: Acupuncture treatment will vary depending on the

traditional Chinese diagnosis, and the patient's overall constitution. Asthmatic
patients who are strong or have plentty of qi (energy), for example, can receive
more aggressive acupuncture than a frail asthmatic patient. An acupuncturist can
make this diagnosis using a technique called the four examinations, which includes
looking, listening, smelling, and touching.

Acupuncture techniques can include ordinary acupuncture needling, 'five star

needling', where the skin is gently tapped but not penetrated, "gua shi" where the
lung points of the upper back are scraped or massaged until the skin is red. Cupping
may also be applied with acupuncture or with any of these acupuncture methods.
Cups are glass or plastic open spheres that adhere to the skin after the air has been
removed by fire or by vacuum pump. In asthma cases, cups are applied to the upper
back.

CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINES FOR ASTHMA

Acupuncture Asthma Research

There are many studies relating to the success of acupuncture treatment for asthma
reported in medical journals. In 1979 the World health Organisation listed 40
diseases for which acupuncture was considered to be beneficial including asthma and
bronchitis.

One report stated that acupuncture is excellent for a mild attack and well accepted
for children." This view is supported through the international medical literature and
the published controlled studies.

In a study at the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in the University

Hospital of Vienna over 70% of patients with long-standing asthma reported a
significant improvement of their ailments after ten weeks of acupuncture treatment.

(1). Aldridge d & Pietroni P (1987) Clinical assessment of Acupuncture in Asthma

Therapy: a discussion paper. Journal of the Royal Soc of Med, 80, 222-4.

Scientists at the Department of Acupuncture, Second Municipal People's Hospital,

Henan Province studied 192 patients suffering from bronchial asthma , all of whom
were treated by acupuncture on acupuncture points Kongzui (Lu 6) and acupuncture
point Yuji (Lu 10). The study found that 40 minutes of needle retention was the most
desirable. Acupuncture treatment of bronchial asthma was considered very effective
There was an effective rate of 98.9%, and the rate of clinical remission dropped.

Acupuncture and asthma: a review of controlled trials.

See document: nih.gov [PDF]
J Kleijnen, G Ter Riet, P Knipschild - British Medical Journal, 1991 - thorax.bmj.com

The effects of acupuncture on Asthma : a problem reassessed and a

framework for future research
GT Lewith, C Vincent - The Journal of Alternative and …, 1996 - liebertonline.com
... QUESTIONS ADDRESSED IN CLINICAL ACUPUNCTURE RESEARCH

Immunomodulatory effects of acupuncture in the treatment of allergic

asthma
S Joos, C Schott, H Zou, V Daniel, E

Some Acupuncture Points for Asthma

COMMON ACUPUNCTURE POINTS FOR ALL TYPES OF ASTHMA INCLUDE: Feishu UB
13, Lieque LU 7, Fengmen UB 12, Tanzhong CV 17, and Chize LU 5.

Spleen type asthma should focus on sedating the Lung and eliminating the phlegm.
Acupuncture Point Renzhong REN 17 should be stimulated. Acupuncture Point Chize
LU 5 should be needled against the flow of the channel.Speen type usually includes
acupuncture point Spleen 6 as well as acupuncture points near the chest. Other
acupuncture points can include:

Acupuncture Point Pi Shu • Bladder 20 Spleen Shu. Back Shu of the Spleen.
Location: On the middle back, 1.5 cun lateral to the lower border of the spinous
process of the eleventh thoracic vertebra (T11).

Acupuncture Point Zu San Li • Stomach 36 Leg Three Miles

Location: On the leg, one finger breadth lateral to the tibia's anterior crest, 3 cun
inferior to ST 35 in the depression to the lateral side of the patella.
Asthma that worsens during emotional stress may be related to the liver. This does
not indicate liver disease in the Western sense, but can be related to the liver qi,
which circulates throughout the chest.

Liver Heat type should include points such as Acupuncture Point Large Intestine 4 to
clear heat from the lungs and upper body. As well as Acupuncture Point Urinary
Bladder 18 to normalize the LIVER.
Kidney deficient type of asthma can occur in weak patients and does not indicate
kidney disease of any kind. This type of asthma indicates that the lungs are not
getting enough energy from the kidneys, which according to TCM, are considered the
repository od qi (energy)

Kidney deficient asthma may inclide Kidney tonifying acupuncture points like
acupuncture point K3 or acupuncture point UB 23. Cupping may also be used on the
upper and lower back.