Asthma is a paroxysmal asthma disease with phlegm and wheezing. There is a wheezing sound in the throat, shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and even wheezing and being unable to lie down.
Cause and pathogenesis
1. Cause
(1) Invasion of external evils: Exogenous wind-cold or wind-heat evils fail to be dispersed in time, and the evils accumulate. In the lungs, it blocks lung qi, prevents qi from distributing fluids, and accumulates fluid and produces phlegm. Or due to inhalation of smoke, pollen, animal dander, odorous gases, etc., it affects the circulation and descent of lung qi, the coagulation of body fluids, and the internal growth of phlegm, causing wheezing.
(2) Improper diet: overeating raw and cold food, drinking cold drinks internally, or being addicted to eating sour food that turns into sweet and fat, causing phlegm to accumulate in the body, or eating seaweed and hairy substances, which will cause the spleen to lose its health and cause phlegm to become turbid in the body. It arises and ascends to the lungs, blocking the airways and causing inflammation.
(3) After physical weakness and illness: If the quality is not strong, you will be susceptible to evil invasion. For example, asthma in young children is often caused by insufficient endowment. If you become weak after illness, such as measles or cough in childhood, or repeated colds or coughing for a long time, etc., leading to lung deficiency. Lung qi deficiency, yang deficiency and yin excess, qi failure to transform into body fluids, phlegm and fluid accumulation, or yin deficiency and yang excess, accumulation of hot steamed liquid, and hot phlegm gelatinization, can cause wheezing. Generally speaking, those with weak constitution mostly suffer from kidney disease, while those caused by illness mostly suffer from lung disease.
2. Pathogenesis
The main pathological factor is phlegm. The production of phlegm is mainly due to the uncondensation and condensation of human body fluids. If it is hidden in the lungs, it becomes a potential "old root" of the disease. It is induced by various inducements such as climate, diet, emotion, fatigue, etc. These inducements There are many complex correlations, especially climate change. The essence of the "old root" theory of asthma is that the yin and yang of the internal organs are imbalanced, the body is too strong and too weak, and the transportation and transformation of body fluids are abnormal. The lungs cannot distribute body fluids, the spleen cannot transport water and essence, and the kidneys cannot evaporate water. It will condense into phlegm. If the phlegm lies in the lungs, it will become a potential pathological factor.
The basic pathological changes during the attack are "phlegm" when touched by sensation, phlegm rises with the Qi, Qi blocks due to phlegm, fights with each other, blocks the airway, narrows the lung ducts, and is not smooth, and the lung Qi Abnormal Xuanjiang causes accumulated phlegm, resulting in roaring phlegm and shortness of breath. The pathological link during the attack is phlegm blocking Qi and obstruction, mainly caused by pathogenic factors. If the cause of the disease is cold, the body's yang is deficient, and the phlegm transforms from cold, and the patient is suffering from cold phlegm, then cold asthma occurs; ; For example, if phlegm-heat is internally suppressed and wind-cold is caused by external bundles, it may manifest as cold-packed-heat asthma caused by external cold and internal heat; if phlegm is turbid in the lungs, lung qi is blocked, and wind evil triggers, it may manifest as wind-phlegm asthma; repeated attacks, Those who are depleted of healthy energy or have insufficient lungs and kidneys may manifest themselves as asthma.
If there are long-term and repeated attacks, cold phlegm damages the yang of the spleen and kidneys, and phlegm-heat consumes and burns the yin of the lungs and kidneys, the condition may turn from excess to deficiency, with symptoms of weakness of the lungs, spleen, kidneys and other internal organs. . Lung deficiency cannot control Qi and Qi cannot transform body fluids, so phlegm will be internally turbid and unable to purify and subside. Moreover, because the defense is not solid outside, it will be more susceptible to the invasion and induction of external evils. Spleen deficiency cannot transform water and grains into essence, which can be transferred upward to nourish the lungs. On the contrary, dampness accumulates and produces phlegm, which is stored in the lungs, thereby affecting the rise and fall of lung qi; kidney deficiency is deficient in essence and qi, and the absorption and absorption are abnormal, resulting in yang deficiency and water flooding into phlegm, or yin deficiency and fire burning body fluids to form phlegm, which rises in the lungs. Aggravate the abnormal rise and fall of lung qi. Due to the mutual influence between the three internal organs, the same disease can occur, manifesting as deficiency of lung and spleen or deficiency of both lung and kidney. When the lungs and kidneys are deficient, phlegm becomes turbid and becomes blocked again. In severe cases, the lungs cannot control and regulate the circulation of the heart and blood. If the fire of the vital gate of kidney deficiency cannot be raised to help the heart, the heart yang will also be affected at the same time, and even asthma and dyspnea may occur.
Key points of diagnosis
1. It is mostly related to innate endowment, and there may be a history of asthma in the family. It is often caused by sudden changes in climate, improper diet, emotional disorders, fatigue, etc.
2. Recurrent.
3. The onset is often sudden, with symptoms such as nasal itching, sneezing, coughing, and chest tightness. There is obvious wheezing in the throat, difficulty in breathing, inability to lie down, and even pale complexion and bluish lips and nails, which resolves after a few minutes or hours.
4. You can behave as normal people, or you may feel a little tired or have poor appetite. However, as the disease progresses over time and the disease relapses, it can lead to a deficiency of healthy energy, and mild wheezing may often occur. Even in the case of a major attack, it is difficult to calm down and asthma and prolapse may occur.
Identification of similar syndromes
1. Asthma and asthma syndrome
Asthma and asthma syndrome both have symptoms of shortness of breath and difficulty. Asthma must also be wheezing. But wheezing may not necessarily be accompanied by wheezing.
Wheezing refers to wheezing in the throat, which is a recurring independent disease; wheezing refers to shortness of breath and difficulty breathing, and is a symptom of various acute and chronic lung diseases. .
2. Asthma and Zhiyin
Zhiyin can also present the symptoms of phlegm and wheezing. Most of them are due to chronic cough that does not heal for a long time and gradually worsens, resulting in cough and asthma. The condition is sometimes mild. It is severe and the boundary between attacks and intervals is unclear. Coughing and wheezing are the main symptoms. There is a clear difference between asthma and asthma with intermittent attacks, sudden onset and rapid remission, wheezing in the throat, mild cough or no cough.
Syndrome differentiation and treatment
(1) Attack period
1. Cold wheezing syndrome
Main symptoms: wheezing in the throat like the sound of a water chicken, Shortness of breath, wheezing and suffocation, chest and diaphragm fullness and stuffiness, not much cough, little phlegm and difficulty in vomiting, white color with lots of foam, not thirsty or prefers hot drinks when thirsty, cold body and fear of cold, prone to cold weather or cold, The complexion is blue and dull, the tongue coating is white and slippery, and the pulse is stringy or floating.
Summary of the pathogenesis: Cold phlegm accumulates in the lungs, which is triggered by a cold. The phlegm rises and blocks Qi, causing the lungs to lose their circulation.
Treatment method: Xuanfei, dispersing cold, reducing phlegm and relieving asthma.
Representative prescriptions: Shegan Mahuang Decoction or Xiaoqinglong Decoction.
Commonly used drugs: ephedra, Shegan, dried ginger, asarum, pinellia, aster, coltsfoot, Schisandra chinensis, jujube, licorice, etc.
2. Heat asthma syndrome
Main symptoms: Roaring phlegm in the throat, wheezing and shortness of breath, high chest and swollen flanks, bursts of coughing and choking, and yellow or white phlegm. , sticky and thick, difficulty in vomiting, bitter mouth, thirsty to drink, sweating, red face, or body heat, even more common in summer, yellow and greasy tongue coating, red texture, slippery and rapid pulse or slippery pulse .
Summary of the pathogenesis: Phlegm-heat accumulates in the lungs, blocking the airway and causing the lungs to lose their purity.
Treatment: clear away heat and relieve lung inflammation, resolve phlegm and relieve asthma.
Representative prescriptions: Dingchuan Decoction or Yuejiao plus Banxia Decoction.
Commonly used drugs: ephedra, skullcap, mulberry bark, almond, pinellia, coltsfoot, perilla, ginkgo, licorice, etc.
3. Hanbao heat asthma syndrome
Main symptoms: wheezing in the throat, chest and diaphragm discomfort, shortness of breath, wheezing and coughing, uncomfortable expectoration, sticky yellow phlegm , or a combination of yellow and white, irritability, fever, aversion to cold, no sweat, body pain, dry mouth and desire to drink, dry stool, greasy white tongue coating with yellow cover, red tip and edge of tongue, stringy and tight pulse.
Summary of the pathogenesis: phlegm-heat blocks the lungs, combined with wind-cold, coldness in the guest brings fire, and the lungs lose their circulation and descend.
Treatment method: relieve superficial cold, clear away phlegm and heat.
Representative prescriptions: Xiaoqinglong plus Gypsum Decoction or Magnolia Ephedra Decoction plus or minus.
Commonly used drugs: ephedra, gypsum, magnolia bark, almond, ginger, pinellia, licorice, jujube, etc.
4. Wind-phlegm asthma syndrome
Main symptoms: Accumulation of phlegm and saliva in the throat, the sound is like a saw, or the sound is like a whistle, shortness of breath, chest fullness, but cannot sit down Do not lie down, the phlegm is sticky and difficult to come out, or it is white foamy sputum without obvious cold or heat tendency, the complexion is blue and dark, the onset is rapid, often comes and goes suddenly, and the nose, throat, eyes, and ears feel itchy and sneezing before the onset. , nasal congestion, runny nose, chest congestion, followed by rapid onset, thick and turbid tongue coating, and slippery and solid pulse.
Summary of the pathogenesis: phlegm lurks in the lungs, wind evil induces contact, lung qi is stagnant, and the ascending and descending functions are lost.
Treatment: dispel wind and eliminate phlegm, lower qi and relieve asthma.
Representative prescription: Sanzi Yangqin Decoction with flavor.
Commonly used drugs: white mustard seeds, perilla seeds, radish seeds, ephedra, almonds, silkworms, Magnolia officinalis, pinellia, tangerine peel, poria, etc.
5. Deficiency Asthma Syndrome
Main Symptoms: Wheezing in the throat like snoring, low voice, shortness of breath, severe wheezing when moving, frequent attacks, or persistent wheezing. Blue and purple lips and claw nails, inability to cough up phlegm, thin and thin phlegm or sticky and frothy phlegm, pale complexion or red cheeks and purple lips, lack of thirst or dry throat, cold body and cold limbs or irritability and heat, pale or partial tongue Red or dark purple, pulse is thin or thready.
Summary of the pathogenesis: Asthma occurs for a long time, phlegm and Qi are blocked, the lungs and kidneys are deficient, and the intake and absorption are abnormal.
Treatment method: Nourishing the lungs and nourishing the kidneys, lowering qi and resolving phlegm.
Representative prescription: Pingchuang Guben Decoction.
Commonly used drugs: Codonopsis pilosula, astragalus, walnut meat, agarwood, umbilical cord, cordyceps, schisandra, perilla, pinellia, butterbur, orange peel, etc.
Attachment: Asthma escape syndrome
Main symptoms: recurrent and prolonged asthma, wheezing, nasal fanning, mouth opening and shoulder lifting, shortness of breath, irritability, dizziness, blue face, limbs Cold, sweating like oil, thready and innumerable pulse, or floating and rootless pulse, blue and dark tongue, greasy or slippery coating.
Summary of the pathogenesis: excessive phlegm, obstruction of the orifices, deficiency of both lungs and kidneys, depletion of qi and yin, and failure of heart and kidney yang.
Treatment method: Nourishing the lungs and nourishing the kidneys, strengthening the body and strengthening the body.
Representative prescriptions: Huiyang First Aid Decoction and Shengmai Yin plus or minus.
Commonly used drugs: ginseng, aconite, licorice, cornus, schisandra, ophiopogon japonicus, keel, oyster, cordyceps, gecko, etc.
(2) Remission period
1. Lung spleen deficiency syndrome
Main symptoms: shortness of breath, low voice, mild wheezing in the throat, and excessive phlegm Thin texture, white color, spontaneous sweating, fear of wind, frequent colds, fatigue and weakness, less food and loose stools, pale tongue, white coating, and weak pulse.
Summary of the pathogenesis: As the disease lasts for a long time, the lungs will not be able to regulate qi, the spleen will not be able to move properly, the qi will not transform into body fluids, phlegm will accumulate in the lungs, and the lung qi will go up and down.
Treatment method: Strengthen the spleen and qi, nourish the soil and generate metal.
Representative prescription: Liujunzi Decoction.
Commonly used drugs: Codonopsis pilosula, Atractylodes macrocephala, yam, Yiren, Poria, Pinellia ternata, orange peel, Schisandra chinensis, licorice, etc.
2. Syndrome of lung and kidney deficiency
Main symptoms: shortness of breath, especially when moving, difficulty in breathing, slightly sticky phlegm, tinnitus, backache and leg pain Soft, flustered, intolerant of exertion. Or five upset fever, red cheeks, dry mouth, red tongue with less coating, and thready pulse; or fear of cold and cold limbs, pale complexion, pale tongue coating, fat texture, and heavy and thready pulse.
Summary of the pathogenesis: Asthma occurs for a long time, the essence and qi are deficient, the lungs and kidneys absorb and absorb abnormally, the qi does not return to its original state, and the body fluid condenses into phlegm.
Treatment method: Nourish the lungs and kidneys.
Representative prescriptions: Shengmai Dihuang Decoction and Alloy Water Liujun Decoction.
Commonly used drugs: Rehmannia glutinosa, cornus, walnut meat, ginseng, Ophiopogon japonicus, Schisandra chinensis, Poria cocos, licorice, pinellia, tangerine peel, etc.
Prevention and care
1. Keep warm to prevent colds and avoid being induced by the stimulation of cold air.
2. Do appropriate physical exercises according to your physical condition to gradually enhance your physical fitness and improve your disease resistance.
3. The diet should be light, avoid fatty, greasy, spicy and sweet foods to prevent phlegm and fire, and avoid seaborne hair; avoid smoke and odor; keep your mood comfortable and avoid the influence of bad emotions; work and rest appropriately, Prevent excessive fatigue.
4. You can take Yupingfeng Powder, Shenqi Pills and other medicines regularly to regulate healthy energy and improve disease resistance.