Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) views asthma as a condition that develops when the body does not produce enough of a quality, called defensive Qi. Defensive Qi protects the body from attack by external factors, such as heat and cold. Defensive Qi is a type of energy produced by the kidneys and distributed by the lungs over the surface of the body. When either the kidneys or lungs (or both) do not function properly, the amount of defensive Qi available is reduced and the body becomes more susceptible to diseases, such as asthma.

Acupuncture Treatment for Asthma
One method for dealing with this problem is with acupuncture, which is used to calm the body and relieve the symptoms of an asthmatic attack. Modern practitioners believe that acupuncture can help relax the parasympathetic nervous system and increase the release of neurotransmitters to the brain. In any case, some patients report improvement in their condition almost immediately after an acupuncture treatment.

Several forms of acupuncture treatment are often used in the management of asthma conditions. Body acupuncture is often used in points to strength the Kidneys and Lungs, and to aid in spreading the Defensive Qi over the body. These include Kidney 3, Lung 9, Bladder 13, Stomach 36, and Lung 7. Auricular (ear) acupuncture is also commonly used, especially in the case of an acute asthma attack. Auricular points may include Lung, Kidney, Shen Men, Point Zero, Asthma, and Antihistamine. A variety of point combinations may be used depending on the exact nature of the asthma condition, as well as the constitution of the patient.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Asthma
Chinese herbs are also widely used for the treatment of asthma. Practitioners believe that various herbs strengthen the lungs and the immune system, reducing the severity of an asthma attack and the likelihood of its return. Most herbal remedies consist of some combination of herbs designed by a practitioner to meet the specific needs of a patient. Some of the herbs that may be included in such formulations and the effect they produce include:

Magnolia officinalis (Houpu), for improving lung function
Fructus Schisandrae (Wuweizi), to prevent loss of qi from the lungs
Allolobophora caliginosa (Dilong), to dilate the bronchioles and relieve wheezing
Herba Ephedrae (Mahuang) and Ramulus Cinnamomi (Guizhi), for improving the flow of qi through the lungs and dispelling the cold factor
Semen brassicae (Baijiezi), Rhizoma Zingiberis (Ganjiang), and Herba Asari (Xixin), for restoring lung function and warming the lungs
Semen Armeniacae Amarum (Xingren), Semen Lepidii (Tinglizi), and Rhizoma Pinelliae (Banxia), to eliminate phlegm and reduce wheezing