HKBU Study Shows Chinese Medicine Formula Effective in Treating Symptoms of Asthma Patients

Dr Peng Bo, Assistant Professor of Practice in the Clinical Division of SCM, recorded and analyzed the clinical data of 60 asthma patients who attended the HKBU Chinese medicine clinics between 2015 and 2019. The number of male and female patients was about the same, and 65% of them had moderate asthma, while 35% had mild asthma. Most of the patients were adults, and 30%, 55% and 15% of them had suffered from asthma for more than 30 years, 11 to 30 years, and less than 10 years respectively.

The six-week course of Chinese medicine formula taken by the patients was prescribed based on two traditional formulas. The ingredients include cooked rehmannia root, deerhorn gelatin, cinnamon, prepared dried ginger and ephedra. The formula worked effectively in 88% of patients, and 32 patients (53%) had their asthma symptoms eliminated, 16 patients (27%) had their symptoms significantly relieved, and five patients (8%) had their symptoms relieved. The remaining seven patients showed no improvement. Among the 32 patients with eliminated symptoms, shortness of breath disappeared in four days on average, and coughing disappeared in six days on average.

During the six months after treatment, the 60 patients experienced less than one acute asthma attack on average. In addition, for the nine patients who had to use bronchodilators and antibiotics before, there was no need for them to use those medicines again during the six months after treatment.

“In addition to relieving symptoms, Chinese medicine treatments emphasize boosting one’s healthy qi and enhancing body immunity in order to speed up recovery,” said Dr Peng.

Dr Peng recommends that asthma patients should keep their homes well ventilated, maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, and avoid contact with dust, pollen and cold air. They should also maintain a bland diet, avoiding seafood and spicy food, and try not to catch a cold.