Prevent and treat flu

The Chinese Wei
Treating Influenza with Acupuncture & Herbs

by Ilana Stein-Attali

Through thousands of years of observation and practice, the Chinese have developed a unique method of understanding the body¹s physiological processes. Today that medicinal system is called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).

TCM practitioners view the mind and body as an energetic system that cannot be separated from one another or the universe. Initially, many of the concepts can be challenging to understand because they have no counterpart in Western medicine. It is our hope that once you understand how TCM can help you prevent and overcome illnesses you will feel more secure to use it as a credible form of medicine.

Never before in the history of medicine has the health of our immune system been so important. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and virulent viruses that have defied all of medicine¹s attempts to eradicate them are now a fact of everyday life. Fortunately, over the centuries, TCM has proven itself to be an effective method for preventing and treating flu-like diseases and minimizing flu-related complications.

One cannot speak of TCM without attempting to understand the concept of Qi. It has been translated as: energy, material force, matter, matter-energy, vital force, life force, vital power and moving power. Naturally, there is one Qi, but it can manifest itself in different forms such as Hereditary Qi, Food Qi or Defense (Wei) Qi.

The model of the immune system used in TCM presents a different view than the one we are familiar with in the West. Wei Qi (Defense Qi) is considered the most vigorous type of energy in the body. It is mainly distributed in the skin and muscles, warming and nourishing all the outer tissues. It circulates, opening and closing the pores and sweat glands and defending the body against outside disease factors such as extremes of climate and the assaults of micro-organisms. According to traditional teaching, Wei Qi is derived from essential substances in food and in inhaled air. Wei Qi is controlled by the lung-organ system, but depends on the kidney Qi and spleen Qi for its proper function. This ancient model of Wei Qi corresponds somewhat with our modern concept. It maintains that the critical factors to a proper functioning immune system are dependent on the ability to absorb nutrients (spleen) and oxygen (lung) as well as our heredity (kidneys).

When the Wei Qi is strong, diseases from viruses and weather influences entering the body are normally warded off; if it is less strong, diseases may enter into an exterior level and bring about a cold or flu: if it is very weak, disease factors may penetrate to interior levels, more profoundly affecting the functioning of internal organs.

TCM does not categorize viral infections as Western medicine does. It has its own classification system based on the symptoms that the patient develops. Specifically, TCM holds that Wind is the means whereby the exogenous pathogenic factor is brought into the body. Wind attacks fall into two basic categories: Wind-cold and Wind-heat.

Wind-cold: Chills and fever, with chills predominant; sensitivity to wind; lack of thirst; cough; lack of sweating; stiff neck and possibly occipital headache; body aches; runny nose with clear or white discharge; normal coloured tongue with a thin white coat; pulse that is floating and tight. If the patient has severe body aches and a feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting and chest oppression, TCM holds that the Wind-cold is accompanied by Dampness. If the cough is dry and the patient complains of dryness, TCM holds that the Wind-cold attack is accompanied by Dryness.

Wind-heat: Chills and fever, with fever predominant; thirst; sore throat; slight sweating; cough; urine darker than normal; possible skin eruptions; headache; runny nose with a yellow discharge; a tongue that is slightly red with a thin white to thin yellow coat; pulse that is floating and rapid. If there are severe body aches and feeling of heaviness, nausea, vomiting and epigastric or chest oppression, Dampness is involved. If the cough is dry and patient complains of dryness, Dryness is involved.

In theory, Wind is the pathogenic factor in the early stages of an exterior disease, either with Heat or Cold. In the initial stages all exterior diseases manifest with similar symptoms of Wind-cold or Wind-Heat and, at this point, it is not possible to tell whether the patient is suffering a simple invasion or a strong invasion. It is important to treat these symptoms immediately as even though strong invasions may not be stopped completely in the beginning stage, TCM can alleviate symptoms, shorten the course of the disease and prevent complications.

The treatment principles for a Wind attack are to expel the wind pathogen, eliminate the other pathogens that accompany it, and strengthen the patient¹s Wei Qi if necessary. Treatment may be performed via acupuncture, herbal medicine or a combination of both.

Acupuncture

The treatment varies according to the predominance of Heat, Cold or other pathogens and to the strength of the Qi. For example, in a Wind-cold attack, acupuncture needles are placed in acupuncture points that eliminate Wind and dispel Cold and in points that treat symptomatic conditions such as runny nose and stiff neck. Representative points are Lung-7, Urinary Bladder-12, Gallbladder-20 and Du-23. These points, among others, are chosen because they expel Wind-cold, reinforce Wei Qi, release the stiff neck and open nasal passages, respectively.
Each differential diagnosis required the use of different acupoints. For example, the primary points for a wind-heat attack with high fever and sore throat are Large Intestine-4, Du-14, Lung 11, Urinary Bladder-12 and Large intestine-11. These points will expel exterior Wind-heat and release the exterior, regulate Wei Qi and release heat, benefit the throat, expel exterior Wind and expel Damp heat respectively.

HERBAL MEDICINE

Herbal treatment varies according to the differentiated pattern of Wind-heat or Wind-cold as in acupuncture. Herbs that resolve exterior Wind-heat or Wind-cold are combined with specific herbs that treat symptomatic conditions. If necessary, the Wei Qi is tonified so that the pathogen can be eliminated more rapidly. For example, herbs such as Jin yin hua and lian qiao are parts of formulas used to treat wind-heat and gui zhi and sheng jiang are found in herbal formulas used to treat Wind-cold. These herbs may be found in classic formulas combined with other herbs that are then individualized to alleviate specific presentations. To strengthen Wei Qi and boost immune system, herbs such as dang shen, huang qi and ban lan gen may be used.

Many people in Canada are unfamiliar with Chinese herbal formulas. We feel it is important to point out some of the basic differences between Chinese herbal drugs and Western drugs. Unlike Western drugs, Chinese herbal treatments are taken in a whole food form. For example, teas are decocted from whole root, stems, and leaves, and capsules are filled with crushed, whole food material.
On the other hand, Western medicine identifies the active chemical compounds, isolates and potentizes them, and then create medicines from these extracted (patented) compounds. Unfortunately when reduced to their chemical fundamentals, these pharmaceuticals may have some serious side effects. Research in China has shown that when reduced to their active chemical compounds, some Chinese herbal medicines will also have side effects. This is one reason why TCM practitioners continue to use whole food forms of treatments. When used appropriately, and in their whole food form, herbs will cause minimal or no side effects at all.

Furthermore, many people familiar with Western herbal medicine think of herbs as they do Western pharmaceuticals, i.e. a single herb is good to treat a single disease. For instance, Echinacea is good for colds. In TCM, however, single herbs are rarely used. The strength of Chinese herbal medicine is in the concept of balance. Formulas many contain as few as two or as many as 15 or more different herbs, which balance each other. In combinations, the herbs act differently than when alone and their potential harmful effects are cancelled. Some of the herbs in the formula may augment while others limit the potency of other herbs. Some may concentrate on one specific area of the body while others work on a different area. Over the centuries of practice and research, TCM has found formulas, or the combining of herbs, to be the most effective, most powerful, and safest way of using herbs. Chinese herbalism has been continuously refined over thousands of years, to the point that it is now very sophisticated. Indications, contraindications and potential side effects are well known. While formulas can be bought over the counter in Canada, we strongly urge you to seek professional advice before administering any formula.

"This article originally appeared in the September 2003 issue of Vitality Magazine."

For professional treatment or to answer any questions or concerns you have about TCM, you are most welcome to contact us.