Pneumonia

Pneumonia, an infection that inflames the air sacs in one or both lungs, can be a severe and potentially life-threatening illness. Chinese medicine provides a variety of holistic approaches to treating pneumonia by addressing its symptoms and underlying causes. This article will explore four different categories of pneumonia symptoms and their corresponding Chinese medicine treatments, including the use of herbal formulas and specific foods.

  1. Wind-warm-superficial Pneumonia

Characterized by acute onset of symptoms, cough, dry mouth or thirst, fear of cold, high fever, light thirst, nasal discharge, slight dislike of cold, stuffy nose, and wheezing from the throat, wind-warm-superficial pneumonia can be treated by inducing perspiration with pungent and cool herbs, expanding the lungs, and transforming sputum.

Herbal Formula: Yin-Qiao-San

Foods to Incorporate: Apple, apple cucumber, sweet rice, lemon, sweet potato, tofu, tomato, white sugar, coriander, and parsley.

  1. Sputum Energy Heat Pneumonia

Symptoms include cough and panting, coughing out sputum containing silky blood, discharge of copious yellow and sticky sputum, dry mouth with the desire to wash mouth but not to drink, high fever that does not go down for a prolonged period of time, light cough, oppressed and rapid breath, scanty urine, shivering, sputum of a rusty color, thirst, and wheezing with sputum noise. Treatment involves clearing heat, expanding the lungs, transforming sputum, and pushing down the upsurging energy of the lungs.

Herbal Formula: Ma-Xing-Shi-Gan-Tang with Wei-Jing-Tang

Foods to Incorporate: Banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, bamboo shoot, cucumber, Job's-tears, laver, leaf beet, mung bean, peppermint, purslane, salt, cattail, agar, radish, crown daisy, date, fresh ginger, leaf or brown mustard, black and white pepper, white or yellow mustard seed, asparagus, and pear.

  1. Heat Enters the Pericardium Pneumonia

Symptoms include being slow and dull in response, chest pain, difficulty in speech, high fever, illusive hearing, illusive vision, incontinence of both bowel movements and urination, indifferent expression, mental dizziness, slightly cold limbs, sputum noise in the throat, and twitching. The treatment focuses on expanding the lungs, transforming sputum, clearing the heat in the heart, and promoting blood circulation throughout the body.

Herbal Formula: Wei-Jing-Tang with Qing-Gong-Tang

Foods to Incorporate: Asparagus, pear peel, banana, bitter endive, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, bamboo shoot, cucumber, Job's-tears, liver, leaf beet, mung bean, peppermint, purslane, lily flower, salt, and cattail.

  1. Extreme Heat Generating Wind Pneumonia

Symptoms include convulsions, fainting, feeling troubled, quick-tempered and insecure, high fever, muscular tightening, neck stiffness, red complexion, stiff neck and limbs, twitching or spasms of the four limbs, and dry and shivering tongue. Treatment involves nourishing the yin, clearing heat, calming the liver, and stopping the internal wind.

Herbal Formula: Ling-Jiao-Gou-Teng-Tang with Qing-Ying-Tang

Foods to Incorporate: Peppermint, spearmint, sweet basil, celery, coconut meat, green onion, chicken egg, bitter endive, camellia, cattail, black fungus, salt, spinach, strawberry, banana, bamboo shoot, crab, and water clam.

Conclusion

Chinese medicine offers a holistic approach to treating pneumonia by addressing its various symptoms and underlying causes. By understanding the different categories of pneumonia symptoms and their corresponding treatments, individuals can better manage their condition with the help of herbal formulas and dietary changes. As always, it is crucial to consult with a licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine to receive a personalized treatment plan tailored to one's specific needs and symptoms.