By Misha Cohen
As practitioners we work with a varied clientele, whether it be those with sports injuries, women’s conditions, or with cancer and AIDS. Invariably, we are asked by our clients, “What’s a good formula to take when I get a cold?” Certainly, no one wants to come down with a cold. As prevention, immune-strengthening herbal formulas and other Chinese medicine modalities can be used. But sometimes exhaustion, stress, strong viruses, and other external and internal factors are such that the wind-borne pathogenic factor that causes a cold or the flu, finally prevails.
Over the years, I have used an herbal formula prepared from bulk herbs. At the request of many clients, I finally decided to design a remedy in pill form based on the bulk herb formula. This new product is now known as Cold Away and is manufactured by Health Concerns.
Cold Away is a modification of the Chinese formulas Yin Qiao Jie Du and Gan Mao Ling. After rendering into pill form, we tested the formula for efficacy over several months in my private practice at Chicken Soup Chinese Medicine as well as at Quan Yin Healing Arts Center. The new formulation had a very high rate of patient satisfaction and reported efficacy.
WIND-HEAT VS. WIND-COLD
Before discussing the ingredients in Cold Away, one should point out that exogenous wind patterns are of several types. Most individuals, whether in summer or in winter, experience wind-heat as the type of wind-borne illness that leads to the common cold and flu. Cold Away, therefore, is used specifically to address the wind-heat pattern. The wind-cold syndrome is less common, and is associated more with the phenomenon of “catching a chill,” for which other formulas such as Moxibustion are more appropriate.
The symptoms of early stage externally contracted wind-heat disease for which cold away is appropriate include fever, headache, sinus and chest congestion, sore throat, coughing, and aversion to wind. The pulse is usually superficial and rapid, and the tongue red or red tipped with a white or yellow coating. Cold Away can also address throat infections, cold sores, fevers, as well as biomedical indications such as viral tonsillitis, otitis media, measles, and pharyngitis.
HERBAL INGREDIENTS AND ACTIONS
The herbs in Cold Away make up a general formula for exogenous wind-heat pattern. Other herbs and/or formulas can be added if symptoms such as sinus congestion, cough, or fever are more severe. The ingredients are:
Isatis Concentrate (Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye)
Lonicera (Jin Yin Hua)
Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian)
Forsythia Fruit (Lian Qiao)
Scutellaria (Huang Qin)
Platycodon (Jie Geng)
Chrysanthemum (Ye Ju Hua)
Citrus (Chen Pi)
Angelica (Bai Zhi)
Magnolia (Xin Yi Hua)
Xanthium (Cang Er Zi)
Licorice (Gan Cao)
Several of the herbs in Cold Away are in the heat-clearing and toxicity-relieving category. This is in line with the TCM notion that infectious disease (e.g., the common cold and the flu) is the result of invasion of some kind of heat-toxin. In this formula, then, Isatis Concentrate consists of two herbs known to clear heat and relieve toxicity–Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye (see side bar). The former is especially important for the common cold and the flu because of its ability to enter the throat. Lonicera (Jin Yin Hua) is another herb that clears heat and relieves toxicity; it is also capable of expelling wind. Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian) is often used with Lonicera (Jin Yin Hua) for early stages of externally contracted wind-heat with symptoms of fever and sore throat. Forsythia Fruit (Lian Qiao) is yet another heat-clearing, toxicity-relieving herb. Scutellaria (Huang Qin) clears heat and drains fire especially from the Upper Burner and is frequently used to treat cold sores.
Platycodon (Jie Geng) soothes the throat and opens the Lungs and disseminates Lung qi; it also expels phlegm in both heat and cold disorders. Chrysanthemum (Ye Ju Hua) drains fire and relieves toxins and is used for sore and swollen throats, and red eyes caused by wind-heat. Citrus (Chen Pi) is used in heat-relieving formulas to address the phlegm-cough. Angelica (Bai Zhi) expels wind and alleviates pain, and in this formula directs the actions of the ingredients toward the head, especially the nasal passages. Magnolia (Xin Yin Hua) and Xanthium (Cang Er Zi) unblock the nasal passages, and along with Angelica (Bai Zhi) and Chrysanthemum (Ye Ju Hua) enhance the action of this formula to enter the nasal passages and clear sinus congestion. Finally, Licorice (Gan Cao) helps direct the other herbs into their respective channels; it also clears heat and relieves fire toxicity.
CONCLUSION
In some cases, the cold/flu symptoms may be so severe that other formulas need to be taken in adjunct with Cold Away. For chest congestion, particularly an unproductive cough, the formula Clear Air is suitable. For severe nasal congestion, Nasal Tabs or Xanthium Relieve Surface can be administered. And for high fever with possible bacterial infection, Isatis Gold is the formula of choice to be taken with Cold Away.
Cold Away should only be used during the acute stages of externally contracted wind-heat conditions. It should not be used long-term for prevention of colds and the flu. For this purpose, the following are more appropriate: Astra C, based on Jade Screen Powder is a simple preventive, cold/allergy formula suitable for most individuals; for persons with ongoing immune disorders, Enhance or Astra Isatis can be used; and for chronic immune disorders with signs of yin deficiency and dryness.
Cold Away is a unique formula in several respects including the fact that it is an all-natural product– it does not cause any of the typical side effects such as drowsiness and excitability which are associated with pharmaceutical remedies. More importantly, many of the ingredients in Cold Away are known to have anti-viral and antibacterial effects, thus addressing the root of the wind-heat (cold/flu) condition.
ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTS OF ISATIS
The two herbs, Radix Isatidis seu Baphicacanthi and Folium Daqingye (Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye) are well known for their antimicrobial effects. From a Chinese medicine perspective their properties are cold and bitter, and their actions are aimed at clearing Heat and relieving Toxicity, and cooling the Blood. They are often the chief herbs in formulas that address Warm-Febrile or Warm-Epidemic diseases.
Much research has been conducted in China on these two herbs. Radix Isatidis is active against Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Shigella dysenteriae, and Shigella flexneri. In vitro studies have also found this herb to be toxic against Leptospira interrogans, the parasite that causes leptospirosis. Clinical reports indicate that Folium Daqingye has been used prophylactically during the cold and flu season. In one study, 100 subjects were administered decoctions of Folium Daqingye twice daily over six consecutive days. Only 10% developed upper respiratory infections. However, in the control group, made up of 250 individuals, 24% eventually came down with colds or the flu.
In hospitals and clinics throughout China, both herbs are now the mainstays of the therapeutic regimen for encephalitis B with cure rates of over 90%, particularly when used in the early stages.