Using Chinese Herbs for Colds and Flu

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Chinese Herbs for Cold & Influenza

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We have actually all heard it stated that scientific research, regardless of its notable success, has actually never ever successfully treated the cold. You have actually heard it previously, “We could land spacecrafts on Mars, yet cannot cure the common cold.” In addition to this expression comes the depressing resignation that this issue might be merely more than we can handle – a humbling curse that is humanity’s permanent concern – the curse of the cold.

Many individuals assert you could heal a cold with an incredible range of supposed remedies. Garlic, ginger, elderberries, zinc, vitamin C, echinacea, gold seal, and also a couple of over the counter solutions like  Airborne © are common recommendations. Many find that perhaps a few of them assisted, but none completely eliminated the cold. Usually, as soon as cold symptoms appear, regardless of what remedy is applied, the cold would have to run its course.

A New, Old Discovery

One auspicious cold season a friend recommended a little vial of Chinese tablets with instruction to take them if a cold started. Not long after, there was occasion to test them when the first signs of an impending cold appeared one morning. Remembering the vial, and desperate to avoid the typical seven days of misery, I gave them a try and went off to work.

That night, over supper, I was actually amazed when I recognized that I had completely forgot waking ill that morning. Rather than blossoming into a full blown cold with all it’s challenges, it just didn’t happen. All the symptoms disappeared completely. Chinese herbs? Who knew?

Yin Chiao

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The pills turned out to be something called Yin Chiao, additionally referred to as honeysuckle as well as clean toxin tablets. Amazed I’d never heard about this before, it opened the world of Chinese herbal remedies for me. Ever since, Yin Chiao and other comparable Chinese solutions have actually circumvented the majority of my colds in addition to those of my family members, friends, and associates. Even though modern medical science hasn’t achieved a cure for the cold, it would seem Chinese herbalists discovered it hundreds of years ago.

As it turns out, it also wasn’t the secret I thought it was. Billions of people in Asia have been using these herbal drugs long before the 18^th century. It’s difficult to understand why, if they work so well, they aren’t more main stream. Even when the history reflects their long term success, these Chinese remedies challenge the basis of our pharmaceutical science and are often met with resistance.

With modern prescription drugs often proving harmful or having unacceptable side effects, perhaps even as ineffective, many have lost their trust in them, and even in the doctors writing the prescriptions. Even over-the-counter medications so typically marketed as risk-free and extensively recommended by medical professionals, have been discovered to actually elevating our blood pressure, hindering various other medications, as well as proving harmful, if not fatal, to our kids. Most of children’s cold medications have been recalled by the USFDA, deemed unsafe.

A Safe Alternative

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It’s past time we truly discovered these Chinese herbs and learned their uses, because they’re safe, and frankly, are more effective than anything being prescribed by modern physicians.

If everyone was aware and used these remedies, it would revolutionize the industry. Considering half of all doctor visits are for cold symptoms and similar ailments, more common use of these remedies would change the face of Western medicine. Perhaps bad news for doctors, reducing unnecessary doctor visits would unclog a system grown congested and inefficient. Good news for patients, as doctors will potentially have more time to actually visit with you and do a more accurate diagnosis.

Chinese medicine has actually long recognized that cold and flu are triggered by foreign microorganisms developing outside our bodies and showing up as if by the wind. These wind pathogens attempt to permeate our defenses and penetrate deeper into our bodies. They are referred to as exterior wind diseases and defined in 4 classifications: wind cold pattern, wind heat pattern, wind damp pattern, and also summer heat pattern. A lot of health problems we identify as colds belong in the wind cold or wind heat classifications.

Our bodies are shielded from these by the lungs, referred to as the umbrella organ. The lungs regulate the skin as well as govern the opening and closing of the pores. The lungs are vulnerable to attack when the pores are open on the skin protecting the upper body. When exposing your chest, neck, head, or shoulders to a draft, particularly if you’re sweating, will offer easy access for any wind disease that may be blowing by. Ultimately, this is why it’s best to cover up during the flu season.

Wei Qi

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The Chinese teach that we are additional protected by our own defensive energy, called wei qi, said to permeate our lungs and skin, creating a protective barrier to these winds. With sufficient wei qi you should withstand exposure to most colds without suffering ill effects. Wei qi can be boosted with the use of herbs like astragalus huang qi, which tightens the surface, offering additional protection because they close the pores and minimize sweating. They’re used when you’re well, before you have symptoms, to block the illness. Once you’ve become ill, they’re use is discontinued so you don’t trap pathogens and prevent them from being expelled naturally from the body, causing the development of symptoms in deeper organs, like nausea and diarrhea.

Discharging pathogens is accomplished through herbs that promote sweating. They fall into two categories: warm pungent herbs for cold pathogens, and cool pungent herbs for warm pathogens. Which pathogen you’re suffering from is defined by the symptoms.

Headache, body aches, strong chills, mild fever and the lack of thirst reflects wind cold requiring warm pungent herbs. A fever over 101 degrees, sore throat, mild chills and generally more severe symptoms reflect a hot pathogen, which requires cool pungent herbs. Wind heat pattern diseases are the flu, measles, and mumps, for example.

Herbs treating wind heat work as well as wind cold treatments so the differences aren’t as important. Most of the commonly available Chinese herbs align with wind heat formulas effective for any kind of cold, however there are some body part specific formula distinctions for herbs that work particularly well on specific areas of the body.

For instance, colds which start in the throat appear to react best to Yin Chiao, which is probably one of the most well-known of all Chinese cool solutions. This formula was initially released in 1798 in Dr. Wu Ju Tong’s Wen Bing Tao Bian (Systematic Differentiation of Warm Diseases).

Dose

Yin chiao is taken as a tablet or powder instead of as a hot tea to maintain the chemical stability of the major natural herbs.

ADULTS: At the very first indication of cold or influenza, take 3 to 5 grams right away (normally 6 to 8 tablets, depending upon the brand name of yin chiao), after that take 2-3 grams every 4 hrs for the remainder of the day. For avoidance, take 2 grams (3 to 4 tablets) every 4 hrs when at risk for cold or influenza. This formula is purported to be safe for pregnancy.

CHILDREN: 700 milligrams (typically one tablet computer) per twenty-five pounds of body weight is appropriate, crushed and blended with food.

Program of Usage

The course of therapy is a minimum of a day, but no longer than a week, with plenty of bed rest, when possible.

Suggestions

Keep a supply of yin chiao tablets in convenient locations like your car, bag, or pocket throughout the flu season. If you feel a cold breaking, then take it right away, and before entering public places like an airport or a mall just to be safe.

Chinese Medications and their function

• Honeysuckle (jin yin hua, Lonicera flos): Expels external wind heat, cleans toxins and clears heat.
• Forsythia (lian Qiao, Forsythia suspensa fructus): expels external wind heat, clearing heat and toxins.
• Balloon flower (jie geng, Platycodi grandiflori radix): circulates lung energy, transforming cold mucus and is beneficial to the throat, directing other herb actions upward.
• Peppermint (bo he, Menthe herba): good for the throat, will also clear your head and eyes while clearing wind heat.
• Edible burdock (niu bang zi, Arctium lappa): also good for the throat, detoxifies fire poison and clears wind heat.
• Crested grass (dan zhu ye, Lophatheri gracilis): relieves thirst and reduces irritability, while clearing exterior wind heat.
• Schizonepeta (jing jie, Schizonepeta tenuifolia): clears exterior wind cold and wind heat.
• Fermented soy bean (dan dou chi, Sojae praeparatum seminal fluid): Relieves irritability and clears both hot and cold exterior conditions
• Chinese licorice root (gan cao, Glycyrrhiza uranelsis radix): moderates and balances various natural herbs while purifying fire poisons, this herb is good for the Qi while it tonifies the spleen.

For colds that start in the nose, Gan Mao Ling is best. It can be used alone or with Yin Chiao to address the first sign of sinus congestion or a cough.

DOSE

ADULTS: If taken alone or along with Yin Chiao or Zong Gan Ling, take 2-4 tablets every three to four hrs.

CHILDREN: Crush one tablet per 25 pounds of body weight, combined with syrup or food.

INGREDIENTS: (and traditional uses)

• Ilex Origin Gang Mei Gen – Removes Warmth and also Settles Toxic Substances
• Evodia Fallen Leave San Cha Ku – Gets Rid Of Warm and also Fixes Toxic Substances
• Chrysanthemum Blossom Ju Hua – Distributes Wind-Heat, Gets Rid Of Liver Warm, Cools Down Lung Warmth
• Vitex Natural Herb Huang Jing Cao – Spreads Wind-Heat, Cools Down Lung Warmth
• Isatis Origin Restriction Lan Gen – Removes Warmth, Cleans Contaminant
• Lonicera Blossom Jin Yin Hua – Removes Warmth Cleans Toxic Substance, Soothes the Surface area.

WARNINGS

Due to the brief background of usage for several of its components (less than 100 years), Gan Mao Ling is Not Advised For Usage While Pregnant. Extended usage can trigger indigestion or loosened bowels.

To ease colds which are too well established to block, or to soothe colds that start with body pains, high temperature, as well as chills, I think the most effective treatment is Zong Gan Ling.

Zong Gan Ling (Likewise recognized as: Efficacious Cold Treatment)

CONVENTIONAL USAGES

Good for relieving severe cold or flu symptoms like body aches, fever and chills, congestion, sore throat, or headache.

DOSE

ADULTS: Take 3 to 6 tablets every 4 hrs. If signs continue, see an accredited healthcare service provider. Do not surpass 12 tablets a day.

CHILDREN: One tablet per 30 pounds of body weight. Crush and combine with food. Do not surpass 4 tablets a day.

INGREDIENTS

• Kudzu Root (also referred to as Ge Gen or Radix Puerariae): Clears heat, relaxes the muscles, and nourishes fluids. Known main components: puerarin, puerarin-xyloside, daidzein, daidzin B-sitosterol, arachidic acid.
• Hirsute Holly Root (additionally called Mao Tung Ching or Radix Illicis Pubescentis): Rejuvenates Blood and clears toxic heat. Known main components: flavonoid glycosides, triterpenoids, tannin, ursolic acid, oleanolic acid.
• Vervain (likewise called Herb of the Cross or Ma Pien Tsao or Herba Verbenae): Disperses blood and clears heat. Known main components: hastatoside, verbanalin, verbenin.
• Woad Root (referred to as Indigo, Ban Lan Gen or Radix Isatidis): Quells heat, Purifies Fire Poison, and helps the Throat. Known main components: indoxyl-B-glucoside, B-sitosterol, isatin, arginine, glutamine, proline, tyrosine.
• Wormwood Plant (also called Qing Hao or Herba Artemisae): Cools blood and clears heat, deficiency fever and summer heat. Known main components: abrotamine, B-bourbonene, farnesyl acetate, caryophyllene, B-humulene,, artemesia ketone, vitamin A.
• Typsum (called Shi Gao or Gypsum Fibrosum): Quells Fire and clears heat and stomach fire rising to the head. Known main components: calcium sulfate, calcium oxide.
• Notopterygi (referred to as Qiang Huo or Radix & Rhizome Notopterygium incisium): Disperses dampness and cold, alleviating pain and directing herbs upward while releasing the exterior. Known main components: angelical, osthol, glabra lactone, bergaptin.

EXPERT NOTES

Unlike Zhong Gan Ling imported from China, Dr. Shen’s Zong Gan Ling consists of no medicines, dyes, drugs, animal products, or unlisted active ingredients. Each tablet consists of a 750 mgs. of quality wildcrafted natural herbs. Each tablet has a natural food glaze coating in a shape that makes swallowing easier.

Dr. Shen’s Zong Gan Ling is a twentieth century formula which utilizes a battery of heat clearing herbs, many of which have actually been revealed to hinder the development of a vast array of microrganisms.

COURSE OF USE

The program of therapy is a minimum of one dosage over a maximum of 2 weeks each episode. Rest throughout the period of administration will help.

These strong heat clearing herbs are not recommended for continuous use or as a daily supplement.

Cold prevention is an entirely different formula, strengthening the body’s defenses. Jade Windscreen (or Jade Shield) is the most well known of this formula.

Jade Shield – Astragalus Mix

Additionally referred to as Augmented Jade Windshield, this formula is made use of to develop protective power (wei qi) and also Consolidate the Surface area (cold and flu protection).

Formula Source: Jade Windshield Powder, Teachings of Zhu Dan Xi

Activities: Enhances the Qi, Exterior stabilization

Enhancement: enhancement of Ligustrum lucidum (privit fruit Nu Zhen Zi and also Cinammomi ramulus cinammon branch Gui Zhi Practitioner Note: Including Ligustrum increases the immune enhancing tendencies of astragalus while decreasing the drying properties of both the atractylodes and also the ledebouriella. Changing some siler and also bai zhu with cinnamon twig additionally minimizes dryness. These adjustments make the formula extra powerful and also appropriate for long-term usage for those with dry or yin deficient constitutions.

Components, Functions, as well as Major Chemical Components

Astragali Radix

Botanical Name: Astragalus Membricanaceus

English name: Milk-vetch root

Mandarin name: Huang Qi

Japanese name: Ogi

Korean name: Hwanggi

Taste: Sugary Food Nature: Warming, Very safe

Functions: Advantages the Qi, Raises the Yang, Reinforces the Spleen/ (pancreas), Tonifies the Wei Qi (protective power)

Significant components: 2,4-dihydroxy-5,6- dimethoxyisoflavane, choline, betain, kumkatenine, glucoronic acid, b= sitosterol

 

Ligustri Lucidi Fructus

Organic Name: Ligustrum lucidum

English name: Privet fruit

Mandarin name: Nu Zhen Zi

 

Atractylodis Rhizoma

English name: Atractylodis root

Mandarin name: Bai Zhu

 

Cinnamomum cassia

English name: Cinnamon branch

Mandarin name: Gui Zhi

 

Ledebouriellae Sesloidis Radix

Herb Name: Ledebourilla or Saposhinikovia

English name: Siler

Mandarin name: Fang Feng

Where to Find Chinese Herbs

A lot of these solutions are readily available in health food shops, specifically on the West Coast. If you cannot locate them at your neighborhood natural food shop, you could definitely locate them on line. I highly recommend that you attempt them. They will certainly open your eyes to the strength as well as dependability of Chinese herbals. And also, unlike a lot of the medicines at your pharmacy, every one of these are risk-free for youngsters.

Bear in mind that a simple century back, no person in the West had actually become aware of Chinese food. Today there are Chinese dining establishments almost everywhere. I could guarantee you that Chinese cold medications function, and will certainly end up being as beneficial to our society in the 21st century as Chinese food ended up being in the 20th century.

This post Using Chinese Herbs for Colds and Flu was authored by site.dev2

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