Man with Chronic Cough Diagnosed with Asthma Finds Relief After 3 Months of Traditional Chinese Medicine Treatment
A man suffering from a chronic cough, later diagnosed as asthma, experienced significant relief from symptoms like coughing, white phlegm, and nocturnal wheezing after undergoing a three-month course of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). This case study highlights the potential of TCM, used alongside Western medicine, in managing chronic conditions like asthma.
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(CNA, Taichung, May 18, by reporter Chao Li-yen) Mr. Chang often felt cold in the winter and would cough when exposed to wind or cold food. Taking heat-inducing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) would give him a dry mouth. Dr. Chen Lin-kuang, director of Tenbau Chinese Medicine Clinic, reminded that a chronic cough could be asthma. After three months of TCM treatment, Mr. Chang's coughing symptoms subsided.
People with a persistent chronic cough often assume it's due to a cold, smoking, or drinking too many cold beverages. Tenbau Chinese Medicine Clinic issued a press release today, in which Director Chen Lin-kuang stated that the prevalence of asthma in Taiwan is about 10% to 12%, with 2 million asthma patients. Seventy percent of potential patients are unaware they have asthma. Common symptoms include chronic cough, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and wheezing, with chronic cough being the most common.
Dr. Chen pointed out that the patient, Mr. Chang, had been coughing for three months, to the point where 'his cough arrived before he did,' accompanied by white phlegm and nocturnal wheezing. Although he was using Western medicine, his symptoms would recur as soon as the dosage was reduced, which troubled him greatly. He reported feeling cold in the winter and coughing from wind exposure or cold foods, while heat-inducing TCM caused a dry mouth.
Dr. Chen said this is what TCM calls a 'lung qi ascending adversely, with cold and heat disharmony' constitution. The treatment principle is to 'descend the adverse qi to calm wheezing, using both warming and moistening methods.' Specific herbs include apricot kernel, loquat leaf, bai qian, inula flower, purple aster, coltsfoot flower, pinellia tuber, and ophiopogon tuber.
After one month of taking TCM, Mr. Chang's coughing symptoms disappeared. After three months, his breathing became smoother, and the white phlegm and nocturnal wheezing significantly improved. Dr. Chen noted that asthma is a chronic disease, and TCM must be taken for a period to consolidate its efficacy, avoiding premature discontinuation that could lead to a relapse. TCM and Western medicine can be used concurrently, with a one-hour interval between them.
Dr. Chen urged that since asthma can be triggered or worsened by personal habits, environmental pollution, and climate factors, one should try to quit smoking, drinking, and betel nut chewing. He also advised avoiding overly 'tonic' herbal dishes like ginger duck, lamb hot pot, or sesame oil chicken, which can worsen respiratory inflammation and trigger asthma attacks. (Editor: Li Heng-shan)
People with a persistent chronic cough often assume it's due to a cold, smoking, or drinking too many cold beverages. Tenbau Chinese Medicine Clinic issued a press release today, in which Director Chen Lin-kuang stated that the prevalence of asthma in Taiwan is about 10% to 12%, with 2 million asthma patients. Seventy percent of potential patients are unaware they have asthma. Common symptoms include chronic cough, chest tightness, difficulty breathing, and wheezing, with chronic cough being the most common.
Dr. Chen pointed out that the patient, Mr. Chang, had been coughing for three months, to the point where 'his cough arrived before he did,' accompanied by white phlegm and nocturnal wheezing. Although he was using Western medicine, his symptoms would recur as soon as the dosage was reduced, which troubled him greatly. He reported feeling cold in the winter and coughing from wind exposure or cold foods, while heat-inducing TCM caused a dry mouth.
Dr. Chen said this is what TCM calls a 'lung qi ascending adversely, with cold and heat disharmony' constitution. The treatment principle is to 'descend the adverse qi to calm wheezing, using both warming and moistening methods.' Specific herbs include apricot kernel, loquat leaf, bai qian, inula flower, purple aster, coltsfoot flower, pinellia tuber, and ophiopogon tuber.
After one month of taking TCM, Mr. Chang's coughing symptoms disappeared. After three months, his breathing became smoother, and the white phlegm and nocturnal wheezing significantly improved. Dr. Chen noted that asthma is a chronic disease, and TCM must be taken for a period to consolidate its efficacy, avoiding premature discontinuation that could lead to a relapse. TCM and Western medicine can be used concurrently, with a one-hour interval between them.
Dr. Chen urged that since asthma can be triggered or worsened by personal habits, environmental pollution, and climate factors, one should try to quit smoking, drinking, and betel nut chewing. He also advised avoiding overly 'tonic' herbal dishes like ginger duck, lamb hot pot, or sesame oil chicken, which can worsen respiratory inflammation and trigger asthma attacks. (Editor: Li Heng-shan)