Clinical Information For the Treatment Of Pneumonia
What Is Pneumonia?

Pneumonia - Basics
Pneumonia occurs when a virus, fungus or bacteria infects the lungs, which causes inflammation. It can be transmitted from an infected individual through respiratory droplets from the nose or mouth. The primary symptoms of pneumonia include cough, sore throat, chills, high fever, chest pains and shortness of breath. Individuals may also experience nausea, vomiting, muscle aches, fatigue and headache.
Below you will find alternative and natural treatment options including those from a Chinese Medicine perspective for Pneumonia.
What Patterns Are Related To Pneumonia?

Pneumonia - Diagnostic Patterns
The Chinese Medicine treatment of pneumonia generally involves arriving at the appropriate TCM diagnosis or pattern. This pattern within the individual is what treatment is based on not the general condition (see treating the cause and not the symptoms).
The following patterns may represent the underlying contributing factors for the development of pneumonia:
Lung Dampness - Phlegm HeatLung Wind Invasion - Wind HeatRelated Posts From Our Blog
Blog Posts Where Pneumonia Is Discussed
Chinese Medicine Lifestyle And Herbal Approaches To The Coronavirus
Blog Posts Concerning Research
Acupuncture helpful for pain from disc herniations in paraplegic dogs
Study Illustrates How Electroacupuncture Promotes Healing Of A Bruised Calf Muscle
One More Reason To Eat Your Veggies: Significant Leukemia Risk Reduction
Ashi Point Acupuncture Helpful for Acne
Commonly Used Chinese Herbal Medicine for Lupus - Lab Analysis
Acupuncture, Pricking, and Cupping Effective for Treatment of Shingles (Herpes Zoster)
Self Moxibustion Promoted For Use In Military for Myofascial Back Pain
Acupuncture as an alternative to an epidural for labor pain (Study)
Acupuncture found to improve recovery of patients with heart failure
Formulas and Products @ Our Store Associated With Pneumonia
The Following (6)Formulas TCM Herbal Formulas May Be Useful For Pneumonia
Bu Fei Er Jiao Wan (Tonify the Lungs Formula with Gelatin)
Clinical Usages
- Lung yin deficiency with strong heat signs and/or bleeding - chronic dry cough, wheezing, pneumonia, bronchitis, asthma, tuberculosis, COPD.
- Stops bleeding when it arises from lung yin deficiency - mild bloody sputum with dry cough.
Clinical Categorization
Cautions
- Avoid in patients with wind-cold (i.e. "common cold").
- Avoid when there are profuse amounts of blood in the sputum.
- Avoid, or use with caution, in patients with stomach and/or spleen deficiencies, particularly with phlegm accumulation.
Huang Lian Shang Qing Wan (Coptis Clearance Pill)
Clinical Usages
- Dispels wind heat, clear toxic heat - generally used short-term for inflammatory conditions of the face, mouth, head - sore throat, conjunctivitis, acne, swollen gums.
- Can be a supportive formula for liver fire conditions resulting in headache, tinnitus, dizziness, vertigo.
- A range of yang ming heat issues - constipation, halitosis, gingivitis.
Clinical Categorization
Mai Men Dong Yin Zi Wan (Ophiopogon and Trichosanthes Combination)
Clinical Usages
- Lung and stomach yin deficiency - this is a modified version of Mai Men Dong Tang - fei wei (lung atrophy) syndrome in Chinese Medicine - dry cough from yin fluid damage, generally arises from deficiency fire rising from the stomach yin deficiency.
- A range of digestive issues - nausea, vomiting, counterflow qi, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease.
- Acute or chronic lung issues - bronchitis, dry cough - particularly with other yin deficiency signs (malar flush, heat in the five palms, etc.)
- Sjogren's syndrome - when other underlying diagnostic factors are a good fit.
Clinical Categorization
Qing Fei Wan (Clear The Lungs Decoction)
Clinical Usages
- Clears heat and phlegm and replenishes lung yin - chronic cough, generally with thicker yellow mucus, sore throat.
- With the right factors aspiration pneumonia, pneumonia, bronchitis, tuberculosis, bronchiectasis.
Clinical Categorization
Sha Shen Mai Dong Wan (Glehnia and Ophiopogonis Decoction)
Clinical Usages
- Important formula for stomach yin deficiency - benefits the stomach and the lungs - a range of digestive issues (gastritis, epigastric pain), possibly with dry throat, thirst and/or cough.
- Diabetes - particularly with signs of dryness.
- A range of lung related issues - lung cancer, pneumonia, cough/wheezing.
Clinical Categorization
Xian Fang Huo Ming Yin Wan (Immortals Formula For Sustaining Life)
Clinical Usages
- Generally for short-term use with early stage heat toxins - sores, carbuncles, boils, styes, acne. Swollen and painful skin lesions with other heat signs (chills/fever).
- Breast abscesses, mastitis.
- Uses for rheumatoid arthritis and/or psoriasis with the right underlying diagnosis.
- Internal abscesses from blood stasis.
Clinical Categorization
Cautions
- Generally not for long-term use.
- Use with caution with spleen qi deficiency.
- Avoid with yin fire.
Where Do I Go Next?
Recent Questions From Our Forum...
Have questions about pneumonia? Or want to discuss treatment techniques? You may reach us and our community of practitioners by using our forums
- Bacterial Vaginosis Treatment
- Hemorrhoids and anal discharge
- Crepey skin on upper arms
- Treatment for Gastroparesis
- Pins and Needles / Neuropathy
- Thyroid nodule recommendations?
- Family member in Coma
- How to differentiate between the root cause and the branch?
- Urinary Bladder (Uncommon) Disorder
- The significance of source points