Healing Stories: Respiratory Conditions

Respiratory conditions — including asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia — are closely linked to chronic inflammation and immune vulnerability. Japanese acupuncture, moxibustion, and herbal medicine address the underlying inflammatory and immune patterns driving these conditions, supporting recovery and long-term respiratory health. The following are healing stories highlighting the experiences of patients treated by Master Mika in Charlotte, New York, and online.

Story 1: Chronic Bronchitis

Female, 30s: She suffered from recurrent chronic bronchitis for over a year. It began when she developed bronchitis after catching a cold. Antibiotics initially resolved it, but she started getting sick easily and each time it progressed to bronchitis again. She took one to two courses of antibiotics on and off for over a year until they stopped working. She decided to seek a natural approach.

Treatment: At her first session she received acupuncture with moxibustion and heat therapy, along with custom Chinese herbal medicine. Within a few days her coughs subsided significantly. She received a total of two acupuncture treatments and two courses of herbal medicine, and her bronchitis healed completely. Her immune system also strengthened — she remained free of colds for the rest of the winter.

Story 2: Asthma and Wheezing

Female, 50s: She had developed asthma five years earlier. Her inhaler alone was not enough, so she found an acupuncturist who helped her manage the condition with visits every three weeks. When that acupuncturist relocated, she was unable to continue treatment. Without acupuncture her condition worsened — she could no longer sleep lying flat and spent nights in a chair due to severe wheezing. After two years without treatment she was desperate to find someone new. That is when she found Master Mika.

Treatment: She began acupuncture every two weeks. At first she was afraid to lie flat. She was only able to speak softly without starting to cough. With each session she was able to breathe more deeply and sleep through the night without waking from wheezing. Within four sessions, combined with Chinese herbal supplements for the lungs, her wheezing stopped almost completely. She rarely needed her inhaler. At the same time she was entering perimenopause, which caused hormonal

 imbalance — worsened by the loss of a family member, which triggered anxiety and adrenal fatigue. Her treatment became comprehensive, addressing the root causes of all of these internal conditions together. She came to understand how advanced Japanese acupuncture differs from conventional acupuncture — not limited to managing symptoms, but actually resolving her conditions. She currently maintains monthly treatment to navigate her hormonal changes, sleep, and ongoing transformation in her life.
Case 2: Acute Bronchitis

Male, 40s: He developed acute bronchitis after catching a cold.

Treatment: He received one course of Chinese herbal medicine — an eight-day supply — and his coughs and congestion resolved completely.

Story 3: Acute Pneumonia

Female, 30s: She came down with the flu, which turned into pneumonia. She had developed pneumonia several months earlier and felt the infection had never fully cleared. Antibiotics did not resolve her symptoms, so she decided to seek natural treatment. She had chest pain, wet coughs, and wheezing.

Treatment: She received two acupuncture sessions with moxibustion and Chinese herbal medicine. Within two sessions her symptoms were almost entirely gone. She completed a second course of herbal medicine to ensure the infection was fully cleared.

Story 4: Chronic Coughs and Mucus

Female, 50s: She caught multiple colds and flu infections one after another. Each time her symptoms — persistent coughs and thick greenish mucus — worsened. She was getting sick frequently and unable to restore her immune system sufficiently to ward off new infections. She decided to seek natural treatment to rebuild her immune system and alleviate her symptoms.

Treatment: She received two acupuncture treatments which alleviated most of her symptoms. A custom Chinese herbal formula was prescribed to resolve inflammation in the respiratory system, clearing her symptoms completely. She refilled the herbal formula to ensure the infection would not return. She has not gotten sick since.