Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Diet - for the Treatment of Cystic Fibrosis

By Effi Kfir L.Ac

Cystic Fibrosis is a disease that affects the secretory glands, commonly causing mucus in the body to thicken to Phlegm and sweat to become salty. Thick phlegm can easily build up and give way to bacterial growth, which leads to infection - commonly in the lungs and pancreas. Over time, people with CF experience severe damage to the lungs due to infections, and difficulty absorbing nutrients due to lack of digestive enzymes, which the pancreas produces. Salty sweat in individuals with cystic fibrosis can lead to fatigue, dehydration, increased heart rate and low blood pressure. Cystic fibrosis also heightens the risk of diabetes and osteoporosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a condition that is comprehensively managed by Western medicine, yet many people still complain of symptoms that are not resolved with the traditional regimes of antibiotics, physiotherapy and respiratory medications. Chinese Medicine is an alternative form of treatment that may provide relief from some of these symptoms.

Typically CF tends to affect both the lungs and the stomach, causing an excess of phlegm or mucus to accumulate, and the inability of both these organs to function normally. The lungs store the phlegm inside them, which inhibits expansion and the uptake of oxygen into the bloodstream. The stomach and digestive system is unable to digest all nutrients from food, and thus the person finds it difficult to maintain weight and sustain high energy levels. This can also deplete the immune system, allowing germs and infections to enter the body.

When thinking in terms of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the effects of CF on the body are remarkably similar. Below is a summary of the TCM interpretation of these problems:

1. Kidney Deficiency

The body requires “Qi” or life energy tofunction. Without Qi the body dies. There are 2 sources of Qi:

a) Yuan Qi – we are born with this and it is a limited supply which we use up through life. It is stored in the kidneys.

b) Postnatal Qi – this is the qi that we continually make. It is made from air taken through the lungs, and food taken through the stomach.

We use a combination of these to live and function. As CF attacks the lung and stomach, the person is not able to make as much postnatal Qi; therefore he uses more yuan qi (remember it is in a limited supply). This causes the person to become kidney deficient, as this yuan Qi is kept in the kidney. The kidney is also responsible for the regulation of fluids. If there is a deficiency in the kidney, there will not be enough fluid. Fluid is cooling and a lack of fluid can cause excess heat to accumulate in the body.

2. Lung Deficiency

We have already mentioned problems with the lungs as a result of CF. In TCM, the lung produces a thing called “Wei Qi” which circulates around the exterior of the body acting like the immune system and protecting the body from external invasions. These invaders are not only the well-known germs and infections, but can also be invasions of cold and heat. When there is a lung deficiency these invaders can enter the body and cause increased phlegm. If the invader pathogene is cold the phlegm is white, if it is heat the phlegm is yellow.

3. Yin and Yang

For good health our bodies must have a balance of yin and yang. Yin is considered cold, dark, night, and asleep, while Yang is hot, bright, day, awake. Because of the deficiency in the kidney and lung as mentioned previously, a yin deficiency can result. This leads to an imbalance in yin and yang, and too much yang. The person may then suffer from lack of sleep, feeling hot, irritability, yellow phlegm and the like.

Acupuncture will not cure CF; it will not change the underlying disease process. However it may offer some relief of some of the symptoms. Each person is different and may suffer from other problems not discussed, and will need an acupuncture treatment regime designed for them. Acupuncture is only an adjunct to Western medical management of CF, and is certainly NOT an alternative. But used in this way, it is worth pursuing as a possible means of achieving better health.

Chinese Herbal Medicine together with Acupuncture, Diet and changes of Lifestyle may contribute much stronger effect on the symptoms of CF. This is especially true for Yin deficiency symptomes and Lung weakness accumulated with phlegm.

Effi Kfir L.Ac

Phone number at the clinic: 054-4804538