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What does it do?
Asthma is a common chronic lung disease that inflames and narrows the airways, causing symptoms like
coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Asthma can be caused by many factors
such as air pollutants, weather change, viral respiratory infections (e. g., the common cold). Asthma is not curable, but the symptoms
can be well controlled with inhaled bronchodilators like albuterol at the acute
asthma attack and with glucocorticoids for long term prevention.
Asthma has been long recognized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and can be distinguished into
the cold-type or hot-type, depending on the general condition of the body heat. In the cold-type asthma,
the body feels chilly, shows aversion to cold, likes hot drink, has abundant whitish sputum.
In contrast, if the phlegm is hot and thick, the body is thirsty and likes cold drink, the asthma is considered
hot-type. In TCM, the occurrence of asthma is related to the weak kidney function.
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang was developed several centuries ago to deal with the cold-type asthma.
The Chinese medicine applies to cough with wheezing, shortness of breath, fullness and distress in the chest,
abundant whitish sputum, slippery or whitish tongue coating. Additionally, the Chinese medicine is especially helpful
for ones who have lower back weakness and cold legs, which are signs of kidney Yang
weakness often seen in older people.
Modern applications of Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang include asthma (bronchial asthma), chronic bronchitis, and
pulmonary emphysema.† In a study that included 49 chronic bronchitis patients at their acute phase,
Su Zi Jiang Qi Tang was prescribed for treatment in the form of decoction for 10 to 15 days. The patients
were at the age of 41 to 75, had the disease for 6 to 35 years, and were diagnosed according to the
standard of the modern internal medicine. In the term of TCM they also showed the deficiency of the Lung and
the Kidneys. After the treatment, 30 patients (61%) showed significant improvements,
15 (30%) showed some improvements, and 4 (9%) had no imrovement.1
Su Zi Jiang Qi Wan may come in slightly different formulations.
Su Zi Jiang Qi Wan/Pian of Guang Ci Tang is completed with 11 Chinese herbs. Noticeably, both
Rou Gui (Cinnamon bark), for warming the kidney Yang function, and Chen Xiang (Aquilaria),
for enhancing the asthma relieving effect of the formula, are present in the Chinese medicine.
• Zi Su Zi (Perilla seed)
is the chief Chinese herb in the formula that redirects rebellious Lung Qi downward to stop wheezing
and dissolves phlegm to stop coughing.
• Hou Po (Magnolia bark)
moves Qi downward to arrest wheezing, transforms phlegm, and resolves chest distention.
• Qian Hu (Peucedani root) ventilates the Lung, clears phlegm, and stops
coughing.
• Zhi Ban Xia (Prepared Pinellia rhizome)
is a main Chinese herb that transforms phlegm and stops vomiting.
• Chen Pi (Tangerine peel) expels dampness and transforms phlegm.
The Chinese herb acts together with prepared pinellia rhizome for cough and asthma due to excessive phlegm
in the Lung.
• Dang Gui (Angelica sinensis root)
is a common blood tonic herb. Its moistening property also neutralizes the drying properties of
Perilla seed and other herbs in the formula.
• Rou Gui (Cinnamon bark)
tonifies the Kidneys and enhances the Yang energy of the Yin-Yang principle.
• Chen Xiang (Aquilaria wood) is a precious Chinese herb that
descends rebellious Qi and regulates the Middle. It also tonifies the Kidneys and holds Qi.
• Sheng Jiang (Ginger) ventilates the Lung and disperses Cold.
• Gan Cao (Licorice root)
harmonizes the digestive function and synchronizes the action of multiple herbs.
The Chinese herb also moistens the Lung, relieves cough and transforms phlegm.
• Da Zao (Chinese date)
moderates and harmonizes the action of other herbs.
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Double the concentration than other Chinese herb concentrated pills;
