Is Chinese herbal medicine effective for chronic bronchitis

Condition analysis:
Bronchitis is an inflammation (or irritation) of the airways in the lungs. Airways are the tubes in your lungs that air passes through. They are also called bronchial tubes. When the airways are irritated, thick mucus forms in them. The mucus plugs up the airways and makes it hard for air to get into your lungs. Bronchitis causes a cough that produces mucus (sometimes called sputum), trouble breathing, and a feeling of tightness in your chest.

"Chronic" means that the condition lasts a long time. Chronic bronchitis is bronchitis that lasts longer than 3 months. Chronic bronchitis often occurs with emphysema, and together these diseases are called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Instructions:
Chinese medicine perceives chronic bronchitis as a lung Qi deficiency which may or may not have started as a viral attack, but which resulted in depleted lung energy (Qi). It is usually accompanied by phlegm. The origin of the phlegm is usually the digestive system (spleen) which results in the accumulation of water affecting the lungs.

It is reasonable to think that if one can increase his/her resistance against infection, recurrence of acute attacks will be minimized. The use of acupuncture and natural herbs in Chinese medicine serves not only to reduce symptoms during the acute phase of chronic bronchitis; it can also build up the body’s resistance and immunity, in order to treat the disease successfully. Many years of experience in treating such patients have shown this treatment method to be effective and the benefit long lasting, with no accompanying side effects.

Recommended Recipe: (Modified Minor Decoction of Green Dragon.)
Ingredients: ephedra, cinnamon twig, schisandra berry, white peony root, asarum herb, pinella tuber, dried ginger, coltsfoot flower, licorice root.