A ‘Hot’ remedy for Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are two major respiratory diseases with high recurrent rate in winter. Steroid is the most widely used drugs nowadays. On the other hand, Chinese Medicine has a long history of using Tian Jiu (天灸療法) as a preventive measure to these diseases.

Chinese Medicine has a long history of using Tian Jiu as a measure to prevent asthmatic attack by herbal application on selected acupoints in stimulating and regulating the meridian system.

What is Tian Jiu Therapy (天灸療法)?

Tian Jiu Therapy, a natural moxibustion, is a non-flammable moxibustion which uses concocting powdery herbal poultice medicine onto selected acupoints in causing blistering and local congestion, with balancing and harmonizing the yin-yang system effect.

The theory is based on the principles of ‘Treating winter disease in summer’ and ‘Invigorating Yang in spring and summer’. Tian Jiu Therapy was developed in treating winter disease, like asthma, in summer as a preventive means and nourishing Yang in spring and summer that lower the recurrent rate in winter time. It operates in the three most Yang exuberance days of the year (the hottest days of the year) which reconciles those allergic rhinitis and asthma caused by ‘cold’ pathogen. The three days are calculated according to the lunar Chinese calendar.

There are 4 Dog Days this year.

1. 13 July 2013 (Sat)
2. 23 July 2013 (Tue)
3. 2 Aug 2013 (Fri)
4. 12 Aug 2013 (Mon)

Do it for 3 consecutive years for a better result.

Acupoints

Based on the systematic review, those acupoints on Bladder Meridian would be selected as the other Yang meridians cross on this one with all transport points where the Qi (flow of energy) of the visceral organs is infused. That could stimulate the Yang Qi of the whole body and balance the function of the visceral organs.

Evidence

Hospital Authority Hong Kong has collected some data from the public Chinese Medicine Centers in 2009 and 2010. It shows that there is significant clinical improvement in controlling symptoms during attacks.

	Before treatment	After treatment
Duration of each recurrence (days)	3.75	1.20
Frequency of Western Medicine Usage during recurrence (per day)	3.78	2.28

Caution

All patients with asthma acute attack, fever, pharyngitis, infants under two, pregnancy, pulmonary tuberculosis, sever cardiac and pulmonary diseases, diabetes mellitus, skin and drugs allergies, are not eligible for the .

Consult your Chinese Medicine Practitioner and start the treatment this year!