Respitrol (Deficient)™

TCM herbal formula for chronic asthma, COPD, respiratory allergies, occupational and environmental lung diseases — bronchodilating, antitussive, and expectorant herbs that tonify Lung and Kidney to relieve wheezing, dyspnea, and frail cough

WARNING: Contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. Contains Dang Gui which invigorates blood — use with caution or avoid with Coumadin (warfarin) or anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy due to higher risk of bleeding and bruising. Do NOT take during the acute stage of any respiratory disorder — use Respitrol (Heat) or Respitrol (Cold) first, then transition to Respitrol (Deficient) during remission. Patients with severe or acute asthma attacks may need additional herbal or drug treatment.

CLINICAL APPLICATIONS

* Chronic and deficient respiratory diseases: asthma, respiratory allergies, occupational lung diseases, environmental lung diseases, COPD

* Chronic respiratory disorders with compromised breathing functions and damaged lung structures

* Deficiency signs and symptoms: shortness of breath with difficult inhalation but normal exhalation; wheezing and shortness of breath worse with physical exertion; snoring sounds in the throat from phlegm accumulation; low-pitched rhonchi; audible wheezes; frail cough with sputum; dry throat; aversion to wind; spontaneous sweating; red cheeks; red tongue with scanty coating; thready rapid pulse

TCM pattern: Lung deficiency with Kidney not grasping qi. Causes include tobacco smoking, indoor and outdoor air pollution, allergens, and occupational risks — leading to compromised breathing functions and damaged lung structures.

Clinical protocol: Use Respitrol (Heat) or Respitrol (Cold) for acute respiratory disorders. When the condition stabilizes, transition to Respitrol (Deficient) and/or Cordyceps 3 during remission to strengthen the underlying constitution and reduce the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.

Acute attack tip: If medication or inhaler is not available, two cups of coffee, hot cocoa, or chocolate bars can help alleviate wheezing or dyspnea — caffeine has a similar effect to the asthma drug theophylline.

Comparative note: Western drugs (bronchodilators, corticosteroids, theophylline, cromolyn) suppress acute symptoms but do not change the underlying condition or reduce frequency and severity of recurrent attacks. Herbs are better for long-term prevention and management. Optimal treatment uses drugs for acute episodes and herbs for long-term healing and prevention.

KEY HERB-LEVEL CLINICAL DATA

— Dong Chong Xia Cao (Cordyceps): warms Kidney yang; restores Kidney's ability to grasp qi downward; prolongs inhalation; dilates and relaxes bronchial muscles via adrenal gland hormone stimulation; 656 chronic tracheitis patients treated 3x daily for 40 days with good results; 6g 3x daily for 4 weeks — 93% effective rate in 43 allergic rhinitis patients

— Rou Gui (Cortex Cinnamomi / Cinnamon Bark): warms Kidney yang; restores Kidney's ability to grasp qi downward; prolongs inhalation

— Ku Xing Ren (Semen Armeniacae Amarum / Bitter Apricot Seed): directs Lung qi downward; eliminates phlegm; relieves cough and wheezing; antiasthmatic via inhibition of respiratory center in brain; 96.8% effective in 124 chronic tracheitis patients (23 complete recovery, 66 marked, 31 some improvement, 4 no response); Xing Su San effective for wind-cold cough in 50 patients

— Zi Su Zi (Fructus Perillae / Perilla Seed): directs Lung qi downward; eliminates phlegm; relieves cough and wheezing; combined with Jie Zi and Lai Fu Zi — treats bronchitis, bronchial asthma, emphysema, pediatric asthma, and diaphragm spasms; 40 chronic stubborn cough patients: 62.5% marked improvement, 37.5% moderate improvement

— Zi Wan (Radix et Rhizoma Asteris / Aster Root): directs Lung qi downward; eliminates phlegm; relieves cough and wheezing

— Jie Zi (Semen Sinapis / Mustard Seed): directs Lung qi downward; eliminates phlegm; expectorant — facilitates discharge of phlegm and sputum

— Ting Li Zi (Semen Descurainiae): directs Lung qi downward; eliminates phlegm; relieves cough and wheezing

— Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis / Schisandra): astringent — prevents leakage of Lung qi; stimulates lungs to increase rate and depth of respiration; reverses respiratory depression associated with morphine; formula with Wu Wei Zi effectively treated 50 asthma patients

— Lai Fu Zi (Semen Raphani / Radish Seed): tonifies Spleen; reduces production of phlegm

— Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae / Aged Tangerine Peel): expectorant — eliminates phlegm; antiasthmatic — suppresses airway hyper-responsiveness; combined with Ban Xia, inhibits eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness by suppressing CCR3+ and Th2 cytokines in ovalbumin-induced asthma model

— Zao Jiao Ci (Spina Gleditsiae / Gleditsia Spine): expectorant — eliminates phlegm

— Hou Po (Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis / Magnolia Bark): regulates qi; relieves chest congestion; stimulates respiratory system to relieve wheezing and dyspnea; magnolol and honokiol — antiasthmatic by relieving muscle spasms and inhibiting smooth muscle contraction in trachea

— Chai Hu (Radix Bupleuri / Bupleurum): regulates qi; relieves chest congestion

— Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis / Dong Quai): nourishes blood; alleviates bronchospasm to treat wheezing and dyspnea

— Zi Su Ye (Folium Perillae / Perilla Leaf): disperses coldness; dilates Lung; reduces bronchioli secretions to promote bronchodilation and relieve bronchospasm; antiallergic and anti-inflammatory — decreases mast cell and eosinophil infiltration, reduces histamine, inhibits IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha

— Zhi Gan Cao (Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae Praeparata cum Melle): harmonizes formula; anti-inflammatory — decreases blood vessel permeability, antihistamine, decreases sensitivity to stimuli; glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid anti-inflammatory influence approximately 1/10th that of cortisone; antitussive and expectorant

WESTERN THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Antiasthmatic / bronchodilating — Dong Chong Xia Cao (bronchial muscle dilation, adrenal hormones up); Ku Xing Ren (respiratory center inhibition); Hou Po magnolol and honokiol (tracheal smooth muscle contraction down); Dang Gui (bronchospasm down); Zi Su Ye (bronchodilation, bronchospasm down); Wu Wei Zi (respiration rate and depth up); Chen Pi (airway hyper-responsiveness down)

* Antitussive — Ku Xing Ren (respiratory reflex inhibition); Zhi Gan Cao (antitussive)

* Expectorant — Jie Zi (phlegm discharge up); Zhi Gan Cao (expectorant); Chen Pi and Zao Jiao Ci (phlegm elimination)

* Anti-inflammatory / antiallergic — Zhi Gan Cao (glycyrrhizin/glycyrrhetinic acid, 1/10 cortisone, permeability down, antihistamine); Zi Su Ye (mast cell down, eosinophil down, histamine down, IL-1beta down, IL-6 down, TNF-alpha down); Chen Pi (eosinophil down, Th2 cytokines down)

CHINESE THERAPEUTIC ACTIONS

* Relieves wheezing; arrests cough (Ku Xing Ren, Zi Su Zi, Zi Wan, Jie Zi, Ting Li Zi)

* Eliminates phlegm (Chen Pi, Zao Jiao Ci, Lai Fu Zi, Jie Zi)

* Tonifies the Lung and Kidney (Wu Wei Zi, Dong Chong Xia Cao, Rou Gui)

* Tonifies the Kidney to grasp qi downward; prolongs inhalation (Dong Chong Xia Cao, Rou Gui)

* Regulates qi; relieves chest congestion (Hou Po, Chai Hu)

* Nourishes blood; disperses coldness; dilates Lung (Dang Gui, Zi Su Ye)

DOSAGE

Standard: 3–4 capsules three times daily on an empty stomach with warm water. May be taken continuously long-term for maintenance and prevention of asthma.

Supplementary formulas: Maintenance and prevention of asthma attack — use with Cordyceps 3. Coughing — add Respitrol (CF). Ear, nose, and throat infection — add Herbal ENT. Thirst, dry mouth, and throat — add Nourish (Fluids). Immune enhancement — take with Immune+. Respiratory infection with sore throat, fever, headache — use Lonicera Complex or Respitrol (Heat) instead. Cold-type respiratory disorders with chills, clear nasal discharge, sneezing, nasal congestion — use Respitrol (Cold). Allergies — use Magnolia Clear Sinus or Pueraria Clear Sinus. Deficiency of qi, blood, yin, or yang — combine Imperial Tonic with Respitrol (Deficient) as preventative during remission. Kidney yang deficiency — combine Kidney Tonic (Yang) with Respitrol (Deficient) as preventative during remission. Underlying damp and phlegm from Spleen qi deficiency — add Pinellia Complex. More inflammation in the Lung — add Astringent Complex.

Nutrition: Eliminate all cold and raw foods and beverages — they constrict bronchial tubes causing spasms. Since asthma may be allergy-related, eliminate common allergen foods: milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, and nuts. Sulfites (used in restaurants to preserve salads, French fries, and avocado dips) are also linked to asthma attacks. White radish relieves cough — slice one fist-sized radish, mix with 1 tablespoon maltose and 1 cup water, cook 20 minutes; or mix radish slices with honey, wait 30 minutes, drink the secreted fluid. Lemon juice with honey is also effective for cough. Avoid mucus-producing foods: sugar, fried or greasy foods, dairy products including cheese, food additives (MSG, metabisulfite), white flour products, and junk food. Increase onion and garlic intake. Eat a diet low in spicy, raw, greasy, and sweet foods.

Tao of Nutrition (Dr. Maoshing Ni and Cathy McNease) — Asthma: Recommended foods — apricot kernels, almonds, walnuts, basil, carrots, pumpkins, winter melon, sunflower seeds, loofah, squash, figs, and daikon. Mix 1/2 cup fig juice with 1/2 cup lukewarm water and drink daily. Cut the top out of a small winter melon, remove seeds, fill with molasses, close with cheesecloth, steam, and eat daily for 7 days. Pierce an unpeeled orange with a chopstick and roast until the peel blackens — remove peel and eat the fruit; eat one orange daily for 7 days. Drink fresh fig juice three times daily. Avoid mucus-producing foods, cold foods, fruits, salads, all shellfish, dairy products, watermelon, bananas, mung beans, salty foods, cold weather, and especially ice cream.

Tao of Nutrition — Common cold (wind-cold): Recommended foods — ginger, garlic, mustard greens and seeds, grapefruit peel, cilantro, parsnip, scallions, cinnamon, basil, and soupy rice porridge. Lightly boil garlic, ginger, green onion, basil, mustard, or cinnamon for 5 minutes — drink the tea, go to bed, and prepare to sweat. Drink cilantro and green tea. Drink scallion and basil tea. Make tea from dried grapefruit peel. Avoid shellfish, heavy proteins and fats, meats, and all vinegars.

Lifestyle: Patients with emphysema should avoid cigarettes and secondhand smoke, air pollution, dust, mold, fur, animal dander, chemicals, and artificial fragrances. Maintain a stable temperature environment — avoid sudden extremes of heat, cold, humidity, or dryness. Strengthen immune system and body resistance between asthma attacks — balance exercise and rest; alternate hot and cold water in the shower to desensitize the body to temperature changes; take Immune+ or Cordyceps 3 regularly. Regular exercise with herbal therapy is the key to complete recovery. Change vacuum and central heating filters frequently to minimize dust, mold, and dust mites. Install an air purifier for patients with family members with infectious respiratory disorders. Replace carpets with hard surface floors to prevent allergens from being trapped. Use bleach (e.g., Clorox) to clear mold and fungus. Avoid all direct and indirect contact with allergens to prevent allergic reactions.

CASE STUDIES

— 41-year-old female (J.D.): Asthma, allergies, phlegm in lungs; stress, weight gain, fatigue; cough triggered by lying on back at night; opaque mucus and yellow phlegm in the morning; Lung, Spleen, and Kidney qi deficiencies with phlegm; Western diagnosis: asthma and chronic bronchitis. Respitrol (Deficient) 4 spoonfuls twice daily (taken inconsistently over 3 months). Result: allergies improved, lungs clearer, only flaring with colds, energy increased.

— 74-year-old female (S.F.): Chronic breathing difficulty worse with exertion (walking up stairs); dry wheezing; hoarse throat; no phlegm; BP 128/88 mmHg, HR 80 bpm; Lung and Kidney yin deficiencies and Spleen qi deficiency. Respitrol (Deficient) 3 capsules 3x/day. Result after 2 weeks: able to stop using oxygen tank during the day; deeper and easier breaths; fasting blood sugar levels also improved (type 2 diabetic).

— 72-year-old male (D.D.): Shortness of breath and cough with frothy clear white sputum; diabetic, post-stroke, heart function 77%, creatinine 1.8 mg/dL; left leg hot, right leg cold; difficulty inhaling; recent two rounds of antibiotics; Kidney not grasping qi, Lung and Spleen qi deficiencies with phlegm accumulation; Western diagnosis: COPD. Cordyceps 3 + Respitrol (Deficient) + Circulation (SJ) + Neuro Plus. Result: gradually improved, getting stronger each week over approximately 3 months.

— 59-year-old female (J.N.): Chronic dry hacking cough; shortness of breath; dry hair and nails; BP 120/80 mmHg, HR 78 bpm; Lung and Kidney qi and yin deficiencies. Respitrol (Deficient) + Nourish (Fluids). Result: cough became looser and less painful; able to cough up some sputum; improvement in hair and nails.

— 17-year-old male student: Wheezing, shortness of breath, dry non-productive cough; worse with exertion and cold exposure; extremely thin, unable to gain weight; rebellious Lung qi with deficient Kidney not grasping Lung qi; Western diagnosis: chronic asthma. Respitrol (Deficient) + acupuncture twice weekly for 2 weeks then once weekly for 2 weeks. Result: wheezing restrained and under control; inhaler use reduced from 3–4 times daily to once or twice weekly.

Related Reading

Also see: Cordyceps 3 – for maintenance and prevention of asthma attack | Respitrol (CF) – for coughing | Herbal ENT – for ear, nose, and throat infection | Nourish (Fluids) – for thirst, dry mouth, and throat | Immune+ – for immune enhancement | Lonicera Complex – for respiratory infection with sore throat and fever | Respitrol (Heat) – for heat-type respiratory disorders | Respitrol (Cold) – for cold-type respiratory disorders | Magnolia Clear Sinus – for allergies | Pueraria Clear Sinus – for allergies | Imperial Tonic – for qi, blood, yin, or yang deficiency during remission | Kidney Tonic (Yang) – for Kidney yang deficiency during remission | Pinellia Complex – for underlying damp and phlegm from Spleen qi deficiency | Astringent Complex – for more inflammation in the Lung | Respiratory Health & Lung Support Collection.