How to Combat Flu Season & Boost your Immunity with Chinese Herbs
- Sean Dugan
- Jan 20
- 7 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Table of Contents
“Can you recommend something for my cold? I’m sick and I have a big trip coming up!”
Yes and no.
There isn’t a quick and simple solution to colds and flus.
We want there to be, because being sick is a hassle. It seems ridiculous to us that in this world of modern medicine we can still be brought to our knees by the common cold! That word⸺ “common” ⸺is misleading. Colds and flus are commonplace but they are tricky; they are some of the most diverse condition I see clinically and can present and progress in a myriad of ways.
When thinking about the prevention and treatment of colds and flus it is important to remember that for the majority of human history infectious disease was enemy number one to human health.
The advent of modern medicine has changed things, but this is a relatively recent development.
For most of human history, medicine was aimed at one thing above all: defeating infectious diseases.
Chinese Medicine, as the oldest and most developed system of natural medicine in the world, has been working on this problem for a long, long time, and has come up with some excellent tools.
As I mentioned above, colds and flus are complex. There is no magic bullet, no single herbal formula I can tell you take when you get a cold.
Infectious disease is a constantly moving target: viruses can mutate, and illness (as anyone who has ever had a cold can tell you) goes through stages⸺perhaps you start with a sore throat, progress to fever and chills, then sinus congestion and finally a prolonged chesty cough and fatigue.
Because colds and flus are so adaptable, we need to be just as adaptable in our treatment in order to defeat them.
So here is the good news: that is exactly what Chinese Medicine excels at!
Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, Chinese Medicine tailors treatment to your specific situation and needs.
When you come to me with a cold or flu, I will analyze the stage of the illness, how it is presenting, as well as your constitution and other health challenges. I will do a complete intake using Chinese Medicine diagnostic methods. I will then create an herbal formula to best suit your situation. As you progress through recovery, I will modify the formula to continue to support you best.
Chinese herbal medicine is uniquely excellent at meeting you right where you are; there are over 400 herbs in the Chinese materia medica, and those are combined in thousands of different ways to achieve the results we want.
It’s not easy, or simple, but it is amazing!
Unfortunately, most people don’t think of Chinese herbal medicine first when they come down with the flu, so the majority of folks I treat have already been through the ringer by the time I see them, some with multiple rounds of antibiotics and hospitalizations under their belt. The good news is, I can still help. But it is definitely easier on you if you come in sooner and save yourself some pain and money.
If you are interested in working with me, visit my clinic page to learn more.
What if I’m not sick right now but want to boost my immunity with Chinese herbs?
Great question, and great idea! The best medicine is preventative medicine.
Though there isn’t a fully one-size-fits-all herbal formula for immune support either, there are some great one-size-fits-most formulas using Chinese herbs for immunity.
Over the years I have treated hundreds of colds and flus in my clinical practice, and eventually got around to creating my own immune support formula based on what I saw work time and time again.
Folkwise Immune is appropriate for a wide range of constitutions and can be taken daily. It is based on the most potent immune-strengthening classical Chinese herbal formula ever created, Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang, with the addition of Houttuynia, Kudzu, Job’s tears, and Notopteryium.
Folkwise Immune is a balanced formula which boosts immune function and promotes healthy lymphatic flow.
Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang is an elegantly designed formula that uses 7 tonic herbs to strengthen the Zheng Qi, or innate immune system, and 2 herbs that help show invaders the door.
Building on the already great classical formula, I have added Houttuynia, Kudzu, Job’s tears, and Notopteryium. Houttuynia (Yu Xing Cao) has become one of my favorite herbs in recent years because it is fundamentally gentle, yet it has demonstrated antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial properties in modern research. This makes it suitable for long-term use, unlike many of the popular immune support herbs which are harsh in nature and can damage the gut microbiome.
What about formulas like Yin Qiao San and Gan Mao Ling?
You may be familiar with Chinese herbal formulas such as Gan Mao Ling and Yin Qiao San. These formulas are marketed for prevention and treatment of cold and flu and are commonly available over the counter in teapill or tablet form.
These aren’t formulas I typically recommend for a couple of reasons.
One, they are usually sold in teapill or tablet form. Teapills and tablets contain a fraction of the herbs that a capsule, granule, or raw herb formula contains and are therefore much less effective. Teapills are cheaper per bottle than capsule or granule herbal formulas, but since they contain so much less actual herb, they are ultimately not cost effective at all. Additionally, teapills often utilize low quality herbs.
The average dose raw herbs in teapill or tablet serving is 2000 mg, or 2 grams. A single serving of Folkwise Immune is 5 grams of a 5:1 granule extract, which means it's packing 25 grams of raw herb equivalent. So yes that is 12 times more effective by dosage. A single 3 capsule dose of a Classical Pearls formula is 1.5 grams of a 10:1 encapsulated granule extract, equal to 15 grams of raw herb equivalent.
Two, those formulas are not appropriate for the vast majority of cases! These formulas were developed during a very specific time in Asian history where Heat pattern dominant epidemic contagious were going around. They are strongly heat clearing, which means they use cold-natured, strongly antibiotic herbs. Prolonged use of herbs in this category will damage the gut microbiome and weaken the body, not increase immune resilience. They are appropriate in certain disease patterns, but they are not the right formulas for the vast majority of Northern hemisphere colds and flus.
Are you someone who gets cold easily, has cold hands and feet, feels tired, suffers from digestive problems like gas or bloating or IBS, or tends towards chronic infections like UTIs or yeast infections? Then Gan Mao Ling and Yin Qiao San should generally not be in your cabinet.
For most people, a balanced and warming formula like Folkwise Immune is the way to go.
What if you must have a capsule formula for immune support?
Of course I prefer my Folkwise Immune formula, because it contains exactly the herbs I think work best for immune support. I also know that some folks cannot handle even the slightest taste of herbal ingredients. If you're looking for the best all-around capsule formula for immune support - it's the combination of Cinnamon Pearls and Ease Pearls from Classical Pearls. Combining these two formulas will contain the herbs in Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang, so it's my go-to when capsules are needed or preferred.
Please Note: Classical Pearls formulas are only available under the care of a licensed TCM practitioner. If you are a new customer, please schedule a consultation or complete the product recommendation form at the bottom of the page before purchasing.
What else can I do to stay healthy and prevent colds and flus?
Besides taking the right Chinese herbs, getting enough sleep and keeping your stress levels low, one of the number one things you can do to decrease the likelihood you will get sick in the winter months is...
(drumroll please...)
Wear a hat and scarf!
You might think getting cold has nothing to do with getting sick, but before you write this off as anti-germ theory, let me explain:
Colds and flus are caused by viruses, and your body’s most basic defense mechanism against viral invasion is temperature, aka heat.
Rhinoviruses, the most common type of cold/flu virus, are everywhere⸺ there is probably a rhinovirus or two hanging out in your nose or throat right now. The reason you aren’t constantly sick is that they don’t do very well at 98.6F. Rhinoviruses have a hard time multiplying at that temperature, and if they can’t multiply, it's hard to make you sick. If your body temperature drops⸺ even a little bit⸺ than the growth of a rhinovirus population goes up exponentially.
So when you go outside in the winter with damp hair, or with your head and neck exposed, you are lowering the temperature of those key areas that rhinoviruses like to hang out, and giving the, an opportunity to grow. Essentially you are “catching a chill” like grandma was always warning you about! This is why it is called a “cold”, after all.
Once the virus gets going, your body responds, likely by spiking a fever. Which is...heat! Archnemesis of the rhinovirus!
So to avoid getting sick in the first place, keep you body nice and toasty with a hat and a scarf. It’s one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent illness in the cold months.
If you are currently struggling with acute or prolonged cold or flu, are in recovery, or frequently get sick, I encourage you to reach out and schedule a consultation with me.
If you are interested in supporting your immune system more generally, please visit my online store to learn more about Folkwise Immune.
If you are prone to sinus problems in particular, please check out my blog on the topic here, or head straight to the store for Folkwise Breathe: Sinus Support.
Thanks for reading!
-Sean
Sean Dugan L.Ac. is a licensed and board-certified herbalist and acupuncturist. He holds a Master’s degree in Chinese Medicine from the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine as well as a Diplomate in Chinese Medicine from the NCCAOM. He has studied under many Master Herbalists including Dr. Guohui Liu, Dr. Jimmy Wei-Yin Chang, Dr. Fang Zhang, Dr. Greg Livingston, and Dr. Darren Huckle. Sean’s herbal medicine practice draws from both Traditional Chinese Medicine and Classical Chinese Medicine treatment methods, with a focus on clinical efficacy above all. He has been treating patients with Chinese Herbal Medicine since 2013.
Sean works with clients all over the US through the Folkwise Herbal Clinic. In-person appointments are available at our Boise, Idaho clinic.