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:
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.
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
Recent Comments