{"id":7575,"date":"2012-03-15T00:44:08","date_gmt":"2012-03-15T04:44:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=7575"},"modified":"2012-03-16T00:23:10","modified_gmt":"2012-03-16T04:23:10","slug":"tcm-food-therapy-for-asthma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=7575","title":{"rendered":"TCM Food Therapy for Asthma"},"content":{"rendered":"

[TCM Food Therapy]<\/a><\/p>\n

By Helen H. Hu, OMD<\/strong><\/p>\n

Asthma is a disease of diffused airway inflammation caused by a variety of triggering stimuli, resulting in partially or completely reversible bronchi constriction. Symptoms and signs include dyspepsia, chest tightness, coughing, and wheezing. The diagnosis is based on the individual\u2019s medical history, physical examination, and pulmonary function tests. Treatment involves controlling the triggering factors and drug therapy, most commonly with inhaled \u03b22-adrenergic receptor agonists and inhaled corticosteroids.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>The prevalence of asthma now affects an estimated 4-7% of the worldwide population. More than 20 million people in the US are affected. Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases of childhood, affecting more than 6 million children.<\/p>\n

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is believed that asthma is due to three main organ deficiencies, either from birth, and\/or from a lifestyle that has a negative impact on the lungs, spleen, and kidneys, together with external pathogen invasion. Some cases, especially asthma that occurs at a very young age, are due to a family history of asthma in which there is more kidney organ weakness (that tends to trigger childhood asthma).<\/p>\n

In some cases, there is more of a digestion system problem at a young age, with the tendency to have ear infections, upper respiratory infection, and asthma. These children tend to have spleen and lung deficiencies with asthma. The food therapy focus is different according to the case. Especially for those with a family history of asthma, there should be an emphasis on active preventative measures and the strengthening of the kidney organs after asthma remission. During the remission period, food therapy is one of the best remedies, along with acupuncture and an herbal formula, depending on the severity and frequency of the asthma attacks.<\/p>\n

There are four patterns of asthma according to TCM diagnostic patterns.\u00a0 These are cold type, hot type, lung and spleen Qi deficiency type, and kidney deficiency types of asthma.<\/p>\n

If there is actually an asthma attack, besides traditional bio-medicine intervention, I recommend that it be identified as a cold type or hot type of asthma attack. Then one should integrate the appropriate food therapy to assist the healing process.<\/p>\n

During remission, try to consult a TCM doctor to determine which organ is deficient, and to apply Chinese food therapy and other preventive therapies.<\/p>\n

Here are some samples, as a reference, for food therapy for cold and hot types of asthma, as well as for different organ deficiencies:<\/p>\n

I. Cold Type of Asthma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This type of asthma presents with shortness of breath, more thin or watery mucus, no blood or pus-like discharge, and no feeling of thirst or desire to drink. The face looks dusty and there is a feeling of fullness of the chest.<\/p>\n

Food therapy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Ginger Rice Soup: <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh ginger: 9 grams Cut into very small pieces.<\/p>\n

Apricot kernel:\u00a0 6<\/p>\n

Sweet rice: 50 grams<\/p>\n

Cook sweet rice and apricot kernels together in water at low temperature; when the rice is very soft, the soup is done. Add ginger to the boiling soup before serving.
\nTake as breakfast and part of dinner.<\/p>\n

Green Onion Rice Soup:\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Fresh Green Onion: 15 – only use white part of green onion cut into 3 cm long pieces<\/p>\n

Spring rice: 50 grams<\/p>\n

Fermented soy bean (black color): 10 grams<\/p>\n

Salt: a little.<\/p>\n

Cook rice with water first to make soup; when the soup is done, the rice becomes soft. Then add green onion, fermented soy beans and salt and then cook for another 20-30 minutes.<\/p>\n

Serve: once day at dinner<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Soothing Asthma Powder<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Bone from octopus: 500 grams<\/p>\n

Wash bone clean and then bake it dry and then grind it into a powder.<\/p>\n

Organic brown sugar: 1000 grams<\/p>\n

Mix the octopus powder and brown sugar together.<\/p>\n

Adult:\u00a0 take 20 grams with warm water, three times a day for 2 weeks.
\n(Young children should take 1\/3 to 1\/2 of adult dosage.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

II.\u00a0 Hot Type of Asthma<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This type of asthma manifests with wheezing and rasping breath, coughing up with a thick, yellow, hard-to-cough-up mucus,\u00a0 anxiety, sweating, red facial complexion, a bitter taste in the mouth, dry mouth and feeling thirsty.<\/p>\n

With this type of asthma, one should seek medical care when the asthma attacks. Treatment along with food therapy will be of greater benefit for recovery and assist in faster healing.<\/p>\n

Food therapy<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Tofu Turnip Juice<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh turnip: 500 grams \u00a0juice it<\/p>\n

Fresh soft tofu: 500 grams cut into small pieces<\/p>\n

Light molasses: 100 grams<\/p>\n

Juice the fresh turnip, then, add fresh tofu and molasses into the juice. Bring it to a boil. Take the juice in two parts, drinking twice a day for one day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Green Tea Egg\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Green tea: 15 grams<\/p>\n

Chicken egg: 2<\/p>\n

Cook green tea leaves with the eggs in water until the eggs are done, then peel the eggs and put them back into the tea to continue cooking until the tea water is almost evaporated.<\/p>\n

Eat the eggs. <\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sang Ye Peanuts<\/span><\/strong> (one serving)<\/p>\n

Sang ye: mulberry leaves; 15 grams (if fresh, 45 grams)<\/p>\n

Raw peanuts without the shell: 15 grams<\/p>\n

White rock sugar: 15 grams<\/p>\n

Cook everything together in water, until the peanuts are done.<\/p>\n

Serve: eat the peanuts only, once a day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Single herbal tea:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kuan dong hua (Coltsfoot Flower) or Kuan dong ye (leaves): one teaspoon –Boil in one cup of water for 30 minutes. Add a little honey to taste.<\/p>\n

Niu xin cao: (Cyathula Officinalis):\u00a0 mix one teaspoon with one cup of boiling water for 10 minutes.\u00a0 Drink as tea with honey.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

III.\u00a0 Asthma with Lung and Spleen Deficiency<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

The following recipes are food therapy treatment for harmonizing or strengthening the organs during asthma remission time. This is Traditional Chinese food therapy to strengthen and harmonize the lung and spleen organs, with or without an herbal formula. <\/span><\/p>\n

White Fungus Mushroom Soup\"\"<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

White fungus mushroom: soak in warm water for 30 minutes, then tear it into small pieces<\/p>\n

Rock sugar: 60 grams<\/p>\n

Chicken egg: one (egg white only)<\/p>\n

First, cook the mushroom and sugar in water until the mushroom is soft, then filter the mushroom out while the soup is still boiling. Gradually add the egg white into the soup, stirring the soup at the same time. Then serve.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Walnut Apricot Soup<\/span> <\/strong>( one serving)<\/p>\n

Walnut: 5 grams<\/p>\n

Apricot kernel: 5 grams<\/p>\n

Honey 30 grams<\/p>\n

Put everything in a bowel and steam it until the nuts are cooked well. Take it out from the steamer; add fresh ginger juice: 20 drops. Then eat the nuts and drink the soup.<\/p>\n

Intake: once every other day, 5-7 times.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Walnut Duck <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

One whole fresh duck<\/p>\n

White sugar: 120 grams<\/p>\n

White rock sugar: 120 grams<\/p>\n

Honey: 120 grams<\/p>\n

Walnuts 120 grams<\/p>\n

Put all ingredients into the duck\u2019s stomach. Boil it in water until fully cooked.<\/p>\n

Serve:as a dish.\u00a0 Eat two ducks as one course of treatment.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Eight Treasure Chicken:<\/span><\/strong> (4 servings)<\/p>\n

One old hen chicken: about 500 grams<\/p>\n

Sweet rice: 60 grams soak until soft in water<\/p>\n

Lotus seed:\u00a0 20 grams \u00a0soak until soft in water<\/p>\n

Chicken pea: 75 grams soak until soft in water<\/p>\n

Cox seed: 30 grams soak until soft in water<\/p>\n

Shitake mushroom: 20 grams soak until soft in water, then cut into small pieces<\/p>\n

Ham: 30 grams cut into small pieces<\/p>\n

Salt, ginger, other spices, as desired.<\/p>\n

Put all ingredients into the chicken\u2019s stomach and sew it up. Boil it in water until fully cooked (it is best to steam the whole chicken until the meat is done).<\/p>\n

Serve: as dish<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

IV.\u00a0 Asthma with Kidney Deficiency <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

People with kidney deficiency and asthma tend to have inhalation difficulties\u00a0 (besides of shortness of breath) exaggerated by movement, more weakness in both knees and the lower back, ear tinnitus, pale complexion, and a feeling of coldness. Some people might have red cheeks, and anxiety, with a warm feeling, and sweating. <\/span><\/p>\n

Walnut Duck Soup<\/span>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

One whole duck;<\/p>\n

Walnut: 200 grams<\/p>\n

Water chestnut: 150 grams cut into small pieces<\/p>\n

Ginger, salt, cooking wine<\/p>\n

Cook everything together until the meat is well-done.<\/p>\n

Serve: as dish<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pumpkin Date:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Fresh pumpkin: 500 grams peeled<\/p>\n

Chinese red date: 15-20 (without kernel)<\/p>\n

Boil together and mash it, like mashed potato<\/p>\n

Serve: once a day as a side dish<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Cordyceps\u00a0 Duck Soup<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

One old duck<\/p>\n

Cordyceps: 3 grams<\/p>\n

Put the Cordyceps into the duck stomach; add ginger, salt, and cooking wine in a slow- cooking pot until the meat is well-done.<\/p>\n

Serve: drink the soup and eat the meat<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Tea<\/span>: Ginseng and walnut tea<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ginseng: 6 grams (cut into thin slices)<\/p>\n

Walnut: three whole nuts<\/p>\n

Boil in water; after boiling, cook at lower temperature for an hour. Drink it as tea.\u00a0 It can be taken for long time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>[Dr. Helen Hu, originally from Beijing China, has studied Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since the age of 12. A Cardiologist and practitioner of integrated medicine for\u00a0nine years before immigrating to the United States, Dr. Hu passed the “U.S. Licensing Medical Exam” (USLME) in 1997 while simultaneously obtaining her Oriental Medical Degree (OMD)\u00a0in the US.\u00a0\u00a0 Dr. Hu currently directs and manages a successful TCM practice in San Diego. She lectures locally on Acupuncture and the benefits of combining Eastern \/ Western styles of Medicine.\u00a0 Dr. Hu has been practicing Tai Ji and Qi Gong over 25 years, and she teaches these ancient Chinese arts Saturday mornings on Shelter Island in San Diego as a gift to the community and to help promote well being and longevity.\u00a0\u00a0 www.bodywithoutmystique.com<\/a> or\u00a0 www.OMDweb.net ]<\/a><\/address>\n

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