Asthma - Lung-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Asthma · Lung-Kidney Deficiency Pattern

Updated: June 23, 2026

Reviewed by: Dr. Li Wei, DACM

Reading Time: 7 min

Body Area: Chest

Pattern Overview

Lung-Kidney Deficiency is a severe chronic pattern in asthma, characterized by chronic severe asthma, adrenal insufficiency, dyspnea on exertion, and poor Qi reception. The core pathogenesis is Lung and Kidney deficiency with failure of the Kidney to receive Qi, leading to severe asthma, shortness of breath, and reduced exercise tolerance.

Key Symptoms and Differentiation Points

| Differentiation Dimension | Manifestations |

| :— | :— |

| Primary Symptoms | Recurrent asthma, dyspnea on exertion, poor Qi reception |

| Associated Symptoms | Soreness in the lower back and knees, cold intolerance, frequent urination, pale complexion |

| Tongue and Pulse | Pale tongue with thin white coating, deep and weak pulse |

| Pathogenesis | Lung-Kidney deficiency, Kidney failing to receive Qi |

| Etiology | Prolonged illness, aging, overwork, corticosteroid dependence |

Acupuncture Point Prescription

| Point | Location | Function |

| :— | :— | :— |

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

| Shenshu (BL23) | Lower back, 1.5 cun lateral to L2 | Back-Shu point of Kidney meridian; warms Kidney Yang |

| Taiyuan (LU9) | On the wrist crease, radial side | Source point of Lung meridian; supplements Lung Qi |

| Taixi (KI3) | Depression between medial malleolus and Achilles tendon | Source point of Kidney meridian; nourishes Kidney Yin |

| Gaohuang (BL43) | On the upper back, 3 cun lateral to T4 | Nourishes deficiency and supports Lung and Kidney Qi |

Clinical Recommendation: Filiform needle, reinforcing method; heavy moxibustion may be applied to Shenshu and Gaohuang to warm and tonify.

Herbal Formula

Base Formula: Sheng Mai San (生脉散) + Jin Shui Liu Jun Zi Jian (金水六君子煎)

Composition:

Ginseng (Ren Shen), Ophiopogon (Mai Dong), Schisandra (Wu Wei Zi), Rehmannia (Shu Di), Angelica (Dang Gui), Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi), Pinellia (Fa Ban Xia), Poria (Fu Ling), Gecko (Ge Jie)

Action: Supplements Lung and Kidney Qi, receives Qi, and stops wheezing.

Modifications

| Associated Symptoms | Additions/Subtractions |

| :— | :— |

| Soreness in lower back and knees | Add Du Zhong, Niu Xi to strengthen the lower back |

| Cold intolerance | Add Fu Zi, Rou Gui to warm Yang and disperse Cold |

| Frequent urination | Add Yi Zhi Ren, Sang Piao Xiao to astringe the Kidneys |

| Severe wheezing | Add Zi He Che, Hu Tao Rou to supplement the Kidneys and receive Qi |

Western Mechanism Reference

Adrenal insufficiency with reduced endogenous glucocorticoids; reduced lung elastic recoil causing airflow limitation. Lung-Kidney Deficiency corresponds to severe asthma or corticosteroid-dependent asthma, where long-term corticosteroid use suppresses adrenal function and reduced lung elastic recoil causes irreversible airflow limitation.

References

  1. Internal Medicine of TCM - Asthma with Lung-Kidney Deficiency.

  2. DB-XJB: Sheng Mai San.

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

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