Breathing Better with Integrative Lung Care in Shanghai
The Department of Pulmonology (Lung Disease) at Longhua Hospital — affiliated with Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine — is one of China's most respected centers for the integrative management of respiratory diseases. Drawing on both the precision of modern pulmonology and the deep respiratory traditions of Traditional Chinese Medicine, the department offers a uniquely comprehensive approach to lung disease — one that addresses airway inflammation, lung function, immune resilience, and the patient's overall constitution in ways that conventional pulmonology alone cannot.
For international patients with chronic respiratory conditions such as COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, or post-COVID lung symptoms who are seeking integrative care that goes beyond inhalers and immunosuppressants, Longhua Hospital's pulmonology department represents one of the most compelling options in Asia. China Medical Concierge Shanghai (CMCS) provides seamless end-to-end support for international patients throughout their treatment journey.
About the Department
Longhua Hospital's pulmonology department is a national key TCM clinical specialty with a long history of clinical excellence and research innovation in respiratory medicine. The department operates dedicated inpatient respiratory wards, a respiratory intensive care unit (RICU), a pulmonary function laboratory, a sleep medicine service, and a dedicated TCM respiratory rehabilitation program.
The department's research program has produced a substantial body of evidence supporting the use of specific TCM herbal formulas in respiratory disease — including landmark studies on TCM for COPD exacerbation prevention, asthma control, and pulmonary fibrosis management. Faculty members publish regularly in leading respiratory and integrative medicine journals including American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, European Respiratory Journal, Chest, and Phytomedicine.
Conditions Treated
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) — Stable COPD management and exacerbation prevention; TCM herbal therapy with evidence for reducing exacerbation frequency, improving exercise tolerance, and slowing lung function decline
- Asthma — Mild to severe asthma including difficult-to-treat and severe eosinophilic asthma; TCM herbal therapy for airway inflammation reduction and steroid-sparing effects
- Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) — Antifibrotic therapy (nintedanib, pirfenidone) combined with TCM lung-nourishing herbal formulas for symptom management and quality of life improvement
- Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) — Connective tissue disease-associated ILD, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and sarcoidosis; integrative management with immunosuppression and TCM
- Bronchiectasis — Airway clearance, infection management, and TCM lung-strengthening therapy for exacerbation prevention
- Chronic Cough — TCM diagnosis and treatment of refractory chronic cough, including cough-variant asthma, upper airway cough syndrome, and non-acid reflux cough
- Pulmonary Infections — Community-acquired pneumonia, recurrent respiratory infections, and non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM); TCM immune-strengthening therapy for infection-prone patients
- Post-COVID Pulmonary Symptoms — Long COVID respiratory manifestations including persistent cough, breathlessness, reduced exercise tolerance, and pulmonary fibrosis; TCM rehabilitation protocols developed specifically for post-COVID lung recovery
- Sleep-Disordered Breathing — Obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis and CPAP therapy; TCM for obesity-related and constitutional factors
- Pulmonary Hypertension — Targeted vasodilator therapy combined with TCM qi-activating and blood-moving herbal formulas
- Lung Cancer Supportive Care — TCM support during chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy for lung cancer; respiratory symptom management and immune support in collaboration with oncology
- Respiratory Failure & Weaning — Non-invasive ventilation (NIV), high-flow nasal oxygen, and TCM acupuncture-assisted weaning protocols in the RICU
The Integrative Pulmonology Approach
TCM for COPD: A Well-Established Evidence Base
COPD is one of the conditions where TCM has the strongest clinical evidence base. Longhua Hospital has been at the forefront of TCM-COPD research in China, conducting multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrating that specific herbal formulas — particularly those based on Bu Fei (Lung-Tonifying) and Jian Pi (Spleen-Strengthening) principles — can significantly reduce acute exacerbation rates, improve 6-minute walk distance, enhance quality of life scores, and slow the decline in FEV1 when used alongside standard bronchodilator therapy.
The department's COPD management program integrates:
- Optimized inhaler therapy (LABA, LAMA, ICS combinations)
- Individualized TCM herbal prescriptions targeting the patient's specific TCM pattern (lung qi deficiency, kidney yang deficiency, phlegm-damp obstruction)
- Pulmonary rehabilitation combining modern exercise training with TCM Qigong and breathing exercises
- Acupuncture and moxibustion for dyspnea, fatigue, and immune strengthening
- Dietary medicine for nutritional optimization in COPD
TCM for Asthma: Reducing Dependence on Steroids
For patients with difficult-to-control asthma or those seeking to reduce their reliance on inhaled or oral corticosteroids, Longhua's integrative asthma program offers a compelling alternative. TCM herbal formulas with anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating properties have been shown in clinical studies to improve asthma control scores, reduce exacerbation frequency, and allow steroid dose reduction in selected patients. The department's approach combines guideline-concordant modern asthma management with individualized TCM herbal therapy, acupuncture, and dietary medicine.
Post-COVID Lung Rehabilitation
Longhua Hospital was among the first TCM institutions in China to develop structured rehabilitation protocols for post-COVID respiratory symptoms, drawing on TCM's rich tradition of post-infectious lung recovery. The department's post-COVID program combines:
- Pulmonary function assessment and HRCT evaluation for post-COVID lung changes
- TCM herbal formulas targeting residual lung inflammation, qi deficiency, and blood stasis — the TCM patterns most commonly identified in long COVID patients
- Qigong and breathing rehabilitation for exercise intolerance and breathlessness
- Acupuncture for fatigue, cognitive symptoms, and sleep disturbance
- Dietary therapy for immune restoration and energy recovery
Pulmonary Fibrosis: TCM as Adjunctive Therapy
For patients with IPF and other fibrotic lung diseases, TCM offers adjunctive benefits that complement antifibrotic drug therapy. Longhua's ILD program uses lung-nourishing and blood-activating herbal formulas to manage symptoms (cough, dyspnea, fatigue), improve quality of life, and potentially modulate fibrotic pathways — with ongoing research investigating the anti-fibrotic mechanisms of key herbal compounds.
TCM Respiratory Treatment Modalities
- Chinese Herbal Medicine — Individualized oral herbal prescriptions in decoction, granule, or capsule form; disease-specific formulas for COPD, asthma, ILD, and chronic cough
- Herbal Nebulization — Inhaled herbal preparations for direct airway delivery in bronchitis, asthma, and COPD
- Acupuncture & Electroacupuncture — For dyspnea, chronic cough, immune strengthening, and fatigue
- Moxibustion — Warming therapy for lung and kidney yang deficiency patterns; particularly effective for cold-triggered asthma and COPD
- Acupoint Application Therapy (三伏贴敷) — Seasonal herbal plaster application to acupoints during the "Three Dog Days" of summer for prevention of winter respiratory exacerbations — a uniquely TCM preventive strategy with clinical evidence
- Qigong & TCM Breathing Exercises — Structured breathing rehabilitation combining Qigong with modern pulmonary rehabilitation principles
- Dietary Medicine — TCM dietary therapy for lung nourishment, phlegm reduction, and immune support
Why International Patients Choose Longhua Pulmonology
- COPD Research Leadership — One of China's most research-active centers for TCM in COPD, with landmark clinical trials published in international journals
- Post-COVID Expertise — Specialized TCM rehabilitation protocols for long COVID respiratory symptoms developed from early in the pandemic
- Steroid-Sparing Asthma Care — Evidence-based TCM approaches for patients seeking to reduce corticosteroid dependence
- Unique Preventive Therapies — Acupoint application therapy and seasonal TCM protocols for respiratory exacerbation prevention
- Integrated Pulmonary Rehabilitation — TCM Qigong and breathing exercises combined with modern pulmonary rehabilitation
- Cost-Effectiveness — World-class integrative respiratory care at significantly lower cost than equivalent treatment in Western countries
The CMCS Patient Journey
- Initial Inquiry — Share your respiratory history, pulmonary function tests, CT scans, current inhalers and medications, and specific goals with CMCS.
- Medical Record Preparation — We translate and organize your records for specialist pre-consultation review.
- Specialist Matching — We identify the most appropriate integrative pulmonologist based on your condition — COPD, asthma, ILD, post-COVID, or chronic cough.
- Priority Scheduling — We secure a consultation with minimal waiting time.
- Travel & Logistics — Assistance with visa invitation letters, accommodation near Longhua Hospital, and Shanghai airport transfers.
- On-Site Concierge — Bilingual coordinators accompany you throughout your hospital visits, managing registration, translation, and communication.
- Treatment Coordination — Full coordination of pulmonary function testing, herbal prescription dispensing, acupuncture sessions, and rehabilitation program enrollment.
- Post-Treatment Follow-Up — Test result translation, herbal prescription renewal, and remote follow-up coordination after you return home.
Book a Consultation
If you are seeking integrative pulmonology care in Shanghai — whether for COPD, asthma, interstitial lung disease, post-COVID lung recovery, or chronic respiratory symptoms — CMCS can arrange a specialist consultation with Longhua Hospital's pulmonology team.
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