The frustrations of asthma and how to treat it can be enough to take your breath away. Asthma affects more than 25 million people in the United States, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Are you one of them? Have you considered an alternative approach that doesn’t involve digging frantically through your things for a working inhaler? Traditional Chinese Medicine may offer an effective treatment to help you breathe easier, naturally.
What Is Asthma?
Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes the passageways that carry air to and from our lungs to narrow and inflame. These swollen and sensitive airways allow less air through, causing recurring wheezing, chest tightness and pressure, shortness of breath, and coughing. During an asthma attack, more mucus may also be produced by nearby cells, further restricting airways and increasing the severity of the attack. Asthma and chronic breathing problems can range from the occasional annoyance to outright scary and dangerous episodes.
What triggers an attack can be different for everyone. The most common triggers of asthma include:
- Allergens from dust, animal fur, cockroaches, mold, and pollens
- Irritants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution, or chemicals
- Medicines such as aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
- Sulfites in foods and drinks
- Viral upper respiratory infections, such as colds or flu
- Physical activity or exercise
- Stress or depression
What Treatment Options Are There?
There are certain lifestyle choices asthmatics can make to help manage the disease, such as avoiding smoke and exercising regularly, but unfortunately, asthma has no permanent cure. It can be controlled, however, and symptoms can be greatly reduced. The most common treatment includes medication, either in the form of regular shots, a pill, or most frequently, by way of an inhaler, which delivers the medication directly into the lungs. All of these can help patients manage their asthma, but there are additional, more natural, treatment options that work as well.
How Can Acupuncture Help?
Many people associate acupuncture just with chronic pain relief, such as in the back or shoulder, but asthma symptoms are also on the list of maladies that can be treated effectively with acupuncture. A core understanding in Traditional Chinese Medicine is that all pain, diseases, and everything from weight gain and depression to stress originates from obstructions or problems with the energy and blood flow in our bodies. Blood and the body’s energy nourish all of our organs. Acupuncture safely clears these blockages or stagnant areas by way of very fine needles inserted into specific points on the body. The needles are not painful, and most patients report only a warming sensation upon insertion. Your acupuncturist may rotate them gently and then, optimally, they stay in place for up to 20 minutes. These treatments allow the body’s energy and blood to flow freely, rejuvenating the body and resulting in not only reduced or alleviated asthma symptoms, but overall improved health and wellness as well.
We understand the frustration of asthma and chronic breathing problems and would love to talk with you about acupuncture to help manage your symptoms. If you suffer from asthma and are interested in a safe and natural long-term solution, please call us at 602-955-5444 to schedule your appointment.
