2. Chronic Bronchitis

2. Chronic Bronchitis

Traditional Chinese Medicine refers to this disease as "prolonged cough" or "asthmatic cough," classifying it as an internal injury cough. Improper treatment of external pathogens can lead to the development of internal injury cough. This disease is triggered by external factors, causing repeated exacerbations. Traditional Chinese Medicine has long recognized that "the manifestation lies in the Lung, while the root lies in the Spleen and Kidney." The "manifestation" refers to the symptoms, while the "root" refers to the underlying cause, indicating that treating the Spleen and Kidney is fundamental to curing this disease. Treating chronic bronchitis with methods targeting the Spleen is the traditional "nourishing earth to generate metal" approach; treating it with methods targeting the Kidney is the traditional "warming the Kidney to collect qi" approach; applying both methods simultaneously constitutes the method of strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidney. Over the long term, following this principle of syndrome differentiation and treatment, good therapeutic effects have been achieved in the prevention and treatment of chronic bronchitis. The Xiyuan Hospital of the Beijing Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine reported an effectiveness rate of 95.5% when treating this disease with Guben pills^⑤^, a formula combining Liu Jun Zi Tang, Yu Ping Feng San, Psoralea corylifolia, and Zihéche, aimed at strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidney. The Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine also used cinnamon, Aconite, Atractylodes, and dried ginger to formulate Sanzi Yangqin Tang, which was effective in treating this disease^⑥^. Judging from the composition of this formula, it still falls under the method of strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidney. In the summer of 1978, I encountered a silicosis patient, male, 60 years old, with facial edema, cyanosis of the lips, coughing, wheezing, thin and clear sputum, difficulty breathing (requiring intermittent oxygen), sensitivity to cold, intestinal rumbling and loose stools, abdominal fullness and poor appetite. Chest X-ray revealed severe emphysema and right heart enlargement, suggesting advanced silicosis. The pulse was deep and slippery, both尺 pulses were weak, the tongue was dark purple, and the coating was slightly yellow and greasy. Based on spleen and kidney yang deficiency and the Kidney's inability to collect qi, I applied the method of strengthening the Spleen and tonifying the Kidney, prescribing Gui Fu Ba Wei Wan combined with Jin Shui Liu Jun Jian, adjusted as needed. After taking more than 40 doses, all symptoms significantly improved, and breathing became regular.