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Use This Traditional Chinese Medicine for Your Colds and Flu

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Traditional Chinese Medicine has some of the oldest remedies for colds and flus. Although conventional medicine has become more popular, it has very few safe and effective treatments for the combating cold and influenza viruses. Therefore, more and more people are taking to traditional medicine every year to avoid and treat their cold and flus. This article discusses 3 different forms of treatments for cold and flu used by practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine. How effective are acupuncture and acupressure for your cold and flu? Are Chinese herbs any help? Read on to find out.

Cold and Flu in Chinese Medicine

Fundamentally, the basic understanding of cold and flu is similar to Western medicine and Chinese traditional medicine.

Both systems of medicine believe that cold and flu are caused by the entry of pathogens into the body permitted by weaknesses in the constitution (immune system) of the body.

However, while Western medicine assumes that pathogens are solely responsible for the presentations of cold and flu, practitioners of Chinese traditional medicine have to consider the individual constitution of the sufferer.

Therefore, traditional Chinese medicine expects two people with cold or the flu to present with different sets of symptoms determined by the interactions between the underlying or individual constitution and the causative pathogens.

This means that different remedies may be prescribed for cold or flu in traditional Chinese medicine depending on the evaluation of the patient by a trained traditional Chinese medicine practitioner.

Chinese medicine also differs from Western medicine in its understanding of how the immune system works.

In Chinese medicine, diseases are believed to result from imbalances of qi.

Qi flows from deep inside the body to the surface and extremities. Qi can flow from “hollow organs” or yangs such as the intestines and stomach as well as from “solid” organs or yin such as the liver and lungs.

The flow of qi follows specific paths known as meridians. There are 12 regular meridians and 8 special meridians as well as numerous branches from these. Disruption in the flow of qi is regarded as the basic cause of diseases.

Along the meridians, there are identified acupuncture points that serve as entry points into the channels through which the qi flows.

By stimulating these acupuncture points either with special acupuncture needles or pressure, it is possible to correct imbalances and restore the flow of qi.

Acupuncture for Cold and Flu

Contrary to popular belief, acupuncture is not only meant for relieving chronic pain. It is also proven to help with nausea and may even improve general health.

Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have a lot of other uses for acupuncture including the treatment of cold and flu. How can acupuncture help in the prevention and/or treatment of colds and flu?  By boosting the immune system.

Studies show that acupuncture promotes the production of white blood cells that are key to the ability of the immune system to fight infections, autoimmune diseases, and allergic reactions.

One type of immune cells confirmed to be enhanced by acupuncture is a natural killer (NK) cells.

Some health experts also believe that the neurochemicals and other naturally produced substances released by acupuncture can help provide relief for people suffering from cold and flu. For example, the endorphins (a family of natural painkillers) and anti-inflammatory factors released by acupuncture can improve the symptoms of these respiratory diseases.

In the use of acupuncture for treating cold and flu, the points selected are those that can help stimulate the “defensive qi” or “Wei qi”. The Wei qi is the equivalent of the immune system in traditional Chinese medicine.

Most of the advice given in Chinese traditional medicine for strengthening the Wei qi are also the ones given in conventional medicine for avoiding cold and flu during the flu season.

This advice includes

  • practicing strict hand hygiene by washing your hands especially after coming in contact with contaminated surfaces or people suffering from cold and flu;
  • sleeping optimally (7 – 9 hours per night);
  • eating healthy foods including soups, stews, vegetables, and green tea. Coffee, processed foods and sugary drinks should be avoided at this time;
  • exercising and meditating;
  • keeping warm and protecting the skin and nose from the wind in order to prevent cold and flu viruses from entering the body; and
  • using acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
Acupuncture Points Used For Cold and Flu
  • Stomach 36 – to keep the flow of qi strong
  • Spleen 6 – to ensure proper food digestion, absorption, and conversion into vital energy
  • Large intestine 11 – to boost immune function
  • Large intestine 4 and Triple Warmer 5 – to detoxify the body and encourage the expulsion of cold and flu viruses
  • Large intestine 4 and Lung 7 – to strengthen immune defense against invading pathogens
  • Bladder 13 and Bladder 20 – to strengthen immunity and help balance the body’s energy flow
  • Thenar point (the base of the palm on the inner surface of the hand) – called the “miracle point” or simply “common cold”. It is a dedicated point for improving cold symptoms.
  • “The sore throat” point – located at the back of the hand between the ring finger and the long finger.
  • SP 6 (San Yin Chiao, located just above the ankle); ST 36 (Tsu San Li, located on the lower leg below the knee) and Li 4 (He Gu, located at the back of the end at the junction of the thumb and the rest of the fingers). These points should not be stimulated in pregnant women because they can induce premature labor and cause abortion.

Besides the insertion of acupuncture needles, these points can also be stimulated by moxibustion.

Moxibustion involves the burning of cone-shaped mugwort herbal preparation on or near the skin on or close to acupuncture points.

Besides acupuncture, acupressure is a related technique from traditional Chinese medicine that can be effectively used to treat cold and flu.

Acupressure for Cold and Flu

Acupressure involves the application of pressure on acupuncture points. This is usually done with hands and preferably with the tips of the fingers but it can also be done with elbow or devices.

Some of the points mentioned above that can also be used in the acupressure treatment of cold and flu include SP 6, ST 36 and LI4.

Additional points commonly used in acupressure are discussed in the table below.

Acupressure Points for Cold and Flu
  • Drilling Bamboo (B2) – found at the bridge of the nose and the ridges of the eyebrows. There are 2 such points corresponding to indentations in the right and left eye sockets. Applying pressure at these points can help relieve cold and associated headaches. It can also reduce sinus congestion.
  • Facial Beauty (St 3) – located below the eyes at the bottom of the cheekbones and beside the flares of the nostrils. Applying pressure on the 2 St 3 points can relieve eye fatigue, sinus congestion, and watery eyes.
  • Welcoming Perfume (LI 20) – located on the cheek just outside the flares of the nostrils. Applying pressure on these points will reduce nasal congestion, facial swelling, and sinus pain.
  • Crooked Pone (LI 11) – located at the outer end of the elbow junction. Applying pressure here will relieve cold, fever and constipation as well as strengthen the immune system.
  • Bearing Support (B 36) – found near the spine and off the edge of the shoulder blades. This is also an important point of natural resistance to cold because traditional Chinese medicine beliefs state that wind and cold enter into the body through the skin pores in this area and that the muscles there get tense just before the appearance of cold and flu. Applying pressure here will strengthen the body’s natural immune system especially against cold and flu.
  • Elegant Mansion (K 27) – located in the hollow space between the collarbone and the breastbone. Applying pressure here will relieve chest congestion, cough, and sore throat as well as improve breathing.
  • Third Eye Point (GV 24.5) – found between the eyebrows at the point where the indentation of the nose meets the forehead. Putting pressure here will relieve headaches, stuffy nose, cloudiness, and head congestion.
  • Wind Mansion (GV 16) – located in the hollow at the base of the skull directly in the middle of the back of the head. Applying pressure here will relieve a stiff neck, red eyes, headache, head congestion, and mental fatigue.
  • Gates of Consciousness (GB 20) – located in the base of the back of the head in the hollows on both sides. Putting pressure here also relieves head congestion, neck pain, and headaches.

You can relieve your cold and flu symptoms by applying varying degrees of pressure on these points.

You do not need to use all the pressure points. The ones you need use are the convenient ones and those most likely to help your symptoms.

To start, lie still or sit back comfortably. Then circle through as many of the points as you can do while pressing with the tips of your thumb and middle fingers.

Chinese Herbs for Cold and Flu

Usually, more than one herb is prescribed for cold and flu sufferers in traditional Chinese medicine. The combination of these herbs produces superior results when compared to single herbs.

A Chinese traditional medicine practitioner usually prescribes a blend of herbs to address the specific symptoms of each sufferer rather than target specific viruses. This is because symptoms are believed to be the result of the interplay between the nature of the disease and the nature of individuals.

How effective are traditional Chinese herbs in the treatment of cold and flu? Available studies indicate that they are indeed effective.

In a study involving 410 Chinese adults with swine flu (the 2009 H1N1 flu pandemic), researchers gave the participants a placebo (acetaminophen, the active ingredient of Tylenol), Tamiflu (oseltamivir, the antiviral drug, and most common prescription flu medication), a mixture of Chinese herbs known as maxingshigan-yinqiaosan or a combination of Tamiflu and the blend of Chinese herbs.

The results of the study showed that those who received only the Chinese herbs got better in 16 hours compared to the 26 hours it took for the placebo group.

The Tamiflu group got better in 20 hours while those who took a combination of Tamiflu and Chinese herbs got better in 15 hours.

The researchers, therefore, recommended Chinese herbs for treating the flu except for those suffering from severe illness.

There are different classic formulas of Chinese herbs commonly recommended for treating cold and flu. Examples of these formulas are Ma Huang Tang, Gui Zhi Tang, and Xiao Chai Hu Tang. These formulas share some common ingredients. These are briefly discussed in the table below.

Chinese Herbs for Cold and Flu
  • Herba Ephedra or Ma Huang – this is remedy is prepared from the dried stem or aerial part of Ephedra species. Its major contents are the alkaloids, ephedrine and its metabolites. Ephedrine is a bronchodilator and nasal decongestant. It also possesses analgesic, antiviral and expectorant properties. Lastly, ephedrine is an immune stimulant. All of these medicinal properties make this herb effective in the treatment of cold and flu. Unfortunately, ephedra products are banned in the US because of their adverse effect on cardiac functions.
  • Radix Glycyrrhizae or Gan Cao – also known as licorice root. This herb also has antitussive, expectorant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory properties. Therefore, it can help decongest the respiratory tract, relieve headache and boost immune functions.
  • Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae or Da Zao – jujube is used to treat fever and inflammation.
  • Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae or Gui Zhi – cassia cinnamon is used for treating nausea, vomiting, infections and the common cold.
  • Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens or Sheng Jiang – in Chinese medicine, ginger is prescribed for expelling cold and warming the inside. It is usually combined with Gan Cao to treat cough and wheezing.
  • Radix scutellariae or Huang Qin – commonly known as skullcap, it is one of the 50 fundamental herbs of Chinese traditional medicine. Studies show that the root extract of skullcap reduces inflammation and enhances immune function by promoting the growth of macrophages.
  • Radix Bupleuri or Chai Hu – used to treat fever, inflammation, and pain associated with the common cold and the flu. It is also used to relieve chest pain.

Sources


http://www.naturalnews.com/031540_influenza_Chinese_Medicine.html

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/jamie-starkey-lac/acupuncturist-can-help-keep-your-cold-bay

http://www.acupuncture.org.uk/a-to-z-of-conditions/a-to-z-of-conditions/colds-and-flu.html

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