**9. Mind–body exercise**

**Herbal name (Latin name)**

234 Asthma - From Childhood Asthma to ACOS Phenotypes

**Yu Xing Cao** (*Houttuynia*

**Table 2.** Single herbs frequently used for asthmatic children

**7. Acupuncture use in children with asthma**

mation in patients with allergic asthma [63]. The numbers of CD3+

electroacupuncture is prominent in promotion of CD4+

induced experimental asthma [65].

**8. Acupuncture point application**

Acupuncture is a TCM therapeutic approach involving the stimulation of points on the body by using needles. For thousands of years, acupuncture has been used to treat several conditions, including asthma. Other methods of stimulation are traditionally used, such as electroacupuncture, laser acupuncture, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. There is evidence that acupuncture can reduce eosinophils in peripheral blood and decrease secretory IgA (sIgA) and total IgA levels in the saliva and nasal secretions of patients with allergic asthma [63]. The role of eosinophil activation in asthma has been well documented. sIgA is a potent stimulus for eosinophils and represents the main trigger for eosinophil degranulation. After acupuncture treatment, the reduction of sIgA levels and the decrease in the numbers of eosinophils may be associated with the amelioration of eosinophilic inflam‐

lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were significantly increased, without significant cortisol changes, in patients with allergic asthma treated by acupuncture [63]. It has been shown that

induced experimental model [64]. Furthermore, acupuncture has also been shown to inhibit AHR, eosinophils, neutrophils, specific IgE, Th1 cytokines, and the NF-κB pathway in OVA-

Acupuncture point application therapies, combining Chinese herbal medicine and acupunc‐ ture points, have been extensively applied for the treatment of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma [66]. Summer acupuncture point application treatment, also known as San-Fu-Tie or San-Fu-Jiu, is one type of direct moxibustion administered in the summer through the direct applica‐ tion of an irritating herbal paste to acupuncture points. The basic herbal prescription of San-Fu-Tie is usually composed of Bai Jie Zi (*Semen Sinapis Albae*), Xi Xin (*Herba Asari*), Gan Sui

*cordata Thunb.*)

**Pictures Possible mechanisms**

Decreases Th2 response; decreases IL-4,

, CD4+

FoxP3+ Tregs in an OVA-

CD25+

, and CD8+ T

IL-5, and TARC levels [62]

Mind–body exercise, such as *tai chi*, yoga, and meditation, may benefit people with chronic diseases. *Tai Chi Chuan* (*tai chi*), a Chinese traditional mind–body exercise with low-tomoderate exercise intensity, is thought to improve cardiopulmonary function in patients with chronic disease. *Tai Chi Chuan* has been shown to improve pulmonary function of asthmatic children [68]. Yoga training was reported to improve pulmonary function tests (FEV1 and PEFR), quality of life, and decrease in the weekly number of asthma attacks, scores for drug treatment, and peak flow rate [69–71]. Meditation has also been shown to be a useful adjunct for treating asthma [72].
