CHINESE HERBS FOR A COLD – “ YIN QIAO, right?”
Maybe, maybe not…..
Ashland, Oregon seems like a pretty sophisticated place when it comes to understanding about health, herbs, supplements, Chinese medicine – that kind of thing. But as in the rest of modern culture I think the population has some untested assumptions about what is good, healthy, needed.
People who assume without examining it that if a remedy that will help them – it will help their friends. They will choose a health product by going in one of 2 ways or maybe both – a gut feeling, trust, experience – or because they have been convinced by advertising, studies (usually biased as well).
A couple of interesting things about Chinese herbal medicine. It derived originally from the earliest ben cao (pharmacopeia) used by early Daoists in search of longevity or immortality. Herbs that seemed not to really work for ‘walking on water’ were found to at least be beneficial for someone’s lungs, or cough – so they found secondary uses as medicine. This may sound fantastical, but in the same time period in European medicine the same kind of magical associations were being examined for in their use of herbs and elixirs. Looking at the descriptions of ‘successful’ potions that brought immortality one finds that everyone seems to have had a DIFFERENT remedy that worked. Nothing worked for absolutely everyone all the time.
In Chinese herbal medicine we have a very rich and unbroken tradition of how to use the herbs safely and appropriately. Many times it has been said that the ancient Chinese doctor was paid to keep the person well, and not when they are sick. If we basically keep up our health, with the advice of a physician who can see us in some ways better than we can see ourselves, and who can teach us to ‘be our own doctors’ using appropriate diet and lifestyle – then we don’t really need medicine (including medicinal herbs, let alone surgery or modern medications) Food remedies, or perhaps it would be recommended for a teetotaler to have a beer now and then, or to stock the right remedy in case of a beginning of a cold.
A little known fact about Chinese herbal medicine is that the doctors who are famous were famous because they cured EPIDEMIC diseases. Not just kept the people generally healthy.
The most famous Chinese herbal book is called the Shang Han Lun “Cold disease” school written nearly 2000 years ago. It looks at disease as having an initial onset factor – “Cold” that works its way into the body. Looked at one way that is an initial chill that is the beginning of a cold or flu – looked at in another it could even be another kind of event, even emotional – there is in the history of a pattern a definite beginning. From this ‘external’ invasion the ‘wind’ could penetrate in, slowly or quickly depending on one’s constitution. That book marked a clear transition from the animistic medicine of the time (seeing illness as a demonic influence – which was the continued prevailing view in Europe for another millennium) into seeing it in terms of environmental factors – ‘wind’, ‘heat’, ‘damp’, etc.
Later on historically came the Wen Bing “Warm disease” school. A development, but very different than the Shang Han Lun. It looked at disease as being “Hot” and quickly developing, or hidden and enduring. Viral and bacteriological epidemic diseases are the quick patterns. The hidden or ‘lingering heat’ patterns happen where there is chronic inflammation locked into the body. Auto-immune diseases that modern medicine does not treat very well at all are often well treated using the diagnosis and treatments of the Warm disease school. Chronic autoimmune diseases – RA, Lupus, fibromyalgia – and elements of digestive disorders such as IBS, Chrone’s, candida, etc.
Many who’ve heard about Chinese Medicine think “Yin Qiao” at the beginning of every cold/flu, even a lot of acupuncturists. Its become the folk cure. It can work very well, its safer than over-the-counter drugs – the Ashland Coop sells tons of it at a good price. Its great when its right. But…is this always the right remedy?
“Yin Qiao” derives from the Warm disease school view – and is useful for the beginning of a common/cold or flu with some definite heat. A decent digestive ability is assumed – the herbs are grassy and considered ‘cold’ on the ‘digestive qi’. Look for some redness on the tongue, even on the palate, beginning of a sore throat and a moderately fast pulse to use this formula. Its more effective prescribed in the raw, bulk form – it only takes 10 minutes to boil and doesn’t taste bad at all. Often herbs like ban lan geng (Isatis) are added.
A custom tea like this, adapted to the constitution of the client and the pattern – is really about as good as it gets. Chinese herbal medicine was designed mostly to be used in tea form – and excels at treating respiratory conditions (see photo page of Lung/Stomach herb doc in China).
Other formulas for colds –Antibiotics, Vitamin C, garlic, etc. – can be looked at through the view of Chinese medical theory….
Modern Antibiotics? Warm disease remedy for very hot, toxic patterns.. Antibiotics are like very good and strong cold and bitter herbs used for clearing acute heat patterns (bacteriological) – and of course can be life-saving. From a TCM perspective modern medicine got one part of the formula done extremely WELL, but forgot the part about clearing up the lingering dampness (the remnants of the dead bacteria) and the part about supporting the digestion (the “immune system”). So big problems occur if they’re overused, as we all know – and so when we use them we moderate their impact somewhat by taking probiotics and herbs at the same time.
Vitamin C – also Warm disease school. By nature very cold and sour – great for certain heat-type patterns and constitutions. We have a lot of excess heat in our society – too much stuff. But also a lot of digestive weakness. Hot Qi on the surface, weakness inside. Our society is unfortunately a little like that right now.
Garlic, hot and sour soup, mild sweating therapies – kind of spicy stuff – remedies for ‘cold disease school’ – good for incoming chills and/or weak digestion, etc.
So as for the Chinese herbal folk remedies at the health food stores…. (Yin Qiao, Gan Mao Ling, Sang Ju Yin, etc.) They are a great value and often better than the fancy labeled versions marketed by American practitioners.
For the chronic predisposition to get colds and flus – formulas such as “Jade Screen” formula (which is 90% huang qi (Rx.Astragulus) will build up a constitution that keeps getting colds, flus, and allergies so that they will no longer occur as regularly. They need to be taken the right time seasonally to be of effect – and are much better properly prescribed as part of a formula strategy.
Knowing who you are, what your constitution is, recognizing your body for what it is, finding your own recipe for longevity and flowing through the seasons without getting whacked…
Working with a qualified herbalist may just save you a lot of money when confronted with the consuming marketplace of the over-the-counter supplement aisle. We don’t all ‘need’ lots of special supplements if we can root ourselves in good health practices and understand how to get appropriate help.
—-Ken Bendat ©2009