When someone is unable to get air, such as with asthma or COPD, it is one of the most frightening things they can experience. There are several types of asthma: Pediatric or Adult-Onset Asthma, Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction Asthma, Occupational Asthma, Allergic or Non-Allergic Asthma, Asthma and COPD Overlap, Nighttime (Nocturnal) Asthma, Thunderstorm Asthma, and asthma mimickers such as Cardiogenic Asthma (a type of heart failure mimicking asthma) and Vocal Cord Dysfunction which can sound just like asthma. Getting the right diagnosis is important.
There is also a differentiation between causes of asthma and triggers. Causes could be allergies, repeated respiratory infections as a child, air quality (pollution, cigarette smoke exposure, occupational inhalants), and a breakdown in the digestive system setting the stage for food allergies.
Triggers: Since asthma is a state of inflammation in the bronchial tubes, anything that increases inflammation can be a trigger. Allergies, pollens, smoke, any particulate in the air can trigger asthma. But not all triggers are direct irritants. Medications, strong emotions such as crying, yelling, excess laughter, anger, fear or great excitement can trigger asthma. Weather changes, especially heat, cold, dry or humid air can trigger. Thunderstorm Asthma occurs when particulate matter, particularly pollen, gets pulled up into a storm cloud and micronizes, making it more an irritant when it comes back down.
So what can we do about it? Although many people are well managed by medications, not all respond well, and not all prefer that approach. Acupuncture with herbal medicine and dietary regulation could be a viable modality or co-treatment for asthma. It has been used for thousands of years for asthma with a great deal of success in either resolving it, or resulting in significantly less medications.
Acupuncture is said to reduce “respiratory resistance”, relax the bronchioles, calm the individual, reduce inflammation of the lungs and bronchial tubes and reduces hyper reactivity within the lung tissues. Acupuncture also helps reduce other allergic symptoms such as congestion, runny nose, itching, sinus pain, post nasal drip and other similar symptoms. It also supports the immune system.
One of my very first experiences during my internship was with asthma. After working in the ER as a nurse before redirecting into my career as an acupuncturist, I knew how long it took for someone with an asthma attack to get settled down with medications. My first day a man came into the clinic, being half dragged because his attack was so severe he couldn’t walk. I grabbed the head doctor who quickly inserted 2 needles into the man and the effect was so astonishingly quick I couldn’t believe it! It sure sold me on the effectiveness.
While Acupuncture can’t always resolve asthma, the ability to keep it under control makes it worth it to the patients who try it. With a combination of acupuncture, herbal medicine and dietary regulation, there is much we can do to help.
©2022 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
