|
Asthma
Chinese medicine diagnosis
The Chinese describe asthma as ‘xiao’
which means wheezing combined with ‘chuan’ which means breathlessness.
Asthma can be caused either by:
Qi deficiency
Deficient Lung Qi is most common, but
deficient Spleen or Kidney Qi may also be a cause of asthma.
Phlegm
Phlegm can be caught in the chest causing
wheezing.
Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat
Mild asthma
can be exacerbated into a full-blown asthma attack by catching a cold
or flu. The Chinese refer to colds and flu as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat (see
page 119). The Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat must be cleared from the body for
a person to recover and bring the asthma back to manageable levels. If
it is not cleared, the asthma will intensify and this will further weaken
the already fragile Lungs (see also Colds and Flu on page 162).
Lifestyle
changes which may prevent or improve asthma
Diet
Many people with asthma have Phlegm
caught in the chest but are not aware of it. Asthma symptoms can often
be reduced by cutting out Phlegm and Damp-forming foods especially dairy
products (see page 22) which create a lot of mucus. Oranges are also known
to exacerbate phlegm on the chest. We can take care not to eat too much
cold food or sweet foods such as iced fizzy drinks and chocolates as these
can weaken our Spleen Qi, which in turn depletes the energy in our Lungs.
Some asthma is triggered by an intolerance
to certain foods or food additives. Those who get an asthma attack after
eating one or more foods can do the following:
- try removing one or more of the suspect foods
from the diet completely for a few weeks
- notice if the asthma recedes during this time
- if the asthma recedes, cut out the food(s) for
a longer period and watch to see if the asthma abates still more.
Food allergies
can occur by eating an excessive amount of one type of food over long
periods or if at an early age we were given food that our digestive system
was not mature enough to digest. If we crave one particular food this
may be a sign that we are allergic to it. We may need to give up the very
food we most enjoy in order to overcome the symptoms of intolerance.
We also need
to eat a nourishing diet which is rich in fresh vegetables and grains
(see page 18). This will strengthen our Qi and help to prevent asthma
attacks.
Protection
from the environment
Most
asthma sufferers know that catching a cold can intensify and trigger asthma
which is otherwise latent. Wearing a scarf in windy weather, wearing a
vest in the cold, covering the hands and feet and never leaving the chest
exposed to the environment are all essential to anyone who has asthma.
For more about protecting ourselves from the environment read Chapter
5, pages 111-134.
Over-activity
and rest
Inhalers
allow many people with asthma to lead a normal life. However, an asthma
attack is also a ‘signal’ that there is an underlying cause which needs
to be dealt with. An inhaler temporarily alleviates the symptom but does
not address the cause. Sometimes the relief gained from using an inhaler
allows us to do more than is within our true capacity. This can ultimately
deplete our Qi. Those who have asthma are advised to guard against doing
too much and take regular rests.
Emotions
Asthma
can be aggravated by stress or emotional problems. If this is the case,
we can take notice of the specific trigger. It can often be unexpressed
frustration or anger but may also be grief, anxiety or other emotions.
Once we know what provokes an attack we can examine our lifestyle and
decide how best we can deal with the stress. We can also strive to avoid
getting into situations which trigger the emotions. Read Chapter 3 of
this book to find other ways of dealing with emotional strains.
Qigong
and other exercises
Mild
exercise can often help people with asthma. For those who get no exercise
at all, it is a good idea to start learning Tai Ji Quan or Qigong as this
can strengthen the chest. Strong exercise is not recommended, especially
if the lungs are weak, as this may put too much strain on them.
Good
posture
Asthma
is sometimes caused or worsened by poor posture, especially during childhood.
Children can be stooping over books, sitting on wrongly adjusted seats
or watching television for long periods. In these situations they may
not breathe properly because they are putting undue pressure on their
chests. Adjusting the posture can be beneficial in these cases. Encouraging
more breaks for activity can also help to encourage proper breathing.
Pollutants
Pollutants
in the air will exacerbate an asthma attack. Living in an urban area can
be especially stressful on the lungs but country areas can also be polluted,
particularly during crop spraying. Household paint and other products
which contain strong chemicals can also give off noxious fumes which can
trigger attacks and even household cleaners can cause problems. House
dust mites are also said to be one of the most common causes of asthma
attacks. It is important to keep the environment of anyone with asthma
free of any of these particles and pollutants.
Smoking
Anyone
who has asthma is advised to stop smoking. Smoking weakens the Lung Qi
and causes further difficulty breathing.
|
