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 Treating Colds and the Flu with Classical Chinese Medicine
By Sophia Tang, L.Ac.
Is there any cure for colds or the flu? The answer is yes if you are
asking this question from an authentic Chinese Medicine practitioner.
Thousands of years ago, Chinese medicine already knew how to effectively treat
colds and the flu. I would tend to believe that most Western medicine doctors
would tell you no and say there is no cure for colds and the flu. They will
tell you that only thing you can do is to rest and drink more fluids. Some
people may take some over-the-counter drugs like acetaminophen and ibuprofen
to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms such as headache, body aching, and sore
throat. Usually, it may take about a week to recover from a cold, and a little
longer for the flu if you do not receive any treatment, but with an accurate
diagnosis and treatment from a well-trained authentic Chinese Medicine
practitioner, most uncomfortable symptoms including headache, fever, chills,
body aches, sore throat, fatigue, etc., should be already better just with one
or two cups of herbal tea. You should be recovered within 1-2 days.
What happens if I do not get treatments for colds and the flu?
Due to uncomfortable symptoms, you may not able to do anything other than get some rest. Children, the elderly, and people with chronic diseases or weak immune systems may get complications such as sinusitis,
bronchitis, ear infection, asthma attack, or even pneumonia. A residual pathogenic substance such as Wind
Cold energy, viruses, etc, could become the source of a host of future health problems.
Prevention for colds and the flu with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.
Gui Zhi Tang is the most important formula in the classical medical text Shang Han Lun, which translated
in English means 'On Cold Damage' or 'Treatise on Cold Injury.' This formula can be taken regularly to
harmonize your Yin and Yang and to strengthen your immune system. During cold and flu season, getting
acupuncture once a week to strengthen your immune system is also a very good way to prevent colds and
the flu.
How does Chinese medicine treat colds and flu?
If you are just getting a cold with minor symptoms, sometimes with just acupuncture you can recover
very quickly. But if you are getting the flu with severe symptoms, herbal medicine is needed to help you
to relieve all uncomfortable symptoms within 1-2 days.
An authentic Chinese Medicine practitioner does not prescribe formulas for colds and the flu according
to what kind of viruses you get. The formulas are chosen by what kind of symptoms you have. The treatment
principle is to expel pathogens such as viruses or Wind Cold energy through sweating, urination, and
strengthening your immune system.
Here are six most commonly used classical formulas to treat colds and flu
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
10 g
Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae)
10 g
Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens)
2 slices
Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)
10 dates
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
10g
Cook these raw herbs using 6 cups of water over a good sized flame. Cook down to 2 cups of water. An
adult drinks one cup of herbal tea every 3 hour on an empty stomach. For kids, just give them a half a cup
each time. You will sweat a little bit after taking herbal tea. Eating some hot steamed rice soup will be
helpful to increase the effectiveness of this herbal tea.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are sweating, aversion to wind, muscle aches, with a little bit fever, and loss of
appetite. Usually, after taking the herbal tea, all uncomfortable symptoms should be gone and your
appetite will return the following day. This means that you already have recovered from a cold or the
flu.
Ma Huang Tang
Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae)
5g
Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
10g
Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae)
5g
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
10g
Cook these raw herbs using 3 cups of water under a good sized flame. Cook down to 1 cups of water.
Drink this cup of herbal tea on an empty stomach. If you have any history of heart disease, you cannot
take this formula.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are chills, fever, muscle and joint aches, without any sweating.
Ge Gen Tang
Ge Gen (Radix Puerariae or Kudzu)
15g
Ma Huang (Hb.Ephedrae)
5g
Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
10 g
Shao Yao (Radix Paeoniae)
10 g
Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens)
2 slices
Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)
10 dates
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
10g
Cook these raw herbs using 6 cups of water under a good sized flame. Cook down to 2 cups of water. An
adult drinks one cup of herbal tea every 3 hour on an empty stomach. For kids, just give them a half a cup
each time. You will sweat a little bit after taking the herbal tea.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are stiff neck and upper back, headache, aversion to wind, muscle aches,
sore throat, thirsty, etc. Children usually get this kind of cold or the flu.
Da Qing Long Tang
Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae)
10g
Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
15g
Sheng Jiang (Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis Recens)
2 slices
Shi Gao ( Gypsum)
20g
Xing Ren (Semen Pruni Armeniacae)
10g
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
10g
Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)
10 dates
Cook these raw herbs using 6 cups of water with a good sized flame. Cook down to 2 cups of water. An
adult drinks one cup of herbal tea every 3 hour on an empty stomach. For kids, just give them a half a
cup each time. You will sweat a little bit after taking the herbal tea.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are fever, coughing with thicker yellow phlegm, body aches, thirsty, loss of appetite,
no sweating, feeling a chill, but feels very hot inside of body. In ancient times, this formula was the
most popular one to treat epidemic diseases.
Xiao Qing Long Tang
Ma Huang (Herba Ephedrae)
10g
Gui Zhi (Ramulus Cinnamomi Cassiae)
15g
Gan Jiang (dried Rhizoma Zingiberis Officinalis)
5g
Xi Xin (Herba cum Radice Asari)
5g
Wu Wei Zi (Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis)
10g Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Laciflorae)
10g
Ban Xia (Rhizoma Pinelliae Ternatae)
10g
Zhi Gan Cao (honey fried Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
10g
Cook these raw herbs using 6 cups of water under a good sized flame. Cook down to 2 cups of water. An
adult drinks one cup of herbal tea every 3 hour on an empty stomach. For kids, just give them a half a
cup each time. You will sweat a little bit after taking the herbal tea.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are fever, coughing with watery white phlegm, body aches,
itchy throat, no thirsty, no sweating, feeling very chills inside of body.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Chai Hu (Radix bupleuri)
15g
Huang Qin (Radix scutellariae)
15g
Ban Xia (Rhizome pinelliae ternatae)
15g
Sheng Jiang (Rhizome zingiberis officinalis recens)
2 slices
Dang shen (Radix Codonopsis )
15g
Zhi Gan Cao (Honey fried radix glycyrrhizae uralensis)
10g
Da Zao (Fructus Zizyphi Jujubae)
10 dates
Cook these raw herbs using 6 cups of water under a good sized flame. Cook down to 2 cups of water. An
adult drinks one cup of herbal tea before breakfast and dinner on an empty stomach. For kids, just give
them a half a cup each time.
When to use this formula:
Main symptoms are alternating attacks of chills and fever, feeling of fullness and discomfort in chest
and the upper lateral region of the abdomen, and nausea. Women who get a cold or the flu during the
menstrual cycle should not use other formulas - this is the only formula to be used to recover the
sickness.
Reference: The treatment for colds and flu from Dr. Hai- Sha Ni
Note: This article is for educational purpose. Please get the diagnosis from your Chinese medicine
doctor to get the customized formula to treat your cold or the flu.
Written by Sophia Tang, L.Ac.
http://www.sophtangacupuncture.com
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