By Andrew Gaeddert
The goal of herbal therapy in the treatment of colds and the flu is to reduce or eliminate symptoms, reduce the use of antibiotics unless they are absolutely necessary, and to promote faster recovery. In this article, we present information about some of the herbal remedies used in Chinese medicine to address colds and the flu.
ACUTE STAGE
The onset of a cold or the flu is usually due to a combination of the following: fatigue, lowered immune system, and exposure to germs. In this day and age, the latter seems to be the most overwhelming because of a range of factors–from poorly ventilated work environments, to re-circulated air in airplanes, and in general, to increased population density. For those of us with children, we are even more aware of the cold and flu problem, because children are constantly exposed to germs in their daycare centers and schools, and in turn transmit the germs to family members.
In terms of Chinese medicine, the initial syndrome presentation of colds and the flu can be categorized into two types: invasion due to Wind Cold or to Wind Heat. Attack by Wind Cold is characterized by absence of fever or slight fever, chills, sneezing, cough, white or clear sputum, severe aches and pain, headache, and absence of sweating. The tongue can be pale or unchanged, and the pulse is floating. Wind Heat invasion usually corresponds to the symptoms of the flu, and is characterized by fever, sore throat, cough, yellow sputum, headache, and sweating. The tongue is red and may have a thin, white coating, and the pulse is often floating and rapid.
The two most widely used Chinese herbal formulas that Health Concerns produces for treating colds and the flu are Yin Chao Jin and Isatis Gold. The former is based on the Chinese classical formula, Yin Qiao Jie Du Wan, probably the most widely known Chinese herbal remedy for colds and the flu. Versions of this formula are produced in China as well as elsewhere. Practitioners should be aware that some of the Yin Qiao products from China contain antihistamines, caffeine, aspirin, and other pharmaceuticals.
The Yin Qiao formula contains herbs which belong to the category of Chinese herbs that clear Heat and relieve toxicity. Herbs in this category possess infection-fighting, anti-inflammatory, and diuretic actions. In producing Yin Chao Jin, Health Concerns has added an extract of Isatis root and leaf (Ban Lan Gen and Da Qing Ye), which has powerful anti-viral and antibacterial effects. This formula is aimed mainly at the early stages of a cold or the flu, especially when sore throat is present.
My colleague, Dr. Fung Fung developed a modification of the Yin Qiao formula for children, called Yin Chao Junior. It is in liquid form and contains additional phlegm-resolving and warming herbs so that the formula is not as cold in nature as the original. The dosage is 1-3 dropperfuls every few hours. It can be added to juice for better compliance. Adults unable to swallow capsules can also use Yin Chao Jr. (3 dropperfuls, 4-6 times per day).
Some of the herbs in Yin Chao Jin are also found in the formula Isatis Gold, which has been one of Health Concerns’ successful products for over a decade. Additionally, Isatis Gold features the widely used western herbs, Echinacea and Goldenseal. Echinacea has been used by native Americans for hundreds of years and by naturopathic doctors for a century. This herb has been well studied in Germany and has been found to stimulate the immune system which explains its traditional use for bacterial and viral infections, inflammation, fever, and even tissue injury. There are three common species of Echinacea; Health Concerns uses Echinacea purpurea, the most extensively researched. Goldenseal, which is traditionally combined with Echinacea for cold and flu treatment, has anti-infection, anti-inflammatory, mucus- drying, and digestive properties.
The other primary ingredients found in Isatis Gold include Isatis extract, Platycodon (Jie Geng), and Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong).
Platycodon helps soothe the throat while Ligusticum invigorates the Blood and relieves headache. My clinical experience is that Isatis Gold is a very effective formula since it can be used during either the first, second, or third stages of a cold or the flu. It is an excellent remedy for patients to have on hand, particularly for those most susceptible to colds and the flu, such as individuals with autoimmune disease and families with young children.
COMBINING YIN CHAO JIN OR ISATIS GOLD WITH OTHER FORMULAS
In many instances either Yin Chao Jin or Isatis Gold used alone is sufficient to address the syndrome pattern of a cold or the flu. For example, when fever is present, Isatis Gold or Yin Chao Jin can be administered alone. When fever is absent, Isatis Gold can be taken with freshly grated ginger tea (boil a teaspoon of fresh ginger for about five minutes, then drink).
If patients are constitutionally sensitive, or have weak digestive systems, Isatis Gold or Yin Chao Jin can be combined with Quiet Digestion; Quiet Digestion can also be used with Isatis Gold for gastrointestinal flu. In either case, the general dosage is 2 capsules of each formula, 4-6 times per day on an empty stomach.
When sneezing and runny nose are present, the color and severity of the sputum/phlegm should be differentiated. For copious sputum, Isatis Gold can be combined with Clear Phlegm. When sneezing is constant and the phlegm is colored, Isatis Gold can be taken with Nasal Caps 2. If the phlegm is clear, Isatis Gold can be combined with Clear Air, a traditional formula that warms the Lungs and reduces Phlegm (2 capsules of each formula, 4-6 times per day).
If coughing is accompanied by Cold signs, Isatis Gold can be combined with Clear Air, and for Heat signs (colored sputum), combine with Clear Air, a formula based on the traditional Ding Chuan Wan. Headache can be relieved by combining Isatis Gold with Head-Q (based on Ju Wei Qiang Huo Tang). For sinus and antibiotic-resistent ear infections, use Nasal Caps 2 and Coptis Purge Fire; for chronic ear infections without Heat signs, Nasal Caps 2 and Clear Phlegm are the formulas of choice. For the above combinations, the dosages are 2 capsules of each formula, 4-6 times per day.
LINGERING CONDITIONS
Frequently, patients present with lingering symptoms of a cold or the flu which have resisted rest, over the counter remedies, or even herbs. The syndrome pattern of these cases can be somewhat complex, thus careful diagnosis is important. The etiology of this pattern is any or a combination of the following: lack of exercise, excessive use of over the counter remedies or of formulas that are cold in property. In addition, the Qi can become exhausted as it attempts to push pathogens out of the body. Therefore, formulas that regulate the Qi and tonify the body are used. For example, Ease 2 (based on Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang) releases the muscles and treats epigastric pain. Bupleurum (Chai Hu), the chief ingredient, has antipathogenic and ascending properties which help rid the body of virus and bacteria. Chinese Skullcap (Scute; Huang Qin) drains Heat from the Liver and Gallbladder and has antibacterial and anti-viral properties as well. Chinese Peony (Bai Shao) helps treat digestive symptoms and has pain relieving effects.
When more tonifying and less regulating is required, the Astra Isatis formula can be used. Astra Isatis has been useful in treating chronic viral conditions such as mononucleosis, herpes, chronic fatigue syndrome, and HIV, as this formula contains the tonic herbs Astragalus (Huang Qi), Codonopsis (Dang Shen), Barrenwort (Epimedium; Yin Yang Huo), Lycium fruit (Gou Qi Zi), and Atractylodes (Bai Zhu). It also contains the anti-toxin herbs Isatis (Da Qing Ye and Ban Lan Gen), Licorice (Gan Cao), and Kombu (Laminaria; Kun Bu); the latter is useful for lymphatic swelling.
When an even more powerful tonic is necessary, the formula Power Mushrooms can be used. Its main ingredients of Ganoderma (Rei Shi, Ling Zhi), Poria (Fu Ling) and Tremella (Bai Mu Er) have immune enhancing effects. Ease 2 and Power Mushrooms can be used together when a patient has been struggling with a cold for over five days. At this point there is generally no fever, although muscle pain, gastrointestinal weakness, or headache might be present. For pronounced headache, Head-Q can be added. General dosage is 2 capsules of each formula, 4-6 times per day. Power Mushrooms seems particularly useful for fatigue due to viral conditions, so it is also recommended in conjunction with Astra Isatis for chronic viral conditions with cold signs.
With Heat signs such as a temperature, rapid pulse, excessive sweating, flushed cheeks, or red tongue, the formula Clear Heat can be used. If there is extreme fatigue with a temperature, use Clear Heat with Astra Isatis. With a productive cough and fever, use Clear Air with Clear Heat.
Persistent cold and flu symptoms are often aggravated by repeated usage of antibiotics. This further weakens the patient and can lead to digestive problems such as abdominal cramping, bloating, and intestinal gas. In such cases, the formulas Six Gentlemen and Quiet Digestion can be used. If diarrhea and loose stools are present, the formulas Colostroplex can be used for Heat signs, and Source Qi for Cold signs.
SOME FINAL THOUGHTS
For Yin Chao Jin or Isatis Gold to be effective, it is important to counsel patients to comply with a dosage of at least 3 capsules every few hours. Patients who are constitutionally sensitive, or have weak digestive systems, should take lower dosages and as mentioned above, combine Isatis Gold with Quiet Digestion.
With the increasing availability of over the counter herbal remedies, many individuals are self-treating colds and the flu with remedies such as Echinacea and even Yin Qiao. Some are taking these products as a preventive, and as such, they are becoming negatively affected. For example, I had one client, a nurse, who was taking Echinacea on a daily basis to prevent infection. When I saw her initially, she was suffering fatigue, and her pulse was weak and tongue extremely pale. I recommended that she stop taking the Echinacea which many western herbalists believe is counterproductive when used long- term. I advised her to use the Health Concerns formula Astra C which strengthens the defensive energy, and to take Yin Chao Jin at the first signs of a cold or the flu.
Another case in point, is a chronic fatigue client who reported that the Yin Qiao recommended by her acupuncturist no longer worked. I suggested that she use Isatis Gold instead when she experienced the first signs of a cold or the flu.
Finally, practitioners should bear in mind that formulas that treat colds and the flu are usually bitter and Cold in property and should be discontinued once the symptoms are alleviated. Prolonged use can lead to injury of the Spleen/Stomach.
Andrew Gaeddert is the author of Chinese Herbs in the Western Clinic.
REV 2022