A TCM Guide to the Common Cold
I've had some people ask what do I do when I catch a cold? I send them to the herb shop and they are inundated with all of the available options. Since there are countless TCM formulas to address cold, flus, pandemics and pathogenic invaders, here's a breakdown of what I do at home for the common cold.
This post is for the best case, lowest risk scenario for the common cold. If you are dealing with other conditions, it's best to get checked out before starting the herbs. For example, since Gui Zhi Tang warms you up, it may not be a good match if you already have lots of internal heat from say your diet. Also, extra caution should always be used when pregnant.
The objective is to make the cold pass as quickly as possible, a cold or flu that could knock you out for 10-14 days may be taken care of over a weekend if well attended to.
At my office I dispense granule herbs, and I take them when I need to, except for when it comes to cold and flu. TCM granules are more potent than what's available in most pills or tablets, but when I'm feeling crappy, all I want to do is down some herbs ASAP and crawl into bed. The last thing I want to do is boil a pot of raw herbs for hours and then deal with all the leaves and twigs, wash out a heavy pot, and repeat when I may not even be fully on the mend yet. Also, cold and flu conditions tend to change rapidly and should be assessed often, an entire course of these formulas in granules may not be necessary.
I recommend and use classical TCM ready-made herbal formulas myself for colds and flu. Many of these are available OTC at Chinese herb shops and Chinese grocery stores and are very safe if used properly. Some of them have been around for thousands of years and will come up on Google search easily. However, sometimes things can go off track. If at any time the condition is getting worse, or you have an allergic reaction, stop and go see your doctor (that's what I do, I haven't needed to yet, but I was close one time before getting some Gatorade into one of the kids. After I gave them all my cold herbs that I had on hand (more than the ones that are listed in this post), they were able to recover quickly once they were able to make some sweat).
Pay attention to your energy levels, runny noses, neck tightness and temperature changes (chills or fever), these are your first signs. A lot of times the Cold-Cold (generally weak immunity) signs are brushed off and people start to feel sick when it develops into a Hot-Cold (generally a pathogen).
There will be little or no appetite as the body is redirecting all energy from the digestive system to the immune system. Taking large meals and heavy foods (like dairy) during this time will tend to bog the body down and hinder recovery. As soon as someone gets sick a pot of plain congee is made, or take out congee is fetched. Since there will be no appetite for anything, even 1 or 2 mouthfuls every couple of hours will be ok until the appetite returns. Lots of room temperature water is taken. Nothing colder than room temperature is taken.
Take the herbs, lots of fluids, and get under a blanket. Prepare to nap and sweat out the pathogen. It should come down, but a mild fever during this time is ok, it's the body's natural immune response. After the fever breaks with a good sweat you will be on the mend.
You're only halfway there when:
there is only a little bit of sweating and you feel better but not 100% and there is alternating fever and chills --> Go to Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Things are not going according to plan when:
there is no sweating
there is sweating but the fever does not break
high fever is unrelenting
headaches develop or get worse
getting weaker
other adverse reactions
You may not be dealing with the common cold anymore, take measures to reduce the fever and go see your doctor. This might be a bacterial infection that your body is trying to fight and it will only rear its head as a strep throat, ear or sinus infection after your body starts to contain it.
Nearer to the end of the cold, I'll start to ask if they feel like having some of their favorite foods. The return of the appetite will be a good sign they are on the mend. Enjoy the celebratory meal.
After the cold has passed, the body may still be weak and out of order. It's important to take care of any lingering issues, before another pathogen invades during this weak time, with any recovery formulas where necessary. Once the appetite returns and the bowel movements are full, you should be good to go.
If you do go this herbal route it would be a good idea to check in with your TCM herbalist, especially if new to this. Once you have the experience of managing a few colds with herbs under your belt you will know what to expect, and it will be clear when to stop and go visit your doctor.
Expect to pay around $12 - $15CAD each, maybe a bit more with inflation these days. When H1N1 hit in 2009/2010, bottles of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa were going for $300USD on Amazon! If you can't find the exact brands below, show the Chinese characters to the shop keeper and they can help find another brand. I generally do not stock these, but I have been known to pick some up for friends and patients when I go to the herb shop for myself.
Classical herbal formula ingredients (some brands may change ratios, make substitutions, or add binding ingredients, always check for any such changes):
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Cinnamon Twig
Bai Shao White Peony Root
Sheng Jiang Fresh Ginger
Da Zao Date
Zhi Gan Cao Honey-fried Licorice
Yin Qiao San
Jin Yin Hua Honeysuckle Flower
Lian Qiao Forsythia Suspense Fruit
Bo He Field Mint
Jie Geng Platycodon Grandiflorus Root
Niu Bang Zi Arctium Lapp Fruit
Jing Jie Schizonepeta Tenuifolia Herb
Dan Dou Chi Glycine Max Seed
Dan Zhu Ye Bamboo Leaf
Gan Cao Licorice Root
Yang Yin Qing Fei Tang
Sheng Di Huang Rehmannia Root
Xuan Shen Sorophularia Root
Mai Men Dong Ophiopogon Root
Bai Shao White Peony Root
Mu Dan Pi Moutan Peony Tree Root Bark
Chuan Bei Mu Tendrilled Fritillaria Bulb
Bo He Field Mint
Gan Cao Licorice Root
Zeng Ye Tang
Xuan Shen Sorophularia Root
Mai Men Dong Ophiopogon Root
Sheng Di Huang Rehmannia Root
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Chai Hu Bupleurum Root
Huang Qin Baical Skullcap Root
Ban Xia Pinellia Root
Sheng Jiang Fresh Ginger
Ren Shen Ginseng
Zhi Gan Cao Honey-fried Licorice
Da Zao Date
Nin Jim Pei Pa Koa (According to package)
Honey Mel
Fritillaria Cirrhosa Bulb Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhouse
Licorice Root Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae
Loquat Leaf Folium Eriobotryae
Pomelo Peel Exocarpium Citri Grandis
Thinleaf Milkwort Root Radix Playcodonis
Fourleaf Ladybell Root Radix Adenophorae
Indian Bread Poria
Prepared Pinellia Tuber Rhizome Pinelliae
Snakegourd Seed Semen Trichosanthis
Fresh Ginger Rhizome Rhizoma Zingiberis Recens
Schisandra Fruit Fructus Schisandrae Chinensis
Mint Metholum
Sucrose, purified water, maltose, caramel, flavor
Bai Hu Tang
Shi Gao Gypsum
Zhi Mu Anemarrhena Rhizome
Zhi Gan Cao Honey-fried licorice
Geng Mi Oryzae (rice)
Natural Inflammation Relief Tablets (According to package)
Chuan Xin Lian Andrographis Paniculata
Shan Zhi Ma Helicteres Angustifolia
Pei Min Kan Wan (According to package)
Bai Zhi Angelica Root
E Bu Shi Cao Centipeda Minima
Ju Hua Chysanthemum Flower
Zi Su Ye Perilla Leaf
Huo Xiang Pogostemon Cablin
Jing Jie Schizonepeta Tenuifolia
Cang Er Zi Xanthium Sibiricum
Source: Bensky, et al. (2009). Formulas and Strategies. Eastland Press.
Comments