Prognosis and Prevention

Apart from obvious reference to tongue and pulse, the prognosis in the symptom of Wheezing
must be based on a Western differentiation. The main conditions that give rise to wheezing are
acute and chronic bronchitis and asthma (see below) and the prognosis varies considerably in
each of these diseases.

Acute bronchitis is the easiest to treat and it normally manifests with symptoms of Hot Phlegm
described above. It corresponds to the Qi level (affecting the Lungs) within the Four-Level
Identification of Patterns. The treatment of this condition is discussed in further detail in the
chapter on "Common Cold and Influenza" (Chapter 34).

Generally speaking, this condition responds extremely well to acupuncture and Chinese herbs
which should bring about an improvement within days, and it is not usually necessary to resort to
antibiotics. These damage Stomach-Yin and often lead to a residual Heat in the Lungs which
predisposes the patient to further invasions of Wind. When such a vicious circle of exterior
invasions of Wind, chest infections, antibiotics, residual Heat in the Lungs and further invasions
of Wind takes hold, wheezing may become chronic.

Chronic bronchitis also responds extremely well to acupuncture and Chinese herbs but it will
obviously take much longer to treat. The length of treatment will depend on the age of the patient
and the duration and severity of the disease, but it will certainly take months rather than weeks.
Chronic bronchitis should be treated by attending to the Root and Manifestation simultaneously,
i.e. tonify the body's Qi and expel pathogenic factors. Tonifying the body's Qi will involve
tonifying the Lungs, Spleen, or Kidneys, or a combination of these and expelling pathogenic
factors will involve resolving Phlegm and either scattering Cold or clearing Heat, depending on
whether there is Hot Phlegm or Cold Phlegm. The differentiation and treatment of this condition
are discussed in further detail in the chapters on "Cough" (Chapter 8) and "Common Cold and
Influenza" (Chapter 34).

The prognosis of asthma depends on the age of the patient and the type of asthma. Early-onset,
allergic asthma which is associated with eczema is the most difficult to treat because it stems
from an inborn deficiency of the Lung and Kidney's Defensive-Qi systems (see Chapter 5). From
a Western point of view, it is due to an inborn excessive level of IgE antibodies. The treatment of
this condition will certainly take several months and, depending on the severity, even years.

Non-allergic, early-onset asthma is easier to treat, especially in children. In most cases, treatment
should not take more than a few weeks. This condition is due to repeated invasions of Wind
leading to retention of Phlegm in the Lungs which obstructs the dispersing and descending of
Lung-Qi. The foremost principle of treatment in children is to resolve Phlegm, restore the
descending of Lung-Qi and relieve stagnation of food. Retention of food is very common in