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Cold and Flu

TCM Folk Remedies for Cold and Flu

In addition to the formalized practice in TCM, Chinese people may
use folk remedies. These remedies are applied to a wide variety of
aliments and may be used for general health maintenance as well.
Because colds and flu are usually self-limiting, certain remedies are
likely to shorten their course and help alleviate associated
symptoms.
1. Wind-Heat Type Cold and Flu

Foods like peppermint,

chrysanthemum, Chinese box thorn,
mung beans, lotus leaves, olives,
Chinese spinach and spinach are
recommended. They are cold or cool in
properties, which help to relieve heat
symptoms.
Chrysanthemum and
peppermint tea: Boil the
chrysanthemum (6g) with 400ml of
water. When brought to a boil, add in
peppermint (3g) and crystal sugar
(15g), boil for 2-3 minutes. Take the hot
tea twice a day. It helps to relieve
symptoms like sore throat, nasal
congestion, headache and fever that
occur in "heat" type flu.
2. Wind-Cold Type Cold and Flu
Foods like ginger, onion,
garlic, green spring onion,
fermented soybean and
coriander are encouraged
for consumption. They have

Chrysanthemum tea is suitable for

wind-heat infection.

3. Other types of cold and flu:

Foods like watermelon, wax gourd, loofah, cucumber and bitter
melon are recommended during summer. These foods, which are
harvested in this season, help counteract symptoms associated with
summer and damp-heat evils .
4.Treatment remedies for either wind cold or heat-cold evils
Some massage techniques on selected acupoints may help ease
symptoms of general flu symptoms; because, the following
techniques enhance the meridians' qi and blood flow in the head,
neck, shoulder and chest areas. Massage needs to be applied with
firm and forceful pressure. (See graphics for acupoint locations.)

Rub the forehead from

the middle to the two sides 10
times;
Knead tai-yang10 times;
Rub the temple
separately, 10 times;
Knead feng-chi 10 times;
Grasp the posterior neck
10 times;
Thump jian-ging 10
times;
Pat the upper back 10
times;
Nip and knead the he-gu
10 times.

Acupoints for common cold and flu.

For individuals with a stuffy and runny nose, knead ying-xiang

rub the nose by hand, 10 times additionally.
For individuals with swelling throat and a sore throat, knead under
the chin bone and pinch shao-shang, 10 times additionally.
For individuals with severe cough, knead the fei-shu, tian-tu and tanzhong respectively, 10 times additionally.

General Prevention of Cold and Flu

Generally, tonic herbs like Cordyceps and medicinal mushrooms
such as lingzhi and yunzhi promote a healthy body constitution.
These herbs may be consumed as foods in dishes like soups or be
taken as general health supplements found in your local drugstores.
It is advisable to consume them daily for prevention purposes during
the prevalent cold and flu seasons in your area.
Another folk remedy for prevention involves a smoking technique.
During epidemic seasons, dried aromatic herbs such as Atractylodes
root, artemisia or mulberry leaves can be used to smoke the house
and prevent evil qi invasion. Choose one of the above herbs
(approximate 5g/10m 2) to light up like incense. Close all the
windows and doors, keep the vapor/smoke indoors for 15-20
minutes, and then open the windows and doors in order to refresh
the air.

References