Best Home Remedies for Cold and Flu Influenza

Best Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

Wind Heat External Pathogens

By: Catherine Browne, L.Ac., MH, Dipl. Ac.

In Chinese medicine, colds and flu's are delineated

into several different energetic classifications.

Here we will outline the different types of cold

and flu viruses that you will likely encounter, and

then describe the best home remedies for these

specific patterns that you can use to addres

cold or influenza virus.

Cold and Flu Basics

The basic pathogenic influences are:

Wind

Cold

Heat

Damp

Wind

Theoretically, wind enters the body through the back of the neck area or nose carrying the pathogen. It first attacks the Lung system (including the sinuses) because the Lung organ system is the most external Yin organ, and thus the most vulnerable to an external invasion. External Wind invasion is marked by acute conditions with a sudden onset of symptoms.

Wind combines with one or more of the other pathogenic influences:

Cold

"Wind-Cold" evil external pathogens typically include symptoms such as chills, stiffness, headache radiating from the back of the neck, desire for warm fluids, and phlegm with a clear or white discharge.

Heat

"Wind-Heat" evil external pathogens can include a sore throat, swollen glands, fever (or the feeling of heat in the body), heat rashes, irritability, headache

radiating from the temples and eyes, and phlegm with a yellow, orange or green color.

Dampness

"Dampness" often combines with "Wind-Heat" or "Wind-Cold" as seen above, and is marked by lethargy, a foggy brain, aches and pain, and damp discharges.

Preventing Colds and Flu's

Chinese medicine recognizes viruses as external pathogens. However, there is more emphasis in Chinese medicine in the importance of maintaining a strong immune system, or "Wei Qi", so that the external pathogens can not attack the body. In other words, your Wei Qi (Chi) must be weak or compromised in order to become vulnerable to a viral infection.

Ideally, your immune response, or Wei Qi, will be strong as a result of good lifestyle choices such as sufficient sleep, regular exercise, good nutrition, and stress management. Avoiding prolonged exposure to the elements is also important in maintaining a vigorous Wei Qi. There are many adaptogenic herbs that can strengthen the immune system and moderate our stress levels including eleuthro and ashwaganda.

Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

It is not always possible to maintain balance in our lives and manage stress well, so you may find yourself the victim of an 'evil exterior pathogen'. Treating these pathogens quickly and effectively is essential to prevent the pathogen from traveling more deeply in to the body and causing chronic conditions. Home remedies that can treat colds and flu's effectively include herbs and essential oils that are diaphoretic; they open the pores and allow the pathogen to release back out to the exterior through perspiration. From a Western perspective, herbs and essential oils that treat cold and flu contain chemical constituents that are highly anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and in some cases, anti-fungal.

Treatment of Wind-Heat Pathogens

If caught early on, the herb echinacea is an effective anti-viral that is non toxic and gentle enough for use with children for colds and flu's. It must be taken at regular intervals; I double the recommended dose with the onset of a cold or flu, and dose about 6 times per day; follow through for a few days after symptoms have subsided is important also. Echinacea is a practice choice because it is readily available at corner drug stores, health food stores, and even high end grocery stores. You can use it as a tea (use 2 or three teabags for therapy), as a capsule, or as a tincture. There are also sweet glycerites made especially for children. The echinacea roots are more potent than the echinacea leaf, but the leaf does work.

Yin Qiao, the basis for our Evil Airborne Warrior herbal formula, is a highly effective Chinese herbal formula that could best be described as 'echinacea on steroids'. Note, "My children have seldom missed a day of class because of this formula, and my son requested a bottle of Evil Airborne Warrior formula when he headed off to college." This is the best herb formula for colds with signs of Wind-Heat, and is even effective if you are not able to begin treatment at the early onset of symptoms. Additionally, if you have been exposed to the cold or flu virus, you can use this formula prophylactically to prevent an infection.

Anti-viral essential oils for Wind-Heat pathogens include lavender, peppermint, and everlasting. Essential oils can be diluted to 5% in a vegetable oil such as olive oil and added to a bath to treat a cold or flu. Essential oils can be added to a humidifier or simmering pot of water to prevent infections for the whole family.

Therapeutic herbal baths are made by making a strong infusion of herbs; this potent tea is added to the bath water after cooling. For Wind-Heat pathogens (again, colds and flu's with sore throat, fever, agitation), cool herbs that produce a sweat are used such as elder, yarrow, and catnip. Catnip is especially effective at bringing a fever down and all three are a safe alternative treatment for children's colds.

Wind-Cold Pathogens

Herbs and spices with warming qualities will be most beneficial with a Wind Cold pathogenic virus. Cinnamon is a highly anti-viral spice that has been shown in studies to effectively combat flu viruses, and the essential oils of cinnamon is readily available and inexpensive.

A soup with a base of chicken broth can be prepared with green onion and grated ginger for an easy and effective home remedy for Wind-Cold pathogens, and all of the ingredients are available at most grocery stores.

Dampness

Dampness often combines with Wind-Heat pathogens marked by colored phlegm which is a sign of infection, and Wind-Cold pathogens with clear or white phlegm.

Anti-bacterial essential oils such as thyme and marjoram can be added to a pot of steaming water (watch for burns), to treat sinus infections and lung infections with colored phlegm. Eucalyptus and peppermint help open the sinuses and drain phlegm congestion. Diluted essential oils can be applied to the skin over the sinus cavity to treat sinus infections also. The pure essential oil of tea tree can be used for fungal infections of the sinuses. In both the case of a Wind-Cold or a Wind Heat pathogen, saltwater irrigation with a netti pot dries phlegm and fights infection. With infections, it is important to bring in potent anti-biotic herbs such as goldenseal or coptis to treat the infection internally. Take herbal antibiotics regularly and continue for a number of days after symptoms have abated.

Herbs for Colds and Flus:

Lonicera japonica-jin yin hua-Honeysuckle

Addresses sore throat, eye pain, headaches, and fever while expelling exterior pathogen (cold & flu virus).

Echinacea purpurea - Echinacea

Commonly used to combat the common cold and releases exterior Wind-Heat pathogen. Native Americans sometimes called this herb 'Snake Root Cure' (loose translation) for its ability to drains lymphatic fluids.

Forsythia suspensa-lian qiao

Used in Chinese medicine to alleviate sore throat, eye pain, headaches, and fever while expelling exterior pathogen (cold virus).

Rosa canina - Wild Rose

Rose hips are rich in quercetin and Vitamin C, and are beneficial for the immune system.

Lophatherum gracile-dan zhu ye-Bamboo

Clears heat and eliminates irritability.

Arctium lappa-niu bang zi-Burdock Seed

Expels Wind-Heat and clears sore throat, fever and cough.

Mentha spp.-bo he-Mint

Mint dispels wind-heat pathogens, such as a common cold or flu with fever and headache by promoting sweating and opening the sinuses. Mint also relieves digestive pain and gas.

Rehmannia glutinosa-sheng di huang

Clear heat in cases of fever and resolves thirst.

Oreganum spp.-Oregano

A major herb in Lung health, Oregano is herbal anti-viral and antibiotic. In the Lungs, it can open breathing passageways, stop wheezing and dry dampness.

Althaea officinalis-Marshmallow root

Reduces inflammation throughout the body and nourishes the Yin. Increases digestive absorption and heals all mucus membrane along the digestive tract, lungs and urinary tract.

For information on Chinese Medicine, visit the National Library of Medicine, the The Chinese Medical Journal, or Chinese Medicine News. This is not an endorsement of these organization, just a resource guide.

Best Home Remedies for Cold and Flu

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