The evolution of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD） is a gradual process. Focusing on the characteristics and key links of different stages of COPD

adopting staged grading prevention strategies and methods is of great practical significance for giving full play to the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） and improving clinical efficacy. Based on the systematic analysis of the clinical characteristics

prevention and treatment goals of COPD

and the pathogenesis and syndromes

this paper put forward the prevention and treatment strategies and goals of TCM prevention and treatment of COPD:（1） According to the stage of the disease: the prevention and treatment strategy and goal of the stable period is to relieve symptoms

prevent disease progression

and reduce the risk of acute exacerbation. The treatment should follow the principle of "treating the root causes for slow onset"

and the methods should be enforcing healthy qi（tonifying the lung

invigorating the spleen

benefiting the kidney）

accompanied by resolving phlegm and improving blood circulation. For the acute exacerbation period

it is to minimize the impact of this acute exacerbation

reduce clinical symptoms

and reduce the risk of death. The treatment should follow the principle of "treating the symptoms for acute onset"

and the methods should be clearing

resolving

ventilating

and descending

including clearing heat and resolving phlegm

drying dampness and resolving phlegm

warming and resolving cold fluids

promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis

and ventilating and descending lung qi.For the critical window of acute exacerbation

it is to prevent the occurrence of acute exacerbation and promote recovery into a stable period. The treatment should both eliminate pathogens（resolving phlegm and promoting blood circulation） and enforce healthy qi（tonifying and benefiting lung qi

replenishing the lung and strengthening the spleen

replenishing the lung and kidney

etc.）.（2） According to the function of lung function（severity of airflow limitation） : for COPD patients with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease（GOLD） level 1 and 2

the treatment should protect against the decrease of lung function and delay the progression of the disease. The treatment is based on enforcing the healthy qi（reinforcing the lung

invigorating the spleen

and replenishing the kidney）

accompanied with resolving phlegm and promoting blood circulation; for patients of GOLD level 3 and 4

should focus on reducing acute exacerbation

improving quality of life

and the treatment should enforce the healthy qi（reinforcing the lung

benefiting the kidney

and invigorating the spleen）

accompanied by resolving phlegm and promoting blood circulation; for advanced patients

should pay attention to the prevention and treatment of combined diseases

reduce the risk of death

improve the quality of life

especially pay attention to reducing the mortality rate of chronic respiratory failure

and the treatment should be based on replenishing vital energy

promoting blood circulation

and removing phlegm.