Asthma and natural medicine: a supportive approach

What is asthma?

In Western medicine, asthma is a long-term inflammatory condition of the airways. The airways become sensitive and over-reactive. When triggered, the muscles around them tighten, the lining swells and more mucus is produced. Over time, poorly controlled inflammation can change the airway walls, which is one reason good medical control matters.

Living with asthma can be stressful. If you have questions about medication side effects, raise them with your doctor or pharmacist rather than changing doses on your own.

What are the symptoms of asthma?

Symptoms vary from person to person and over time. Typical ones include:

• Coughing, often worse at night or early morning
• Wheezing
• Chest tightness
• Shortness of breath
• In a severe attack, great difficulty breathing or speaking, which is an emergency

What triggers asthma?

Asthma is sometimes described as extrinsic or intrinsic. Extrinsic (allergic) asthma is linked to triggers such as pollen, animal dander, dust mites, mould or certain foods. Intrinsic asthma is linked to non-allergic triggers such as respiratory infections, cold air, exercise, smoke and emotional stress. Many people have a mix. Knowing your own triggers is part of any good action plan.

How does Traditional Chinese Medicine view asthma?

TCM describes the body in terms of organ systems and the movement of qi (energy) and blood. In this framework, breathing difficulties are usually linked to the Lung system, with the Spleen and Kidney systems playing a supporting role. Patterns a TCM practitioner may look for include:

• The Lung being affected by external factors, such as wind and cold, together with phlegm
• Weakness in the Lung, Spleen or Kidney systems
• A diet heavy in sweet or greasy foods, which TCM links to phlegm
• Alcohol and smoking
• Emotional stress
• Seasonal change, with autumn traditionally associated with the Lung
• General qi deficiency

TCM also describes a "defensive qi" that helps protect the body from outside influences. In traditional theory, this defensive energy depends on the Lung and is supported by the Kidney. When it is weak, the body is seen as more reactive to the environment. These are traditional concepts, not Western diagnoses, and they are used to guide an individual treatment plan.

How can TCM fit alongside your asthma care?

People who come to Aculosophy with asthma keep using their inhalers and following their action plan. TCM is added around that care, and we encourage you to tell your doctor you are having acupuncture.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture uses fine, sterile, single-use needles. For people with asthma, the aim is to help the body relax, ease tension in the chest, neck and upper back, and support a calmer breathing pattern. Research on acupuncture for asthma is mixed, and it should not be relied on to open the airways during symptoms. Many people do find the sessions calming, and stress is a common trigger.

Diet

In TCM, what you eat is closely linked to how the body produces phlegm and how well it is nourished. Dalibor may suggest foods to favour and foods to reduce, based on your pattern. If you have known food allergies, those always come first, and your doctor or allergist's advice takes priority.

Herbal medicine

Chinese herbal medicine uses formulas tailored to the individual. For some people with asthma, herbs may be considered as a support. They are not a replacement for inhaled corticosteroids or any other prescribed medicine. Some herbs interact with medications, so Dalibor needs a full list of everything you take, and your pharmacist should know as well.

What happens at a first visit?

Your first visit starts with questions about your asthma: how long you have had it, how well controlled it is, your triggers and your medication. Dalibor then does a TCM assessment, including pulse diagnosis, and explains the plan and cost before treatment. Your first visit is an initial examination ($110, about 60 minutes) followed by your first acupuncture treatment ($120).

Please bring your reliever inhaler to every appointment. If your asthma is poorly controlled, or you have had a recent flare-up, see your doctor first.

Next steps

To learn more about the tools we use, read about acupuncture at Aculosophy and Chinese herbal medicine. The clinic is at 1550 Enterprise Rd in Mississauga, about 20 minutes from Etobicoke. If you would like to add TCM to your asthma care, you can book a first visit.

Common questions

Can I stop using my inhaler if I have acupuncture?

No. Keep using your inhalers and follow your asthma action plan exactly as your doctor prescribed. Only your doctor should change asthma medication.

What should I do if I have an asthma attack during a visit?

Bring your reliever inhaler to every appointment. If symptoms come on, we stop treatment, you use your reliever as your action plan says, and we call 911 if it is not helping.

Are Chinese herbs safe with asthma medication?

Some herbs can interact with medications. Dalibor asks for a full list of what you take and only suggests herbs that fit your situation. Tell your doctor and pharmacist too.

This page is general information, not medical advice. Acupuncture works alongside the care you get from your family doctor. If your symptoms are new, severe or getting worse, see your doctor first.