Stocking Your “Natural” Medicine Cabinet

By Toby Helmstetter

Catching a cold is a real bummer. All kidding aside, though, the uncomfortable symptoms, the time away from work, the potential of infecting the rest of your family are all serious problems when it comes to cold and flu season. We’ve all roamed the aisles at the drugstore looking for a pill to help relieve the symptoms of a cold or flu, all the while knowing that we just have to “wait it out” until the illness passes. But Chinese medicine has a wealth of natural remedies that not only help lessen cold or flu symptoms, they also help treat the actual infections themselves. If taken at the first signs of a cold or flu, Chinese herbs can help you get over an illness more quickly and have a stronger immune system for it in the end. The good news is that, if you’re reading this article, then you have access to these natural remedies and the licensed practitioners who can help prescribe the perfect herbal treatments for when you need them.

When treating viral or bacterial infections naturally, there are two important mechanisms by which Chinese medicine works. The first is by fighting the illness itself and the second is by supporting our natural immunity. In order to treat the infection, there are several specific herbal formulas that you can have on hand. The main focus of these formulas is to address the symptoms of a cold or flu but they all have anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties so they’re actually fighting the infection, too. If these formulas are taken at the first signs of a cold or even the flu, they can help decrease the severity of the symptoms and shorten your “sick time” by almost half. The following are the names of our clinic’s most popular cold and flu remedies and the symptoms they treat. If you know you are prone to certain kinds of illness—say, you always get some kind of intestinal flu each year—then having a formula at home that helps this kind of illness will help you tremendously in overcoming it.

• Cold Away – this modern Chinese herbal formula treats all the common cold symptoms: runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, mild body aches and headache.
• Yin Qiao – this classical Chinese formula whose name comes from two of its ingredients is a staple in any herbal medicine cabinet to treat milder symptoms at the onset of a cold like a sore throat and a stuffy or runny nose.
• Flu Ban – is a blend of herbs and homeopathic remedies that address the severe symptoms of the flu like chills and fever, body aches and fatigue. It can also be taken for a cold.
• Early Comfort – is a classical Chinese herbal formula that can treat vomiting and diarrhea associated with an intestinal flu.
• Antiphlogistic Formula – is a blend of very strong anti-viral and anti-bacterial herbs that address the early stages of strep throat or any illness that begins with a very sore throat.

The second and very important component of treating infections naturally is supporting the natural immunity of the “host.” This is what makes Chinese medicine so powerful and what sets it apart from western medicine’s approach to colds and flu. By supporting our immune systems during an illness, we help our body overcome it more quickly while simultaneously strengthening our overall immunity. There are several Chinese herbs that can be taken as prevention throughout the season and others that can be taken during an illness to help fight off the offending infection.

• Power Mushrooms – Mushrooms are known for their immune enhancing and anti-cancer capabilities. This blend of Chinese mushroom extracts can be taken whether you are sick or are just trying to prevent yourself from catching what everyone else has.
• Astragalus – this single herb is a powerful immune stimulator that helps prevent colds and flu. A note about astragalus though: it should only be taken when you are NOT sick. If you catch an infection, switch to something less stimulating, like the Power Mushrooms. We sell astragalus at our clinic as a powder, but it can also be found at your natural foods store as a tincture or pill.

Having one or two of these formulas on hand can mean the difference between getting sick for two weeks, or making it through an illness with a little less time and a lot less suffering. Of course, there’s no substitute for lots of rest, plenty of fluids (and maybe an acupuncture treatment!) to help you recover swiftly. But being prepared for this challenging season will help you to feel less powerless against the forces of the common cold and even the H1N1 virus. If you still have questions, talk to your acupuncturist about which formulas you might want to have at home. Click here to view a special package we're currently offering. We are always excited to help you stay healthy all year long!