Traditional Chinese medicine is especially effective in the treatment ofcoughs because of its careful differentiation of the various types. For example, a cough due to heat produces sticky phlegm that is difficult to expectorate; it is treated with cooling, moistening herbs andacupuncture points that clear heat from the lungs. On the other hand, a cough due to cold is accompanied by chills and copious mucus; it is treated with warming, drying herbs.
Without this differentiation, it is easy to see how an unfocused treatment might be ineffective or even cause the cough to get worse. Descriptions of a few of the more commonly diagnosed types ofcoughs in Chinese medicine follow.
Treating a Hot Phlegm Cough with Traditional Chinese Medicine
In this syndrome, the accumulated phlegm becomes thick and sticky due to heat. The cough can have a loud, barking sound. The phlegm is quite difficult to expectorate and the heat gives it a darker color, ranging from yellow to brown or dark green. This type of cough requires aggressive treatment as the green indicates that the trapped mucus has become infected. Mucus in the lungs is an ideal breeding ground for bacteria, so it is important to clear the mucus as quickly as possible with herbs that moisten the lungs to dislodge the mucus and stimulate expectoration.
A highly effective formula for this condition is Pinellia Expectorant Pills. This patent medicine is available under several names, including Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan or Pinellia Root Teapills, but they are all the same formula. To maximize the effect, it is best to take it along with Gan Mao Ling or Yin Qiao Jie Du Pian. As in all syndromes involving phlegm, diet is extremely important. It is best to avoid cold foods, dairy products, and sweets, as these all create mucus. Therapeutic foods include hot soups, cooked vegetables and whole grains, and small amounts of raw juices at room temperature to assist in moistening the lungs in order to promote expectoration.
Treating a Damp or Cold Phlegm Cough with Traditional Chinese Medicine
This pattern is characterized by frequent coughing with expectoration of copious amounts of clear or sticky white phlegm that is typically more plentiful in the morning or after meals. There can also be nausea, a sensation of fullness in the chest or abdomen, poor appetite, fatigue, and a sensation of heaviness. The principle treatment in this syndrome is to clear the phlegm from the lungs and strengthen the digestion, since an underlying deficiency in spleen qi creates an inclination toward excessive mucus production.
The classic formula for this condition is Er Chen Tang, or "Two Old Things Decoction," with the addition of herbs to repel the pathogen and warm the lungs. The patent version of Er Chen Tang is Er Chen Wan. If there are accompanying wind-cold symptoms of headache, stiff neck, and nasal congestion, the patent medicine Chuan Xiong Cha Tiao Wan can also be taken.
Dietary therapy is similar to that for hot phlegm cough, except the avoidance of cold foods is especially important. A person with this condition should consume lots of hot liquids, especially ginger tea, get plenty of rest, and stay warm. Hot soup made mostly from vegetables is a tasty treatment as well.
Treating a Wind Dryness Cough with Traditional Chinese Medicine
This type of cough is typically contracted after exposure to a dry environment. Different from a chronic dry cough caused by a deficiency of lung yin (often from smoking), in this case the dryness of the air allows the dryness external pernicious influence to attack the lungs. The symptoms are a dry cough and a sore throatwith a ticklish sensation, dry lips and mouth, and, possibly, a headache.
The treatment principle is to repel the dryness pernicious influence, moisten the lungs, and stop the cough. A classic formula for this condition is Sang Xing Tang (pronounced sahng shing tahng), translated as "Mulberry Leaf and Apricot Seed Decoction." This formula doesn't come in a patent medicine, but an effective replacement is Chuan Bei Pi Pa Gao.
The diet should consist of soups and plenty of liquids. When the condition is gone, it would be wise to begin taking American ginseng (xi yang shen) on a daily basis for a few weeks. This will strengthen the qi and yin of the lungs and make a future attack less likely.
Treatment Planning for a Cough
Most acute coughs respond to the above treatments within a week, unless the person fails to improve theirdiet and get some rest. In that case, the cough can linger for weeks, often leading to a series of colds due to weakened immunity. Acupuncture therapy is very helpful in treating coughs due to any cause. Needling a point on the Conception Vessel meridian (an extra meridian) just above the sternum can quickly calm a cough and assist breathing. Moxa therapy is used typically in the cold, damp type of cough, since there is a need for warmth in that pattern.
How to Treat Common Ailments with Traditional Chinese Medicine
Traditional Chinese medical treatment for common ailments is quite different from Western medical treatments. While you might be used to taking prescription drugs and drinkingchicken noodle soup when you're sick, a typical traditional Chinese medical treatment plan might include a combination ofmoxibustion, qi gong, andmassage therapy -- depending on the ailment.
The most common treatment plan is a combination of acupunctureand herbal medicine. Find sample treatment plans in the articles below.
Whether you suffer from constant allergic reactions, insomnia, or merely the common cold, check out these articles to get a peek into the extraordinary treatment plans of traditional Chinese medicine. The information is not meant to replace qualified medical care, nor is it in any way intended to be a complete discussion of the given ailments. If you suffer from any of these ailments and would like to be treated with traditional Chinese medicine, seek the help of a qualified health care
practitioner
after consulting these articles.
A person can be allergic to nearly anything -- from animal dander to peanuts. Learn possible causes of allergies and how to treat them with traditional Chinese medicine.
Popular Western treatments for arthritis often do nothing to cure the disease. Find out how traditional Chinese medicine works to eliminate the cause of arthritis and the disease itself.
Instead of chicken noodle soup to help cure the common cold, try miso soup with spring onions and fresh ginger. Read about more ways to treat the common cold with traditional Chinese medicine.
Constipation might be an embarrassing common ailment, but it can be quite serious -- possibly relating to depression, hyperthyroidism, and colon cancer. Get details on how to treat constipation with traditional Chinese medicine.
Traditional Chinese medicine can be extremely effective in treating coughs. Check out this article to learn various types of coughs and how these different types determine an accurate treatment plan.
If you suffer from diarrhea, some traditional Chinese treatments include hot peppermint tea, vegetable broth, and plain white rice. Find out more in this article.
The first step to treating fatigue with traditional Chinese medicine is an examination of the person's lifestyle. Learn how herbal remedies and acupuncture can help reduce fatigue.
We've all suffered from headaches, both mild and extreme, and sometimes popping some Advil just doesn't do the trick. Get details on the various ways to treat headaches with traditional Chinese medicine.
Symptoms of indigestion include nausea, vomiting, bad breath, and lack of appetite. Learn how strong ginger tea taken with traditional Chinese formulas can help treat indigestion.
Tossing and turning during sleepless nights can have major effects on a person's life and health. Read about traditional Chinese treatment plans that can get rid of insomnia.
Some women suffer from such extreme cases of menstrual pain that they can't find the strength to get out of bed. Relieve menstrual pain with these traditional Chinese medical treatments.
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is often joked about and rarely taken seriously. Learn how to treat premenstrual syndrome with traditional Chinese medicine.
Prostatitis is an inflammation of the prostate gland; sciatica involves pain traveling from the buttocks down the back of the leg. See how traditional Chinese medicine can treat both ailments.
If you are suffering from sinusitis, try avoiding cold, greasy, and excessively spicy foods. Get more details on how traditional Chinese medicine can treat pain and discomfort of the sinuses.
A sore throat and constant stress are two very common ailments easily treated with traditional Chinese medicine. Find out more in this article.
A urinary tract infection (UTI), commonly known as a bladder infection, can be very painful and can cause serious kidney damage. Check out this article for traditional Chinese medical treatments for a urinary tract infection.
For more information on traditional Chinese medicine and other natural remedies, see:
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:Bill Schoenbart has been practicing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) since 1991, when he earned a Masters degree in TCM. He teaches TCM medical theory and herbalism at anacupuncture school in California, and also maintains a clinical practice.
Ellen Shefi is a licensed massage technician, licensed acupuncturist, and registered dietician. She is a member of the American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine, the American Herb Association, and the Oregon Acupuncture Association
Traditional Chinese Medicine for the Digestive System
Traditional Chinese medicine has a number of herbal formulations that treat disorders of the digestive system. In this article, we’ll describe Chinese patent medicines that relieve common digestive problems likenausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal discomfort. We’ll give the Chinese name for eachmedicine, and describe its indications and functions in detail.
Most of these medicines come in the form of easy-to-swallow, tiny round pills (wan) or tablets (pian). Some of these highly effective remedies for stomach ailments have been made by the same family for generations and many are based on traditional formulas that have been in use for more than two thousand years.
First, let’s look at a medicine that treats a common travelers’ illness: diarrhea. Continue to the next page to learn how Chinese medicine can relieve this uncomfortable condition.
For more about traditional Chinese medicine, treatments, cures, beliefs, and other interesting topics, see:
- How Traditional Chinese Medicine Works
- How to Treat Common Ailments with Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Traditional Chinese Medicine for Coughs, Colds, Flu, and Allergies
- Traditional Chinese Medicine for Pain Relief
- Traditional Chinese Medicine for Overall Health
Archive for the ‘Cough’ Category
Different type of cough and how to get rid of it
In medical terminology cough is a reflex which is stimulated by irritation of the respiratory mucosa in the lungs, trachea (windpipe) or the pharynx (throat region). In fact it’s a body’s mechanism to clear the airways of contaminants, so we can’t stop this this mechanism. This term looks very simple but it can cause a lot of problems as it may leads to chronic and they cause one so much harm if not dealt with as required. Moreover there are millions of reasons for people to develop cough and the symptoms are also different depending on the people.
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Mainly cough is categorized into two categories, productive or non-productive commonly described as dry or chesty respectively. Also the type of cough has a directly impacts on the type of medication your child will need.
Dry Coughs (Non-Productive): The name itself is self-explanatory however it is described as “irritating” or, as mentioned earlier, “dry”. The main reason of this cough is not due to an infection, although this must be considered along with other symptoms. If this condition persists for a long time then it will be considered as chesty (productive) cough.
Mainly cough is categorized into two categories, productive or non-productive commonly described as dry or chesty respectively. Also the type of cough has a directly impacts on the type of medication your child will need.
Dry Coughs (Non-Productive): The name itself is self-explanatory however it is described as “irritating” or, as mentioned earlier, “dry”. The main reason of this cough is not due to an infection, although this must be considered along with other symptoms. If this condition persists for a long time then it will be considered as chesty (productive) cough.
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