Autumn…….Yang turning into Yin; time to remain calm and peaceful, gather one’s spirit and energy,
remain focused and keep the Lung energy full, clean and quiet... - The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Medicine
Chinese Herbs for Cold and Flu Season
copyright 2005 Suzanne E. Sky, L.Ac., MTOM
Everyone has their favorite seasonal remedies. These are ours.
Prevention is the best medicine!
Ask about our Wei Qi (Protective Qi) strengthening acupuncture treatments. We can include this as part of your regular treatment, or come in for a $35 special Wei Qi (way chee) Mini treatment of half an hour. Come dressed in loose shirt and slacks.
For the herbal component, read on….
• JADE SCREEN 3 tabs, 2x day
If you know you are prone to catching colds and flus during the change of season in the fall take herbs regularly to strengthen your Wei Qi, (Protective Qi). Jade Screen is a traditional formula is specific for this. We use a modern variation of this formula with excellent results. This truly supports your immune system in fighting off colds unlike flu shots, which weaken the immune system in the long run, can cause other health problems and only inoculate against last years flu strains!
• Fall Immuni-Tea – Suzanne’s special blend of herbs that are mineralizing such as oatstraw and nettles, along with immune enhancing berries such as wolfberry, shizandra, rosehips and more.
• Immune Soup Herbs – Cook up a batch of delicious autumn soup with these immune-enhancing herbs.
More tips:
• Keep well hydrated with water, hot tea and warm soups.
• Get enough rest.; enjoy the outdoors and exercise regularly.
• Relax and enjoy the harvest season as things slow down in preparation for winter retreat time.
• Wear a scarf and hat. Colds and flus are described in Chinese Medicine as “invasions of wind, cold, heat or damp evils.”! The “evils” invade the body from the neck, back of head, top of shoulders. Keep ‘em covered!
• Keep yourself warm. Wear layers of clothes to accommodate changing temperatures, wear socks, take a warm bath before bed. Drink warm tea.
FOR THE FIRST SIGNS OF A COLD , the initial phase, when just feeling a tickle at the back of the throat, come in for an acupuncture treatment to boost your system plus consider:
• Initial Defense or Cold Away 3 tabs, 2 to 3x day
• Cold B-Gone Tea Combine 1 bag of tea with 2 to 4 cups of water. Gently simmer these herbs in a non-metallic pot for 15 to 20 minutes. Let steep about 10 minutes. Drink freely.
• Triple Whammy Tea – This combination of peppermint, yarrow and elder flowers is for the strong and only at the beginning stage. Prepare the tea and set it by your bed in a teapot. Take a warm bath. Get bundled up in some nice flannels. Drink one to two cups of Triple Whammy Tea, get bundled up in bed and stay covered all night. Can help you sweat it out before it penetrates to the deeper layers of the body. Never do this once you have a cold; it can make it worse.
More tips:
• Drink hot miso soup (red miso in winter) for dinner. Cook up a bowl of hot water with some chopped scallions, diced tofu, some ginger, kudzu (or arrowroot powder) and a touch of Umeboshi plum paste. Add the miso to the bowl.
• Take a hot bath and add a few drops of essential oil of lavender, eucalyptus and/or pine.
• Go to sleep early & get lots of rest
ONCE YOU HAVE THE COLD OR FLU
Colds and flus have a specific lifespan, usually about a week, sometimes longer. Herbs and acupuncture will not shorten the lifespan, but can help your body deal with the symptoms and prevent deeper infection. In Chinese medicine, there are specific herbs and treatments indicated for different stages and symptoms of a cold or flu.
Once you have a cold or flu, stop all herbal tonics and nutritional supplements. Begin them again a day or two after you are feeling quite well. Call us with any questions.
YOUR SIGNS & SYMPTOMS DETERMINE WHICH FORMULA IS MOST HELPFUL.
If the condition is severe or complex and for most cough conditions, Suzanne or Jenn will custom blend an herbal powder formula to be taken by itself or combined with an herbal compound. If a person is deficient or has a specific medical condition, the herbal formula will combine these specific herbs along with herbs that will address their constitution or medical condition. Herbs can be custom blended even for conditions such as pneumonia that will be fine to take along with antibiotics to help the person recover.
Please consult with us for best results. Following are guidelines for helpful herbs.
• ZHONG GAN LING 4 to 6 tablets, 3 to 4 x day
Flu with body/muscular/joint aches, chills and fever.
• GAN MAO LING 4 to 6 tablets, 3 to 4 x day
Cold or flu with cough, & yellow expectorant from the lungs with cough –
• BI YAN PIAN 4 to 6 tablets, 3 to 4 x day
Runny nose with clear, runny phlegm. May be a cold, allergy or sinus condition.
• QUIET COUGH 6 to 8 teapills (tiny little pills), 3 to 4x day
For coughs at the early or end stage; where there is not much expectoration or it is mostly clear.
• UNIVERSAL BENEFIT TEAPILLS 6 to 8 teapills, 3 to 4x day
Head colds, dry mouth and throat, swollen lymph, fever or fever and chills.
• ELDERBERRY TINCTURE 1 dropperful 3 to 4x day
Elderberry fights infection and has been found to shorten the length of time a person is ill. Add this into your herbal teas. Use in addition to the Chinese herbal remedies.
• ELDERBERRY ECHINCACEA TINCTURE 1 dropperful 3 to 4x day
Combines 2 known infection-fighters. Add to herbal teas. Use in addition to the Chinese herbal remedies.
• ALACER SUPER GRAM II VITAMIN C – or other mineral ascorbate Vitamin C (avoid ascorbic acid)
1 gram every other other hour– total 5 to 7 grams per day, to bowel tolerance (ie once you have loose bowels, take no more). The Vitamin C helps your body fight infection.
More tips:
• Take a few days off to sleep and rest.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Eat vegetable loaded with veggies.
• Chinese Medicine advises no beef, rice, ginseng, dairy or sweets when ill with a cold or flu.
• If your throat is sore:
• Gargle with sea salt water frequently throughout the day.
• Thayer’s Slippery Elm Lozenges from the Coop are terrific.
• Traditional Medicinal Throat Coat Tea contains slippery elm, which is soothing and healing for the throat.
• Fisherman’s Throat Lozenges (probably at Rite Aid or Shop n’Kart) are the best strong lozenges to calm infection and soothe the throat.
• For sinus congestion do an herbal steam with essential oil of eucalyptus or pick up a packet of our Sinus Steam that contains eucalyptus leaves.
Ashland Acupuncture
Suzanne E. Sky, L.Ac., MTOM • Jenn Collins, L.Ac., MSOM
1605 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 • phone 541.488.9696 fax 541.552.9684
ashlandacu@opendoor.com • www.ashlandacu.com