Seasonal Tips for Spring
Over the past 6 weeks we have seen a different type of flu type pathogen pass through our community. Just as a refresher for everyone, Chinese divides and defines viral infection according to the symptom-sign presentation. The simplest way to think about this is hot vs cold and damp vs dry. Here is a quick reference chart to make it simple.
Symptoms of…
Heat
Feels hot
Burning painful sore throat
Body ache severe
Exhausted but restless
Yellow or green phlegm/mucous
Profuse or easy sweating
Desires cold drinks
Cold
Feels chilled
Mild scratchy throat
Body ache, but mild
Tired but rests easily
Clear or white phlegm/mucous
Minimal sweating/clammy tight pores
Desires warm drinks
Symptoms of…
Dry
Dry throat
Feels thirsty
Dry stuffy sinus
Phlegm is thick and difficult to move
Damp
Excess saliva
Not thirsty
Watery mucous and sinus
Phlegm is water and profuse
So how is this useful? Simple, once the effect can be identified the proper therapeutic approach can be utilized. Now here is one area where TCM is different from the western or allopathic medicine. Allopathic medicine now looks for a pathogen to “kill”. Works great for a bacteria with antibiotics. Not so good against a virus.
The TCM approach seeks to change the internal environment. From cold to warm, from hot to cool, from dry to moist, or from moist to dry. Of course, the equation can get complicated for some cases, requiring a fairly well nuanced herb formula. But the basic concept is simplicity itself.
As it turns out many of the herbs used over the past 2,000 years happen to have actual antiviral effects. Herbs such as Jin Yin Hua (honeysuckle), Bang Len Gen, (Rx Isatis), have shown anti-viral effects in vitro (in the test tube), usually by stopping the viral reproductive process1.
Here is a list of common, easy to obtain household herbs and the functions.
Peppermint – is cooling and dry, good for sore throat, liver, and allergies
Cinnamon – is spicy, warm, and slightly dry, counters wind and chill
Ginger – is spicy, warm to hot dispels clear and white phlegm, aids digestion, calms nausea, and regulates the liver
Garlic – is warm and spicy with antibiotic functions
Oregano – very warm, spicy with antibiotic, antiviral, and anti-fungal effects
Dandelion – Bitter cool with antiviral and antibiotic effects
Rice – is neutral with a mild dry effect