小青龙汤 / Xiao Qing Long Tang
Treats the following symptoms:
Expel Lung Cold has the effect of relieving Cold and dispelling Cold by warming the Lungs. Qinglong, the mythical beast of the East, unified the four seas of water. The ancient Chinese medical sage Zhang Zhongjing named this prescription Xiao Qinglong just because of its meaning of treating water. Cold Evil inside the drinking water restrains Yang. This disease is similar to bronchial asthma and asthmatic bronchitis in Western medicine. The ability of the Lungs, Spleen and Kidneys to lead the Huajin Fluid is weakened, which leads to the accumulation and blockage of the fluid and the formation of Phlegm for a long time, which finally leads to cough, bronchitis or asthma.
The sputum from the cough caused by Cold Lungs is white and thin, like foam or egg white. The characteristic of asthma is that one can’t lie on his back. If one is to lie on his back, the symptoms will worsen. The tongue is more slippery and fatter. It is also used clinically for chronic obstructive emphysema, pneumonia, whooping cough, allergic rhinitis, etc. caused by cold drinks or cold weather.
ACUTE COUGH AND BRONCHITIS
Disease description:
Coughing is a natural reflex to quickly get rid of germs, harmful or foreign substances in the airways. A severe irritable cough can develop into an acute asthma attack.
The inflammation of upper airways in the lungs, the bronchial tubes, is called bronchitis. Acute bronchitis is very common as it often develops from a cold or other respiratory infection. An acute bronchitis cough usually lasts for 10 days, sometimes up to 3 weeks. In the beginning, cough is the first symptom. This cough will be dry at first, then becomes productive, meaning you will cough out mucus because bronchitis causes the accumulation of mucus in the airways. Other symptoms are shortness of breath and low fever.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
The disease is seen in cough and acute bronchitis, which is called Exogenous Cough in Chinese medicine. The reason is that the External Wind, Cold, Dampness, Dryness or Fire Evil invade the Lung system, resulting in obstruction of Lung Qi and the reverse of the Lung Qi leads to cough and sputum. Due to different body constitution and different nature of External Evil, it can be manifested as different symptoms such as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Wind-Cold
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Heat
Wind Heat Cough
At a later stage, when phlegm turns yellow:
Clear Lung Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
CHRONIC COUGH, CHRONIC BRONCHITIS AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA
Disease description:
Coughing is a natural reflex to quickly get rid of germs, harmful and foreign substances in the airways. A cough can last several weeks, but anyone who struggles with coughing for more than eight weeks has a chronic health problem.
The inflammation of upper airways in the lungs, the bronchial tubes, is called bronchitis.
According to the World Health Organization, bronchitis is chronic when the mucus cough appears on almost every day within three months and this for two consecutive years. Like acute bronchitis, chronic bronchitis is characterized by coughing with mucus (especially in the morning), but it lasts longer. Chronic bronchitis is often the result of regular smoking and can have serious consequences. The ingredients of cigarette smoke, such as nicotine, irritate the bronchial mucosa of our respiratory tract, which is equipped with many small cilia, which consequently become inflamed. Therefore, the body, to get rid of penetrating foreign bodies, has to loosen the stuck mucus through recurring coughing attacks.
Bronchial asthma is one of the most common widespread respiratory tract diseases. The bronchial tubes become constricted in attacks, caused by the contact to personal allergy triggers, resulting in a hypersensitive immune system reaction and symptoms include coughing and shortness of breath.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine calls chronic bronchitis and bronchial asthma “Internal Impairment Cough” or “Phlegm Syndrome“. It is usually caused by dysfunction of internal organs. The inducement is Exogenous Wind, Cold or Heat.
Long-term illness consumes Lung and Spleen Qi. Weak Spleen Qi leading to Phlegm retention. The Phlegmstained in the Lungs, congesting the airways, causing coughing and Phlegm.
The Exogenous Pathogens invade the Lungs, resulting in Phlegm obstruction of Lung, and the reverse of the Lung Qi.
The Kidneys accept Qi and help the Lungs to breathe. If the Kidney Qi is weak, the inhaled Qi can’t be supported by the Kidney, then the Lung Qi is reversed as coughing and wheezing.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp Phlegm in the Lungs
An obstruction of Lung by Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in long-term cough, dyspnoea, massive white phlegm that is easily expectorated, stuffiness of the chest, poor appetite.
Er Chen Tang
or, if additionally, symptoms like slightly yellow phlegm or white mix with yellow phlegm take: Wheezing Cough Formula
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Heat
The Lung is obstructed by Heat and Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in cough or dyspnoea with thick, sticky, yellow or green phlegm, thirst and dry throat.
Recommended formulas to use:
Lung Cold
The Lung is obstructed by Cold and Phlegm leading to adverse movement of Qi resulting in cough, dyspnoea with thin, watery phlegm and a feeling cold in the chest or back.
Recommended formulas to use:
Deficiency of Lung Qi
Asthma attacks at night, chest tightness, wheezing, scant sticky sputum, dry cough, dry throat, weak voice, night sweating, tiredness, susceptibility to colds and flu, palpitations.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Fails to Grasp Qi
Shortness of breath on exertion, rapid, weak breathing, difficulty inhaling, chronic cough, asthma, spontaneous sweating, cold limbs, lower backache, dizziness, tinnitus.
Recommended formulas to use:
COVID-19 RELATED SYMPTOMS: PREVENTION, INFECTION, RECOVERY
Typical symptoms:
abdominal pain, acute and chronic cough / bronchitis / asthma in clear phlegm or no phlegm and cold feeling in chest or back, bitter taste in the mouth, cough, cough / bronchitis / asthma in yellow phlegm, diarrhoea, distress in the chest, dry mouth, fatigue, fever, headache, loss of energy, muscle ache, nausea, nausea and fullness in the chest, nausea and vomiting, poor appetite, pulmonary infection, respiratory tract infections, restlessness, sore throat, stuffy nose, sweating, watery nasal discharge, weakness in limbs and muscles, weight lossDisease description:
The lung disease, which appeared for the first time in China at the end of 2019, is commonly known as Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The virus that caused the disease, is known as Sars-CoV-2. SARS stands for “Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome”.
Coronaviruses were first identified in the mid-1960s and can infect humans or animals. Some variations of the coronavirus that previously infected animals exclusively can cross over to humans, spread and lead to severe illnesses.
The incubation period (the time between infection and outbreak of the disease) is currently estimated at 5 to 6 days on average. People who have been infected with the new coronavirus are contagious during the incubation period before the first symptoms appear.
There are no “typical” symptoms that clearly identify COVID-19. The symptoms and their severity vary from person to person. Since COVID-19 primarily affects the respiratory tract, the most common symptoms are similar to other respiratory diseases such as the flu or common cold: cough, fever, runny or stuffy nose, smell and taste disturbances, discomfort and fatigue.
Other COVID-19 symptoms may include sore throat, shortness of breath, headache and aching limbs, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. These initial signs of illness should not be underestimated, because in particularly severe cases, those affected will develop lung inflammation, excessive immune reactions or persistent breathing difficulties and have to receive intensive medical treatment in hospital.
Unfortunately, there is hardly any treatment or medication in western medicine that specifically targets the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Nevertheless, Western medicine is very good at diagnosis and is the better choice in the case of severe pneumonia, acute respiratory failure, sepsis and where ventilators are needed.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has played a major role in the fight against COVID-19 in mainland China and has achieved very good treatment results. TCM categorises the COVID-19 infection as Yi (epidemic disease), which is caused by “epidemic evil” Qi.
In the past 2000 years, China has experienced over 300 epidemics and has gained a lot of experience in combating them. Chinese herbal therapy offers possibilities for the prevention of COVID-19 and can also be integrated for the treatment in mild and early stages of COVID-19 cases. However, it is less suitable for later stages with severe pneumonia, sepsis, etc. After the patients are released from emergency care, Chinese herbal therapy offers great support in the recovery phase by minimizing the damages caused by COVID-19.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, more than 60’000 people in China infected with COVID-19 (85% of all infected) were treated with Chinese herbs. The classical concepts of shang han (cold-induced diseases) and wen bing (heat diseases) are often used.
Three main protocols are used to treat COVID-19:
– Hubei Provincial Hospital of TCM
– Wuhan Union Hospital
– official PPCR- Guidelines + Guidance for Coronavirus Disease 2019*
*PPCR: The Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China is the official compendium of Chinese pharmacology published by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
PREVENTION STAGE: Patients with weak constitution
Patients suffer from fatigue, poor digestive function, fear of cold, tendency to catch cold and flu:
Tonic Defensive Qi
Above symptoms and higher suffering from fatigue, combine with
Four Gentlemen Formula
Preventing viral infections (2 weeks course recommended, as patients with weaker stomach can experience discomfort):
Isatis Root
Recommended formulas to use:
INFECTION STAGE: Wind-Cold attacking the Exterior
The initial symptoms include head and body pain, runny nose, cough, aversion to cold, sometimes fever:
Exterior Cold + Isatis Root
If cough with white phlegm, add Expel Lung Cold
Recommended formulas to use:
INFECTION STAGE: Wind-Heat attacking the Exterior
Fever, sore throat and breathing problems.
Exterior Heat + Isatis Root
If cough with yellow phlegm, add Clear Lung Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
INFECTION STAGE: Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat attacking the Exterior
Mixed Symptoms of Heat and Cold:
Exterior Cold + Isatis Root + Exterior Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
INFECTION STAGE: Dampness
Recommended formulas to use:
RECOVERY PHASE
After overcoming COVID-19, the damage to Qi and Yin caused by the heat of the infection and the medication must be cured to prevent long-term COVID-19 effects. Patients often have dry cough, shortness of breath, performance asthma and weakness. Loss of smell and taste, as well as various other symptoms.
Shortness of breath, fatigue: Qi-Yin Enrichment
Loss of smell and taste: Shaoyang Formula
Hairloss: Shaoyang Formula + Replenish Essence
Indigestion: Stomach Tonic
Anxiety, Heart Palpitation, Insomnia or Brain fog: Nervolax