Traditional Chinese medicine views asthma as a condition in which phlegm and dampness block air passages and hinder the functioning of the lungs. This impairment leads to the respiratory obstruction experienced by asthma patients. The purpose of acupuncture is to restore the total balance and harmony of the body in order to ease symptoms.
Both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recommend acupuncture as a beneficial treatment for asthma.
Emphysema/COPD and Acupuncture
Emphysema is a type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a progressive and chronic condition that makes breathing difficult. Studies have shown that acupuncture may help to reduce shortness of breath, improve pulmonary functioning, and help patients’ ability to walk. In general, acupuncture helps patients to gain a better quality of life; this process may help those with emphysema to lessen or eliminate pharmaceutical intervention.
