Prevention
1. Fortify your Immune System
TCM believes that when the Protective Qi is at equilibrium, your body’s natural resistance against diseases and healing ability are at their optimum. The rule of thumb is to remove the excess and replenish the deficiency, so as to maintain a balance of Yin and Yang, as well as a healthy body.
Chinese herbs are most effective at reinforcing Qi and fortifying the immune system.
A number of commonly available formulas are effective such as;
Immune support YU PING FENG PIAN TGA 125318, energy support BU ZHONG YI QI PIAN TGA 125319 and detox BEI XIE SHENG SHI PIAN TGA 125315.
(For more information on herbs, ingredients and uses see www.healingartsandsciences.com/shop)
2. Get Adequate Rest
A proper work-rest balance is crucial for your body to recharge and maintain internal harmony. Work and rest according to your body’s meridian clock to help keep your body function at its optimum.
3. De-stress
Stress is one of the lifestyle factors that may trigger diseases. Adequate physical exercise, rest, diet, acupuncture or Chinese herbs can all play a part to relieve stress.
4. Proper Diet
Eating too much greasy, sweet, chilled or raw foods will lead to stagnation of Qi. This stagnation will in turn cause diseases, pain or more severe imbalances in your body. Alter your dietary habits to promote healthy digestion.
Include fresh citrus (for acid balance) such as grapefruit and Apple cider vinegar, neutral and warming foods (See Yang Ming Diet at http://www.grahamcarruthers.com/diet.php for information)
5. Exercise, yoga and meditation.
Moderate exercises help smooth the flow of Qi and Blood. A workout such as Tai Chi Chuan generates, accumulates and reinforces Qi in your body. Yoga is beneficial in opening the channels, exercising the bodies’ internal organs and activating the breath. With meditation, an advanced practitioner may transmute and neutralize pathogenic patterns. Novice and intermediate practitioners benefit from reduced stress and clearer energetic channels and chakras.
Treatment
Progression from vulnerability to pathogenic conditions as determined by the imbalance in the energetic pattern tend to manifest as preconditions which may be defined as 1) acid/alkaline (Ph) imbalance in the organs of the middle belt such as Gall Bladder/Liver/Pancreas/Spleen. This imbalance invariably precedes the manifestation of cold and flu symptoms and may also manifest with nausea. 2) The other common pre-condition may be abdominal digestive discomfort with bloating, nausea and diarrhea. This pre-condition, if untreated may remain as a gastro intestinal issue or in some cases and more often manifests as a chest cold with heavy phlegm
A commonly held concept (with increasing scientific support) amongst Natural Health professionals is that pathogens including those that manifest as cold and flu are held in the gut. Like flora and fauna anywhere, populations increase when conditions are favourable and depending on the pattern of the pathogen (pathogenic patterns may be the subject of another blog), that often means dis-ease.
If by chance you do come down with a cold or flu then treatments vary but may include;
Acupuncture and massage
Acupuncture opens and clears the channels to restore the flow of chi to the organs, clear the nasal passages and lungs and with certain point combinations, enhance immunity by stimulating the production of leukocytes. Early treatment, particularly for the first pre-condition before symptoms manifest will often prevent a cold from developing.
Massage from a properly trained professional may be extremely beneficial in keeping the lymphatic system, kidneys, large and small bowel and Liver/Gall Bladder clear and functional.
(As in any medical or Natural Therapeutic procedure, the type of treatment and the nature and quality of its execution is critical in getting a beneficial result. Poorly executed treatment may be harmful.)
Herbs
There are various effective TCM herbal formulas suitable for the different types of wind pathogen. Your TCM practitioner will prescribe the most appropriate but a number of better known formulas are; Yin Chiao Jie Du Pian TGA 77453, Gan Mao Ling TGA 95549, Sang Ju Wan TGA 11701, Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan TGA 11684 and for the kids, Paediatric Cold & Flu formula TGA 46238.
(For more information on herbs, ingredients and uses see www.healingartsandsciences.com/shop)
Yoga and Exercise
Very light yoga may be undertaken but only if fever is not present. Exercise is not recommended in the fever or early stage cold. Light exercise and yoga may be undertaken once the body is in secondary recovery mode.
Rest
Most important is adequate rest. This will allow the body to direct full energetic resources to the immune system.
Diet
The old adage ‘starve a fever, feed a cold’ remains true.
Always take plenty of fluids, acid neutralizing fresh juices (grapefruit), herbal teas and light non fatty foods. Avoid sugar, dairy, salt, coffee and alcohol.
Use a multi-faceted approach, combine with other treatments.
Combine herbs with Vitamins (multi, C, B, D and P) and pro biotics.
Keep your space clear and clean; use essential oils to vaporize the house and bedroom; Peppermint Eucalyptus (for adults) Lemon Balm or White IronBark Eucalyptus (for kids), Rosalina and Vetiver.
Use Clove Bud oil as a preventative to clean mold from walls, furniture and leather clothes and shoes. Use in a vaporizer combined with the above mentioned oils to keep the air clear of mold and pathogens and to lift the vibration rate of your space. (See www.healingessences.net for more information.)
*Scientific method
Wikipedia defines it thus; the scientific method is a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry is commonly based on empirical or measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning.
The term came into common usage in the west around the 17th century.
However the ‘method’, though not described as ‘scientific’ by the various cultures that used its principles, has been around for thousands of years and was a foundation process of the knowledge and philosophical base of Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Sumerian, Indian and Chinese culture. For example, Ma Tan Wang who was a minister of health in China during the time of the Taoist emperors (around the 1400 and 1500’s ad) used his staff (thousands of monks) as one would a computer to identify, study, classify and record the herbal and curative ‘medical’ resources available at the time in terms of properties, use and efficacy. This great work was one of the factors that contributed to the extraordinary advancement of the health modalities in China at the time.
