Addressing respiratory illnesses through acupuncture

Respiratory illnesses can make the simple act of breathing very difficult to do. This is exactly the case for people suffering from respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis, Asthma, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). These conditions can greatly affect the quality of life of sufferers making it extremely difficult to exercise, sleep, work and have an otherwise enjoyable daily experience. Antibiotics and inhalers are the most commonly used treatments for these people and they are often an integral part of thieri daily life. Unfortunately, reliance on these drugs can lead to some ill-effects to health if a person doesn’t use them appropriately or try to lessen their intake abruptly. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can provide a way to resolve the symptoms of these diseases holistically and naturally.

Respiratory conditions from the viewpoint of Chinese medicine relate to the lungs, obviously. These organs control the intake of air mixing it with ingested food to provide the body with the energy and nutrients it needs to function properly. Besides this, the lungs’ other important functions include beefing up the immune system and the distribution of fluids throughout the body. Several individuals suffering from certain respiratory illnesses usually find that fluid accumulation has occurred in their lungs. Sometimes, this fluid accumulation becomes chronic causing edema or water retention in specific parts of the body. The lungs do have an important role in keeping these fluids circulating throughout the body. Also, because the lungs are somewhat open to the outside world, they are always at high risk of being infected with a virus or bacteria causing serious conditions such as pneumonia or bronchitis. Optimally functioning lungs will be able to withstand the onslaught of pathogens that cause the flu or colds even as people all around him fall ill to these pathogens.

An interesting thing in Chinese medicine is the fact that the kidneys also play a crucial role in respiration and breathing. Chinese medicine practitioners believe that the kidneys hold firmly the inhaled air and then draw it inward into the body. This can be seen in people suffering from asthma who find taking a deep breath impossible to do and exhaling the same breath easy. If your kidney is not functioning at its peak, the quantity of air and oxygen reaching the lungs will not be sufficient enough causing overall health to suffer. The job of your acupuncturist is to integrate specific herbal formulas and acupoints Into the treatment plan in addition to strengthening the lungs to restore the kidney to good health.

Bronchitis and asthma are the most common forms of respiratory illnesses in many countries. There are also potentially deadly diseases such as lung cancer that can addressed through the use of herbal medicine and acupuncture. While acupuncture cannot cure conditions such as asbestos poisoning, lung cancer, or mesothelioma, the severe pain and debilitating symptoms of these conditions can be assuaged through regular acupuncture therapies. With careful observation and diagnosis Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can help cure appetite loss, banish nausea, stop coughing spells, and relieve pain associated with chemotherapy or radiation treatment. We need to also mention that in spite of the fact that alternative complementary treatments can be very powerful, they should be used in conjunction with Western conventional medical treatments.

When your breathing becomes extremely difficult to do every day, visit your local qualified Chinese herbalist or acupuncturist. They might just have the treatment you need to release you from the shackles of these really severe respiratory conditions.