Bronchial Asthma Massage Method

Written by Feng Ying Shuai
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on January 17, 2025
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In clinical situations of acute exacerbations of bronchial asthma, or even normally, we can alleviate clinical symptoms through certain massage techniques. These methods mainly involve massaging specific acupoints to relieve asthma attacks and reduce their frequency. We can massage points along the lung meridian, such as Chize, Taiyuan, and Kongzui. Additionally, we can massage an extra-meridian acupoint called Dingchuan, as well as Lung Shu, Zhongfu, Tiantu, and Danzhong. Beyond these basic points, we also need to select acupoints based on the patient's condition. For example, if the patient's bronchial asthma is caused by exposure to cold wind, we can massage Fengmen. If the patient has excessive heat phlegm causing asthma, we can add Quze and Taibai to clear heat and transform phlegm.

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Written by Yuan Qing
Pulmonology
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Symptoms of bronchial asthma cough

Bronchial asthma, commonly referred to as asthma, often results in symptoms such as wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing in patients. However, these symptoms do not always appear simultaneously in an individual. It's possible for a single symptom to serve as the initial manifestation of bronchial asthma. For example, the condition may present solely as wheezing, chest tightness, or, notably, as coughing, where it is the only symptom. The characteristics of asthma-related coughing primarily include a certain rhythmic pattern, typically worsening during early morning or late night, and it can easily lead to coughing up blood. Additionally, the coughing may begin and end abruptly and can be triggered by exposure to cold air or strange smells, followed by spontaneous improvement after a period. These are distinctive features of bronchial asthma coughing.

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Symptoms of bronchial asthma cough

Bronchial asthma can also manifest as a disease primarily characterized by coughing, which we call cough-variant asthma. It does not necessarily exhibit typical symptoms of bronchial asthma such as wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness; it manifests solely as coughing. This type of cough generally occurs more frequently in the early morning and at night, characterized primarily by a dry cough without mucus. If the coughing is severe, some chest tightness may occur, accompanied by symptoms such as an itchy nose, itchy throat, or the presence of hives, an allergic condition, which is different from ordinary coughs. Therefore, when these characteristics are present, attention should be paid to whether it is combined with bronchial asthma, rather than just a simple cold or bronchitis manifestation.

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How to check for bronchial asthma?

Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Patients primarily exhibit symptoms of episodic wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing, which usually can be relieved with or without medication. Typically, during an attack, there is wheezing and audible stridor. A diagnosis can usually be made based on symptoms and medical history, as well as physical examination. However, for atypical patients, further tests may be necessary. Generally, the main tests for asthma patients are pulmonary function tests, which include provocation tests and relaxation tests, as well as the 24-hour peak expiratory flow variability. These tests are helpful for the definitive diagnosis of bronchial asthma.

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What position should be adopted for bronchial asthma?

The postures of patients with bronchial asthma vary depending on the severity and extent of the attack. For patients with mild symptoms, they can assume any posture they prefer without any impact; they can sleep however they wish. However, during severe asthma attacks, patients are forced to adopt a semi-sitting or upright sitting position to breathe. This isn't a choice, but a necessity when the disease reaches a severe stage, where such positions might slightly ease breathing. Many asthmatic patients cannot lie down at all during serious attacks, as lying down would intensify their chest tightness and breathing difficulties.

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How to check for bronchial asthma?

If there is a suspicion of having bronchial asthma, a series of tests will be carried out at the hospital, mainly including: First, complete blood count, especially focusing on whether there is an increase in eosinophils, to determine the presence of eosinophilic allergic inflammation. Second, imaging of the lungs, including chest X-ray or CT to determine whether there are any specific lesions in the lungs. Third, pulmonary ventilation function and bronchodilation tests, or bronchial provocation tests. Pulmonary function is a gold standard for diagnosing bronchial asthma, often indicating the presence of obstructive ventilation dysfunction. A positive bronchodilation test or provocation test can help in confirming bronchial asthma.