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Obstructive Emphysema

1. Overview and Causes
2. Symptoms
3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation
4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM
  a. Exterior Cold and Interior Heat
  b. Cold-phlegm Accumulated in the Lung
  c. Phlegm-Heat Retained in the Lung
5. Healing by Other Therapies
  a. Qigong and other
  b. Medicated diet
  c. Life style
6. Psychological Adaptation


1. Overview and Causes

Obstructive Emphysema is clinically characterized by asthma and distending sensation in the chest. In this case the air sacs of the lung are enlarged and damaged, which reduces the surface area for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Severe emphysema causes breathlessness, which is made worse by infection.

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2. Symptoms

1. Having the medical history of chronic bronchitis, or bronchial asthma, or extensive bronchiectasis, and /or smoking
2.Has been suffering from asthma and distending sensation in the chest

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3. TCM Effectiveness and Evaluation

Obstructive emphysema is successfully treated by TCM's treatment approach, it is more effective than other kind of treatments and no side effects. A treatment cycle should be longer than six months.

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4. Common Syndromes and Treatments in TCM

This ailment, according to TCM, has different syndromes. The treatment for these syndromes using herbal medicine and acupuncture is shown below.

Syndrome (a)
Exterior Cold and Interior Heat

Severe chills, mild fever, stuffy nose with watery discharge, anhidrosis, asthma with hoarse breathing, yellow sticky thick sputum, reddened tongue with yellowish coating, and slippery rapid pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Relieving exterior syndrome and clearing away internal Heat.

Prescription/Formula: Ephedra(Mahuang)6g, Cinnamon Twig(Guizhi)9g, Gypsum(Shengshigao)30g, Bitter Apricot Kernel(Xingren)9g, Trichosanthes Seed (Gualouren)18g, Sichuan Fritilary Bulb(Chuanbaimu)9g, Licorice root(Gancao) 6g

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Prescription/Formula: Yuji(LU10), Fengchi(GB20), Taiyuan(LU9), Feishu(LU13), Qichi(LI11)


  

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Syndrome (b)
Cold-phlegm Accumulated in the Lung

Frequent expectoration of white frothy sputum, chills, cold limbs, protracted cough and asthma which are evoked whenever cold is affected, whitish slippery tongue coating, and taut slippery slow pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Warming and resolving Cold-Phlegm.

Prescription/Formula: Magnolia Bark(Houpu)10g, Ephedra(Mahuang)6g, Bitter Apricot Kernel(Xingren)9g, Schisandra Fruit(Wuweizi)9g, Pinella Tuber(Banxia)9g, Dried Ginger(Ganjiang)6g, Licorice root(Gancao) 6g

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Prescription/Formula: Yuji(LU10), Fengchi(GB20), Taiyuan(LU9), Feishu(LU13)


  

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Syndrome (c)
Phlegm-Heat Retained in the Lung

White sticky or yellow thick profuse sputum, distending full and oppressed sensation in the chest, cough, asthma, or fever, flushed face, thirst, dark urine, dry stools, reddened tongue with yellow thick coating, and full slippery pulse.

To treat by Herbal medicine
Therapeutic principle: Clearing away the Lung-Heat, resolving Phlegm, checking upward adverse flow of Qi and relieving asthma.

Prescription/Formula: Gypsum(Shengshigao)30g, Trichosanthes Seed (Gualouren)24g, Bitter Apricot Kernel(Xingren)9g, Pinella Tuber(Banxia)9g, Immature bitter orange(Zhishi)10g, Scutellaria Root(Huangqin)10g, Tangerine Peel (Chenpi)9g, Poria(Fuling)12g, Licorice root(Gancao) 6g

  

To treat by Acupuncture and Moxibustion

Prescription/Formula: Duzhui(DU14), Qichi(LI11), Yuji(LU10), Fengchi (GB20), Taiyuan(LU9), Feishu(LU13)

To treat by Ear Acupuncture
Prescription/Formula: Pt. Lung, Pt. Largel Intestine, Pt. Antitragic Apex, Pt. Endocrine, Pt. Sympathetic Nerve, Pt. Shenmen

  

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5. Healing by Other Therapies

(a) Qigong and other therapies

For effect of Qigong on the Nervous System Function, click here.

Generally speaking, Qigong is good for healing effect of this specific ailment, however individual results may vary. It improves the flow of the qi and the circulation of the blood, so you'll experience more energy, but, you won't see/ feel any immediate effects, as with many exercises and therapies, it takes a few weeks or even months of practice before you'll see any significant improvements.

The following types of Qigong may help:

For the information of different types of Qigong ,just click a link above.

This information is for education purpose only. We strongly advise you seek a licensed Qigong master to learn the correct ways to conduct these exercises before attempting them.

(b) Medicated diet
1. Tangerine peel(Chenpi) 10g, Bitter Apricot Kernel (Xingren)10g, Ophiopogon (Maidong)12g, rice 60g, put 3 cups water then soak 20m., after boiling 30m.to make rice gruel, eat once a day for 4 weeks.

(c) Life style
1) Stop smoking.
2) Avoid to eat row, cold, spicy food and deep-fried food.
3) Pay attention to keep doing exercise.


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6. Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness
One encounters different health problems in the course of one's life. Some problems are acute yet minor and often improve by themselves or yield to simple self-management. Severe and acute conditions often necessitate the help of health professionals who may provide fast relief with specific interventions. However, when the condition is chronic, the management required is quite different.

Please click the following button to learn "Psychological Adaptation to a Chronic and Severe Illness".

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Acknowledgments:
Healthphone.com greatly acknowledges the support and dedication of our
Healing Centre Panel, without whom this section would not be possible.

We also greatly acknowedge Ms. Najaf Munir, MBBS, for her editorial support. Ms. Munir simplified the highly technical medical documents into easy-to-read documents, for the enjoyment and education of our numerous visitors.