Top Ten Ways To Prevent and Treat Colds & Flu

Hello Everyone.  It is that time of year again. Below are my top ten ways to treat colds and flu.

1. Eliminate Foods That Are Mucus Producing.  In the fall and winter months the climate is very damp which is can be conducive to breed germs.  Even if you are living in a dry climate you can still be damp internally which is why   we need to control our internal environment by avoiding foods that can create 


dampness such as dairy, bread, refined sugar, and animal products. These foods in excess will increase your chances of getting a cold or flu.  See the anti-inflammatory diet.

2. Begin Taking Probiotics (acidophilus).  Acidophilus supplies your body with good bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria.  Numerous studies have shown that daily supplementation with acidophilus will enhance the immune response not just for colds and flu but also for allergies and digestive disorders.

3. Ginger Root (rhizome zingiberis officinalis recens).  Ginger root should be added to food or drank as a tea.  Ginger has been used for thousands of years to treat cold and flu as well as digestive disorders.  Remember the reason ginger is served with your sushi is to kill the bacterial and the parasites on the raw fish. For a food it has very strong medicinal properties.

4. Cinnamon Twig (ramulus cinnamomi cassiae).  If you are not a fan of ginger you can use cinnamon instead, Cinnamon can be put into your tea, coffee, or on your breakfast cereal in the morning. According to Oriental medicine cinnamon releases the exterior to ward off colds and flu.  PLEASE no cinnamon sugar that would create more dampness in your body and lower you immune response.

5. Garlic (allium sativum). We can not forget our old friend garlic.  Garlic as you know has been used for centuries to ward out colds, flu, and infection.  Start using fresh crushed garlic on your food or in soup, either way you have a powerful food to ward off colds, flu, and infection.

6. Nasty Tea. Nasty Tea is a simple recipe which can be taken as a soup or a tea.  It is a classical Chinese herbal formula called Scallion & Soybean Decoction (cong chi tang) which comes from the classic text, Emergency Formulas to Keep Up One’s Sleeve. Add fresh ginger not dried and scallions to cooked miso soup.  Drink 3 cups per day, be prepared to sweat.  If you want to drink this as a tea, thus the name nasty tea, add honey to kill the taste.
   
   

7.   Angrographis (Andrographis paniculata). Now, important new research has confirmed a host of pharmacological benefits for this herb, including potent anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-viral effects. In addition, scientists have discovered that Andrographis paniculata helps boost the immune system, protects against cancer, prevents blood clots and maintains efficient digestive functioning.It has been valued for centuries by herbalists as a treatment for upper respiratory infections, fever, sore throat and herpes.

8. Isatis Root (isatis tinctoria).  Isatis root is a member of the Brassica family. Isatis can be found in India, China, and is cultivated in the United States. As well as being used medicinally, Isatis is used as an indigo dye. Both the leaf and the root have been used in traditional Chinese medicine as they have similar properties however; they are used for different conditions. Isatis leaf has a bitter and salty taste. They are small and yellow. The leaf has been used for antibacterial, antiviral, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory properties.

9. Chrysanthemum Flower (chrysanthemum moriflolium).  Chrysanthemum is my favorite remedy for colds and flu.  According to oriental medicine, this herb clears the exterior relieving such symptoms as red eyes, and has a strong antibacterial effect and it taste great – is it less filling?  I’m not sure. Chrysanthemum is usually combined with honeysuckle (flos lonicerae japonicae) to enhance its medicinal effects.

10. Yin Qiao San.  Yin Qiao San is the most popular Chinese herbal formula used to prevent and treat colds and flu.  This formula contains Lonicera (Jin Yin Hua),Forsythia (Lian Qiao),Isatis Extract Leaf & Root (Ban Lan Gen & Da Qing Ye),Arctium (Niu Bang Zi),Mentha (Bo He),Schizonepeta (Jing Jie),Soja (Dan Dou Chi),Platycodon (Jie Geng),Lophatherum (Dan Zhu Ye),Phragmites (Lu Gen), and Licorice (Gan Cao).  There are many variations of this classical formula, but its effectiveness has been demonstrated for hundreds of years.

To Your Health, 

Professor Drew

New York Institute of Herbal Medicine & Nutrition

Founder/Primary Instructor