Pneumonia (Peripneumonia)
Pneumonia was traditionally called Peripneumonia in the West. It is an infection of the Lungs which may be life threatening, especially to the young and elderly. Each year, an estimated 1.4 million children worldwide aged under 5 die of Pneumonia, and it is the most common cause of hospitalization of children under 2. It is also commonly associated with mortality in the elderly, particularly after Influenza or other Lung infection.
Traditional Symptoms of Peripneumonia inlcude: difficulty breathing, burning Fever, stretching out of the Breast, the tongue is dry, the breath is hot, pricking pains in the chest, face is red, temple veins swell, the sputum is a thin with putrefied matter with blood or froth.
Today, Pneominia is regonised s a Lung infection which may be caused by Bacteria, Virus or Fungii. It causes the alveoli of the Lungs to fill with fluid or pus. Streptococcus pneumoniae is the primary bacterial cause of Pneumonia with others including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa, Legionella pneumophila, Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae.
Of Virus, Respiratory syncytial virus is a common cause of Childhood Pneumonia with Influenza and Coronovirus also being a causitive factor. Childhood Penumonia is a mixed viral-bacterial infection in around 25–30% of cases.
There are a number of other types of Pneumonia including:
- Lobular Pneumonia with Bronchitis and Necrosis
- Interstitual Pneumonia with thichkening of the alveolar wall
- Nodular Pneumonia with nodules caused by Mycobateria species
- Lipoid Pneumonia where lipids accumulate in the alveoli
Symptoms of Pnemonia:
- Cough which is dry, or productive with yellow, green, brown or blood-streated sputum.
- Difficulty breathing, with breathlessness or rapid shallow breathing
- Fever
- Sweating and shivering
- Rapid Heart beat
- Feeling unwell, poor appetite etc.
Antibiotic treatment is most comon in modern medicine and is most effective in Bacterial Pneumonia. However, antibiotics are fairly universally used as the etiology, especially in children, is often difficult. Antibiotics may also be used to stop a secondary bacterial infection in acute viral pneumonia.
In Traditional Medicine it is classed as Lung Heat, Phlegm-Heat, and in advanced cases, Lung Heat with Yin Deficiency. The principle treatment is medicines to clear Lung heat, specifically medicines that treat the pathogen causing Pneumonia.
Some Herbs with Proven Effect against Pneumonia pathogens
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Maidenhair Licorice Caraway Cumin Fennel seed Linseed |
Garlic Ginger Mullein Horehound Thyme Stoechas |
Beet root leaf Echinops (Globe Thistle) Citrus aurantifolia leaf Pellitory (Pyrethum) Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao Acalypha indica |
Bloodletting is useful; the Head vein was often bled.
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Western Tradition Peripnemoniacus–Pneumonia Pectoral Decoction Decoction for Catarrh (Alcala) Syrup of Maidenhair Electuary of Frankincense (Diaolibanum) (Nicholas) Tragacanth Cooling Powder (Diatragacanth Frigidum) Diapenidion Philonium Romanum (Philonium Nicolai) (Nicholas) Triphera Greater (Triphera Magnus) (Nicholas) Theriac Oil of Orris Copper 25 (Zangs thal nyer lnga) (Tibetan) Deer Horn Bhasma (Kushta Qarnulaiyal) (Unani) Eliminator of Inflamed Lungs (Glo tshad kun sel) Garlic Milk (Lasuna Kshira) (Ayurveda) Garuda 5 (Khyung Lnga) (Tibetan) Principle 25 (Gtso bo nyer lnga) Sitopaladi Powder (Ayurveda) |
TCM Classification Wind-Heat and Toxin (Acute) Fever, sweating, cough, thirst, sore throat, rapid, floating pulse Yin Qiao San Huang Lian Jie Du Tang Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin Lung Heat Chills, high fever with or without sweat, cough, wheezing, heavy breathing, wants cold drinks, red tongue with yellow coat, rapid pulse Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang Da Qing Long Tang (with exterior Cold) Phlegm Heat in the Chest Chills and fever, bitter taste, cough with yellowish phlegm, sore throat, irritable, wiry pulse Xiao Chai Hu Tang Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan Qing Fei Tang Sitopaladi Powder (Ayurveda) Sandalwood 8 (Tsan dan brgyad pa) (Tibetan) Strong Fire, Heat-Toxin–High Fever High Fever, irritable, delirium, loss of consciousness, spasms, convulsions, thirst Huang Lian Jie Du Tang An Gong Niu Huang Wan Zi Xue Dan Lung Yin Deficiency Dry Cough, Wheezing, dry mouth and throat, hard-to-clear sputum, red tongue without coat, small and rapid pulse Ma Wei Di Huang Wan Mai Men Dong Tang |
Special Formula
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A Nitrous Draught. Red Poppy water 3 ounces Sal Prunella 1 dram Syrup of Violets 1 ounce Mix. (Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea) A Pleuritic Lohoch. Syrup of Red Poppy Linseed Oil 2 ounces ea. Oil of Aniseed 2 drops White Sugar 2 drams Mix. “It’s convenient in a true Pleurisie and Peripneumonie, accompanied with difficulty of Breathing and Spitting of Blood; asswages Pain, opens, maturates, lubricates the Passages, and expectorates”. (Pharmacopoeia Extemporanea) |
San Ao Tang Ephedra Ma Huang Bitter Apricot Ku Xing Ren Licorice Gan Cao This helps free the breath, stop Cough, open the Lungs, and treats the symptoms of Pneumonia. Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang (See the Monograph on this formula) Ephedra Ma Huang Bitter Almond Ku Xing Ren Gypsum Shi Gao Licorice Gan Cao This is the same as the former adding Gypsum. Gypsum is very cold and useful for severe Lung Heat. This is better for High Fever and extreme Lung Heat with Cough and Wheezing. Common additions to Ma Xing Shi Gan Tang for Pneumonia include:
Yin Lai Tang Lonicera Jin Yin Hua Radish seed (Lai Fu Zi) Forsythia Lian Qiao Scutellaria Huang Qin Peucedanum Qian Hu Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao Trichosanthes Gua Lou Ren This formula has been commonly used for Pneumonia and Influenza. Research has demonstrated that it doesnt have a strong effect against Pneumonia pathogens, but it exerts positive effect by enhancing Lung function and Lung environment. (See here) |
Research:
–Chinese medicinal herbs for childhood pneumonia: a systematic review of effectiveness and safety
–Chinese Herbal Medicine for the Treatment of Children and Adolescents With Refractory Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia: A Systematic Review
–MEDICINAL HERBS FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF PNEUMONIA
–Streptococcus Pneumonia Phytotherapy
–Protective efficacy of Emblica officinalis against Klebsiella pneumoniae induced pneumonia in mice
–The rational dose for MaXingShiGan decoction is crucial for its clinical effectiveness in treating bronchial pneumonia: three randomized, double-blind, dose-parallel controlled clinical studies.