Case History 5.1
Asthma: Lung and Kidney Defensive-Qi Systems Deficiency-Female, Age
35
A 35-year-old woman had been suffering from eczema since she was 3 months old. Over the
years, she used all sorts of steroid creams. She had had three children and, during each of her
gestations, her eczema was always worse in the first 3 months of pregnancy, better in the last 6
months and worse after childbirth. It was mostly on the limbs and face (around her mouth). It
consisted of papules (red spots) which were very itchy. They then turned into pustules and oozed
a liquid.
She had also been suffering from asthma since the age of 3 after pneumonia. Her wheezing
attacks were triggered by dust, house-dust mites, animals' fur, dairy products and shellfish. She
also suffered from hay fever (seasonal allergic rhinitis).
She occasionally had mild tinnitus. Her pulse was unremarkable, only slightly Weak on the right
Front and the left Rear positions. Her tongue was also unremarkable with slightly Swollen sides
(Plate 5.1(138)). This is a good example of how the tongue is often unremarkable in patients
with atopic asthma, seemingly confirming that Wind and not Phlegm is the main pathological
feature of asthma.
Diagnosis Asthma, seasonal allergic rhinitis and eczema from Lung and Kidney's
Defensive-Qi systems deficiency from birth. Kidney-Essence affecting
the Lung-Corporeal Soul which, in turn, affected the skin. The Kidney
deficiency is also clearly shown by the aggravation during the first 3
months of pregnancy, amelioration in the last 6 months and again
aggravation after childbirth. The relatively normal pulse and tongue
show that the Kidney deficiency only involves the Kidney Defensive-Qi
system and not other aspects of the Kidney functions. The eczema is of
the chronic Damp-Heat type. The eliciting of asthma attacks from
certain foods points to Large Intestine Heat.
Principle of treatment Her main problem at the time of consultation was the eczema rather
than the asthma, the attacks of which were quite infrequent. The
principle of treatment adopted was therefore to clear Wind in the skin,
resolve Damp-Heat, cool Blood, tonify the Lung and Kidney's
Defensive-Qi systems and stimulate the descending of Lung-Qi.
Herbal treatment The prescriptions chosen were those for chronic Damp-Heat with some
variations to tonify the Kidney's Defensive-Qi system. The formula was
a variation of San Feng Chu Shi Tang Scattering Wind and Eliminating
Dampness Decotions and Chu Shi Wei Ling Tang Eliminating
Dampness Stomach "Ling" Decoction with the addition of herbs to
tonify the Lung and Kidney's Defensive-Qi systems and to stimulate the