Immune boosting and antiviral Chinese herbs for flu prevention

A few Practitioners at Acubalance met today to discuss some natural preventative measures to boost one's immune system and provide some protecive measures from external pathogens in light of the news surrounding the Swine Flu.

Please read below for some natural remedies.

A few years ago when the SARS pandemic virus infection broke out across the world, hospitals in China developed some preventative herbal formulas for their hospital staff. According to the University of Hong Kong, School of Chinese Medicine, none of the staff at their clinics who had been taking these herbal teas for more than a month became infected. Many of the herbs in the formulas have broad anti-viral properties and, as well, immune enhancing abilities to protect the individual.   (see updated post on hebs and prevention)

Below we have suggested some Chinese herbs that can be used in a formula as preventative measures for any form of flu.

Flu Prevention formula for general use: If you are already seeing a practitioner of Chinese Medicine they may
modify the formula, or give you a different one, according to
your individual constitution (the true strength of Chinese Medicine!).


Huang Qi (Astragalus) 10-15g
Isatis root (banlangen) 12 g
Lonicera (jinyinhua) 15 g
Forsythia (lianqiao) 15 g
Coix (yiyiren) 15 g
Pseudostellaria (taizishen) 15 g
Atractylodes (baizhu) 15 g
Licorice (gancao) 9 g

For those with a weaker constitution and/ or digestion complaints add the following two ingredients:
Pogostemon, Hou Xiong 15 g
Eupatorium, Pei Lan 9

For a preventative dietary method try:


Dice one 6 inch piece of white radish (Daikon) diced in small bits.
Chop up a small bunch of scallions (including roots).
Add to a pot with 4-5 cups of water and bring to a boil.
Simmer for 20 minutes to make a soup and drink a half cup of it. (You can eat the radish and scallions as well!)
This preparation is enough for 5 people for a day. You can also store it in the fridge and warm when needed.

Sources

http://acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/home.php

http://www.acupunctureproducts.com/JakePaulFratkin/WenBing-Virus-1.pdf

Sincerely,

Lorne Brown, DR TCM, FABORM
Founder, Clinical Director
Acubalance Wellness centre

 

 

 
Lorne Brown's picture

Swine flu Prevention

Submitted by Lorne Brown on Mon, 2009-04-27 16:32.

Besides the herbal formula used to prevent catching Swine Flu. I wanted to share a few other recommendations.


I made up my own formula from our herbal pharmacy using the ideas from the herbals mentioned in a previous post used for prevention  so I will start it on Tuesday. Plus the following is beneficial:


· Sleep - Quality and quantity
· No Sugar
· no alcohol
· Reduce stress

What we want to do is eliminate anything that can compromise your immune system such as lack of sleep, stress, sugar and alcohol. And add immune enhancing factors such as eating a whole foods, mostly plant based diet, making time to laugh and enjoy friends, exercise and a sufficient and deep sleep.
I look at the list above and I realize the past two weeks I am failing miserably at all of them. I am definitely lacking in the sleep department. Plus my recent travels had me consuming lots of alcohol and junk food. And I am definitely more in a stress phase these days.


So starting ASAP, I am going to bed by 9:30pm. I am going back to a whole foods mostly plant based diet which cuts out sugar. And I rarely drink when I am in Vancouver so that part will be easy as I am not traveling for a while. As for stress... I am reminding myself what I am grateful for and also remembering to focus on what really matters in my life. I just hope my poor diet and lifestyle has not compromised my immune system too much.

Sincerely,

Lorne Brown, DR TCM, FABORM
Founder, Clinical Director
Acubalance Wellness centre

 

 


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