Breathlessness was called "Chuan" in Chinese Medicine. Chuan means "to pant". The symptoms
and signs of breathlessness have been described in the "Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal
Medicine". In fact, the "Simple Questions" says in chapter 22: "When the Lungs are diseased
there is panting, cough, breathlessness, pain in the shoulders and back and sweating ...".1(90) In
chapter 62 it says: "When Qi is in excess [in the chest, tr.] there is panting, cough and
breathlessness; when Qi is deficient there is difficulty in breathing with shallow breath".2(91)
The "Spiritual Axis" in chapter 20 says: "When the pathogenic factor is in the Lungs the skin is
painful, there are feelings of heat and cold, panting, sweating, cough and pain in the
shoulders". 3 (92)

The "Prescriptions of the Golden Chest" (AD 220) in chapter 7 indicates "panting" as
breathlessness at rest with inability to lie down. It also includes a "sound in the throat like a
moorhen".4(93)

Thus, the term "panting" in Chinese Medicine includes difficulty in breathing, breathing with an
open mouth, lifting of the shoulders when breathing and inability to lie down. This could be an
acute or chronic state.

Aetiology

External Pathogenic Factors

Invasion of Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat are an important causative factor of breathlessness in many
ways. First of all, they can both cause acute breathlessness. Wind-Cold (or Wind-Heat) obstruct
the Lungs and prevent its dispersing and descending of Qi: this results in an accumulation of Qi
in the chest and breathlessness.

Secondly, an invasion of Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat can trigger off an acute attack in patients
suffering from chronic breathlessness.

Thirdly, external Wind in itself is a frequent initial cause for the beginning of what eventually
becomes chronic breathlessness. This is especially true in children. If a child suffers from an