Asthma - Heat Wheezing Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Asthma · Heat Wheezing Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Heat Wheezing is a common pattern in acute asthma exacerbation, characterized by airway inflammation, wheezing, yellow thick sputum, red face, and feverish sensation. The core pathogenesis is Phlegm-Heat accumulating in the Lung, causing Lung Qi to fail to descend, bronchospasm, and wheezing.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Dyspnea, wheezing, yellow thick sputum, red face |

| Associated Symptoms | Thirst with desire for cold drinks, sweating, feverish sensation, chest tightness |

| Tongue and Pulse | Red tongue with yellow greasy coating, slippery and rapid pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Phlegm-Heat accumulating in the Lung, Lung Qi failing to descend |

| Etiology | Wind-Heat infection, Phlegm transforming into Heat, spicy food intake |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

| Dazhui (GV14) | Below the spinous process of C7 | Disperses Wind-Heat and clears Heat |

| Chize (LU5) | On the elbow crease, lateral side of the biceps tendon | He-Sea point of Lung meridian; clears Lung Heat |

| Feishu (BL13) | On the upper back, 1.5 cun lateral to T3 | Back-Shu point of Lung meridian; regulates Lung Qi |

| Dingchuan (EX-B1) | 0.5 cun lateral to GV14 (below C7) | Extra point specifically for asthma; stops wheezing |

| Fenglong (ST40) | 8 cun above the lateral malleolus, 2 cun lateral to the tibial crest | Transforms Phlegm and clears Heat |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reducing method; Dazhui may be pricked to bleed to enhance Heat clearing.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Ding Chuan Tang (定喘汤)

Composition:

Ephedra (Ma Huang), Ginkgo (Bai Guo), Perilla Seed (Su Zi), Tussilago (Kuan Dong Hua), Mulberry Bark (Sang Bai Pi), Scutellaria (Huang Qin), Pinellia (Ban Xia), Apricot Kernel (Xing Ren), Licorice (Gan Cao)

Action: Clears Heat, diffuses the Lung, transforms Phlegm, and stops wheezing.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Thick yellow sputum | Add Gua Lou, Bei Mu to clear Phlegm-Heat |

| Severe wheezing | Add Di Long, Ting Li Zi to drain the Lung and stop wheezing |

| Thirst | Add Shi Gao, Zhi Mu to clear Heat and generate fluids |

| Fever | Add Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao to clear Heat and detoxify |

Western Mechanism Reference

Airway inflammation with eosinophil infiltration, IL-4/IL-5/IL-13 release, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Heat Wheezing corresponds to allergic asthma with Th2-type inflammation, where IL-4 induces IgE production, IL-5 promotes eosinophil infiltration, and IL-13 induces airway hyperresponsiveness and mucus secretion.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Asthma with Heat Wheezing.

  2. DB-XJB: Ding Chuan Tang.

  3. WHO. (2023). Asthma fact sheet. World Health Organization.

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