TCM Perspectives on Preventing and Treating Colds and Flus

Flu season is now well upon us – how many people do you know that have already been down this year? Many people are still considering whether or not to get vaccinated – both against the H1N1 and the seasonal flu. There are pros and cons on both sides: there are worries about the safety or efficacy of the vaccines (including the preservatives they come with), as well as worries about the potential severity of this year's H1N1 virus and the fact that complications related to seasonal flus are the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. It is an issue each person or family should educate themselves about to make the best choice for them, including taking into consideration their risk factors such as pregnancy, having a chronic illness, being a health care or child care worker, etc.


Whether or not you choose to get a flu vaccine, it is very important for all of us to take care of our body's resistance at this time. There are the usual recommendations: washing hands frequently (anti-bacterial soap is not necessary), especially after coughing or sneezing (and always using a tissue, or coughing or sneezing into the elbow, not the hand); avoiding sharing food and drink with others to prevent cross-contamination; avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth; and avoiding close contact with those who have a cold or flu. If you are sick, stay at home and avoid contact with others, until at least 24 hours after your fever has subsided.


The best prevention is to follow the above advice to prevent exposure to cold and flu pathogens. Whether or not we get sick when exposed to pathogens is determined by 1) the strength of the pathogen and 2) the strength of our body's defenses, which in Chinese Medicine we call Wei Qi.


In supporting the body's ability to defend itself, proper rest cannot be underestimated: the body doesn't function properly without it. Sleeping at night is like recharging our cell phone batteries – our qi, blood, and yin gets replenished during this time, allowing us to function on full power the next day. If our qi is depleted, we do not have the ability to fight illness.


Also important in keeping our qi healthy, free-flowing, and strong is to do our best to be aware of and moderate the stresses we are facing. We are much more susceptible to illness when we are feeling stressed, stretched, and run down. The fall and winter is the natural time for rest and storage: to keep warm, keep the back of the neck covered, and avoid drafts and wind; to eat hearty, warming foods such as soups and stews; to sleep a little more and conserve our energies. It is important to live according to the energy of the seasons for optimal health.


It is also important to eat lots of fresh vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Warm, cooked foods, especially cooked with warming and/or digestive herbs such as onion, ginger, garlic, turmeric, cinnamon, clove, cumin, fennel, coriander, basil, mint, cilantro, rosemary, thyme, etc. - help aid our digestion and keep our qi strong. Baked pears (especially the Asian variety), perhaps with a bit of local honey, almonds, and walnuts, is a tasty dessert that's good for lung health.


We should stay hydrated, drinking lots of fluids, particularly warm beverages. Ginger tea (1 inch of ginger, sliced and simmered for about 15 – 30 minutes) or ginger and green onion soup (the white parts are especially powerful) are great when you feel like you may be on the verge of coming down with something.


Sinus lavage (netipot) is very helpful for maintaining upper respiratory health, especially if you are prone to allergies, colds, and sinus problems. Similarly, a warm or hot (though be careful that is not scalding) salt water gargle can help prevent viruses in the throat from proliferating, and the mucus membranes clean and moist.


Some people like to take supplements to help boost the immune system, including vitamin C and zinc. Astragalus is a powerful Chinese herb popularly used to boost immune function. Airborne is a supplement which contains a famous Chinese herbal formula for colds and flus (Yin Qiao San) – it is best taken at the first sign of catching a cold, and can be taken throughout the course of a cold to keep symptoms low-grade and to help speed recovery. While some of these Chinese herbs and formulas are now available over-the-counter, it is best to see your Chinese herbalist to be sure that these herbs are right for you and the conditions you present with.


Acupuncture can help to boost immunity, and to address symptoms such as sore throat, fever, headache, body aches, stuffy sinuses, runny nose, cough, and others. Chinese herbal formulas can be very helpful to both strengthen immunity and to treat colds and flus. Many Chinese herbs not only treat symptoms but have potent anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties, often without the bacterial resistance that has developed through the widespread use of modern antibiotics. These formulas should be prescribed by an herbalist, because our medicine is tailored to each individual's constitution and symptom presentation. While modern bio-medicine claims that there is no cure for the common cold, Chinese medicine has been treating it for thousands of years.

Hawthorn for the heart

A new study indicates that the popular herb hawthorn may have measurable benefits for heart disease patients (complete study here: warning medical-ese ahead!). Hawthorn is called shan zha in chinese. It's indicated for 'food stagnation', conditions where improperly or incompletely digested food hangs around and causes trouble. Shan zha is specifically recommended for meats and fats. In modern times this has translated into its use for atherosclerosis: fatty plaque deposits in the arteries impeding blood flow. Shan zha also promotes blood flow, another indicator of its modern use as a heart health herb.

Shan zha is a component of various formulas a chinese herbalist might prescribe, but it is also considered a 'food herb' - safe to take for long periods. A delicious tea can be made by steeping the dried berries in hot water. You may wish to sweeten the brew with a little honey, as the berries can be tart. Enjoy February, 'heart health month' with a warm red glass of hawthorn berry tea!

Curry for your Colon

A study at Johns Hopkins University has found that treatment with curcumin and quercitin, substances in turmeric and onions, substantially reduced the size and number of pre-cancerous polyps in the colon.

Turmeric is called Yu Jin in Chinese. Its actions are to "move the qi and blood" and remove stagnation from inside the body. Stagnation is how Chinese Medicine understands growths such as polyps, cysts and tumours, as well as subjective sensations of stagnation like being 'stuck' or 'full' and conditions such as constipation. Over time, stagnation of Qi (an energetic stagnation that one feels, but there is no physical blockage) can transform into stagnation of 'blood' or 'phlegm' meaning that a real physical blockage has developed. Preventing and dispersing stagnation is a main goal of much Chinese Medicine, through diet, exercise, stress management and acupuncture.

Many of the herbs that Chinese Medicine uses to "move the qi" are pungent and flavourful, and help increase the digestibility of foods and prevent stagnation. I am a big fan of turmeric in cooking. It gives much South Asian food its distinctive colour, flavour and health benefits. I also use it when I make tofu scramble, to give a cheery yellow colour to an egg free breakfast. For festive occasions sautee almonds, raisins and onions in olive oil with turmeric, mix in rice, add water and cook. You will have a beautiful and delicious dish (and polyp reducing too, but try not to mention that at dinner!).

Here is more information about Yu Jin: http://www.herbasin.com/database/yujin.htm

And here is a complete article about the Johns Hopkins study: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060801052004.htm