How to Combat Flu Season & Boost your Immunity with Chinese Herbs
Updated: 5 days ago
Table of Contents
“Can you recommend something for my cold? I’m sick and I have a big trip coming up!”
This is a question I hear a lot during cold season. The answer? Yes...and no.
There just isn’t a simple, easy, one-size-fits-all solution to colds and flus.
We want there to be, because being sick is a hassle. It seems ridiculous 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 complex; 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 time, and has come up with some excellent tools, but there is no magic bullet, no single herbal formula I can tell everyone take when they get a cold.
Why? Because 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 that can be 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, you can schedule a consulation here.
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.
If you want to support your immune system to prevent illness, the same concept discussed above still applies; a formula tailored to your constitution and current health situation will be most effective.
That being said, over the years I have treated hundreds of colds and flus in my clinical practice, and there are some patterns that come up again and again, and certain formulas that work in many situations.
Arguably the most versatile immune-strengthening classical Chinese herbal formula ever created is Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang. Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang is an elegantly designed formula that uses seven tonic herbs to strengthen the Zheng Qi, or innate immune system, and two herbs that help show invaders the door.
In many cases I add 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.
The combination of Cinnamon Pearls and Ease Pearls, capsule formulas from Classical Pearls, features all the herbs in Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang, so it is the best overall formula combination for most people. I sometimes recommend this combination, or other Classical Pearls, for people who cannot take a granule formula, or want something to have on hand when they need it down the road.
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.
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.
A serving of teapills is equivalent to 2 grams of raw herbs. A typical serving of a formula at my clinic is 5 grams of a 5:1 granule extract, that means it's equivalent to 25 grams of raw herbs. That is 12 times more effective by dosage. A three 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 when Heat pattern dominant epidemics were a big problem. 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 is the way to go, but we really don't know for sure until I have more information about you specifically.
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 colder 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 prone to sinus problems in particular, please check out my blog on the topic here.
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.
