can be a very useful benchmark to gauge the efficacy of the treatment.
Lung and Kidney Defensive-Qi Systems Deficiency
The priority of treatment in between attacks is to treat the Root, i.e. tonify the Lung and Kidney's
Defensive-Qi systems. At the same time, the Manifestation (i.e. Wind in the bronchi obstructing
the descending of Lung-Qi) should not be overlooked, so that each formula should always
include some herbs to expel Wind and make Lung-Qi descend.
Within the scope of Lung and Kidney deficiency there may be many variations, with different
degrees of deficiency between Lung and Kidneys and, within the Kidneys, between deficiency of
Yang or Yin.
Some Chinese doctors treat chronic asthma in between attacks simply by tonifying Lung, Spleen,
or Kidneys or a combination of these with the addition of small doses of Ma Huang Herba
Ephedrae and Xing Ren Semen Pruni armeniacae.24(132) This runs contrary to traditional
theory according to which Ma Huang should be used strictly for Full conditions since it has a
scattering effect. However, in small doses (3 grams) and combined with tonics, it can be used in
chronic Deficiency-asthma for its strong adrenergic properties. Furthermore, in order to decrease
its scattering effect, one could use honey-toasted Ma Huang.
Some doctors also use Dan Shen Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae in chronic cases of asthma to move
Blood in the chest. Interestingly, modern research shows that Dan Shen reduces levels of IgE
immunoglobulins which are responsible for the antigen-antibody reaction which triggers off an
asthma attack.25(133)
The following formulae are all aimed at tonifying the Lung and Kidney's Defensive-Qi systems
with several variations to account for varying involvement of Lungs or Kidneys and deficiency
of Yin or Yang. All the formulae without exception should be modified with the following two
aims in mind:
- Tonify the Kidney's Defensive-Qi system with such herbs as Tu Si Zi Semen
Cuscutae, Du Zhong Cortex Eucommiae ulmoidis, Bu Gu Zhi Fructus Psoraleae
corylifoliae, Hu Tao Rou Semen Juglandis regiae or Shu Di Huang Radix
Rehmanniae glutinosae praeparata. A small dose of a Kidney-Yang-tonic herb
may be added even in Yin deficiency in order to bolster the Kidney's
Defensive-Qi system. - Stimulate the descending of Lung-Qi and expel Wind with such herbs as Xing
Ren Semen Pruni armeniacae, Su Zi Fructus Perillae frutescentis, Xuan Fu Hua
Flos Inulae and Fang Feng Radix Ledebouriellae sesloidis. - Use herbs which have an anti-allergy effect such as Wu Wei Zi Fructus
Schisandrae chinensis and Wu Mei Fructus Pruni mume.