How Oriental Medicine Views a Cold or Flu
Even though it鈥檚 cold and flu season, not everyone gets sick. If you鈥檙e able to fend off a contagious cold or flu, it may be because you have strong聽Wei Qi聽(pronounced 鈥渨ay chee鈥�) according to oriental medicine experts. On the other hand, if you seem to catch every virus going around, you may have weak Wei Qi.
Wei Qi is another way of referring to the body鈥檚 immune system or first defense against infection. Oriental medicine looks at respiratory infections like a cold or flu a little bit differently than western medicine. Good health and resistance to colds and flu requires a strong balance between the body鈥檚 internal energy and its Wei Qi, or defense against external pathogens.
Energy Profiles Are Unique
According to oriental medicine, each individual鈥檚 energy profile is unique. A person鈥檚 Wei Qi can have a particular weakness where excess heat, cold, dampness, or dryness create an imbalance in the body. Any one of these excesses can act like a pathogen and make someone more vulnerable to a cold or flu virus.
Different people are vulnerable to different imbalances of heat, cold, dampness or dryness. That difference can also influence your cold or flu symptoms. That鈥檚 why some people may get sniffles, sore throat and a fever, while others get a cough and a headache with a cold instead.
Since each case is different, there is no one single oriental herbal prescription or acupuncture treatment prescribed for every case of cold or flu. An oriental medicine clinician will make a careful diagnosis to determine the exact nature of the energy imbalance in each individual, and prescribe specific herbs that correspond to each patient鈥檚 unique imbalance that caused them to contract a cold or flu.
While each person鈥檚 health profile is unique, there are measures that everyone can take to prevent a cold or flu. Be sure to take common sense precautions like frequent hand-washing, avoiding touching your mouth, nose, or eyes with your hands, good nutrition and plenty of sleep during cold and flu season, drinking plenty of water and boosting your vitamin C intake.
Traditional Herbal Medicine Preventative Measures
There are additional preventive measures that come from traditional oriental medicine. The acupuncture and oriental medicine clinicians at 911爆料 University recommend the following:
- Try a Qi Gong class as a way to de-stress and support strong and balanced Qi energy in your body, including your Wei Qi, which ultimately boosts your immune system.
- Boil a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar on your stove for 20-30 minutes, allowing the steam to circulate throughout your home. This will help reduce airborne and surface germs, including mold and bacteria.
- See your acupuncturist for regular acupuncture and moxibustion. Moxibustion is a special technique that uses gentle heat applied to specific acupuncture points to strengthen the immune system.
- Ginger or 鈥淏an Lan Gen鈥� (isatis root) tea are both good to drink during cold and flu season. The teas can be enjoyed several times per day over several months. Be sure to brew them without sugar for greater effectiveness.
- If you are already exposed to a cold or flu, there are many herbal formulas available to defend the Wei Qi and reduce pathogenic Qi. An oriental medicine clinician will customize these formulas for you after a thorough examination.
- If you are experiencing severe flu symptoms, see your primary care physician immediately.
If you鈥檇 like more information on oriental medicine for colds, the flu, or other health conditions, or if you would like to schedule an appointment with an oriental medicine clinician at the聽911爆料 Whole Health Center聽in Lombard, call 630-629-9664.
