Cold and Flu Season is Here!

Do you hear that?...That is the sound of the person sitting next to you in the coffee shop, on the bus, next to you on the couch sniffling. That’s right cold and flu season is upon us! Did you know that there are herbal formulas and acupuncture treatments that I offer that fortify the immune system and help combat colds, flus, and other respiratory viruses. When I talk about cold and flu in terms of Chinese Medicine, I’m talking about an external wind invasion of the body that moves through the respiratory and digestive systems. Wind carries these viruses into the body where they set up shop and wreak havoc on all your autumn plans.

            There are two traditional formulas that I use to treat this wind invasion, Yin Qio San and Gan Mao Ling. The sooner you begin taking one of these formulas the more effective they will be. Typically, a sore throat, ache and chill, or headache is the first indication of an impending invasion. You may be wondering which formula is for you? Wind blows hot and cold in real life and that translates into a virus. When we determine wind heat or wind cold, we can easily pick which formula to take to shorten the life of the virus. No reason to cancel the apple orchard outing on Saturday. However, during the impending cold and flu season, I urge you to stock both tinctures in your medicine cabinet!

            Yin Qiao San, commonly known as Honeysuckle and Forsythia, is an herbal formula taken upon the first signs of a wind heat invasion to totally prevent the cold from settling in the body or shorten its stay. How do you know if you have wind heat invasion?  If you feel hot with a sore throat or headache, grab some Yin Qiao San to clear that wind heat and fortify that immune system. Gan Mao Ling addresses both cold and heat invasion. When you feel achy muscles, particularly in your shoulders, and a chill reach for this formula.
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            The next time an unsuspecting stranger sneeze in your general direction, or your child comes home from the petri dish of a classroom, you don’t have to worry. You are prepared. You have your herbal medicine cabinet well stocked for the season.
           

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