Chinese Herbal Formulas for the Common Cold
In the following article, Dr. Jake Fratkin discusses the many Chinese herbal formulas that can be used to treat the common cold and flu. Consult a licensed practitioner of Chinese mediicne to determine which formula should be used in any given situation.
Treating Acute Common Cold
BY
Dr. Jake Paul Fratkin
One of the great contributions Chinese medicine offers the West is the availability of herbs and herbal formulas that directly attack viral heat toxins causing the common cold, influenza, upper respiratory infections, and common pediatric diseases. Here, western medicine is at a total loss, offering at best bed rest and fluids, and at worse, antibiotics. Antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, doing nothing to alter the severity of symptoms or the time frame of an infection. However, they do negatively impact the body’s immune system by destroying the beneficial gut bacteria that neutralize harmful toxins. By destroying gut bacteria, one’s immune system becomes depleted, doing the work that would have been done by beneficial bacteria.
While western herbology offers several antiviral herbs such as echinacea and dandelion (Taraxacum), the Chinese herbal materia medica has at least 30 strong medicinal herbs that can destroy pathogenic viruses. Modern clinical research in China has validated their efficacy against the viruses that cause common cold, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, respiratory, encephalitis, meningitis, herpes, and hepatitis. Herbs with antiviral effect used in the classical formulas included Lonicera Jin Yin Hua, Forsythia Lian Qiao, Taraxacum Pu Gong Ying, Isatis Ban Lan Gen, Isatis Da Qing Ye, Oldenlandia Bai Hua She She Cao, Smilax Tu Fu Ling and Lasiosphaera Ma Bo.
Although not discussed in the classical literature, certain herbs have emerged in the last fifty years that are also effective against viruses. These include Ilex Mao Dong Qing, Andrographis Chuan Xin Lian, Evodia San Cha Ku, Houttuynia Yu Xing Cao, Patrinia Bai Jiang Cao, Polygonum Hu Zhang and Viola Zi Hua Di Ding.
When we evaluate the appropriateness of an herbal formula in fighting a viral disease, one benchmark is the inclusion of one or more of the herbs listed above.
A collection of twelve very important acupuncture points called the Back Shu, or Back Transporting points are located on the Bladder meridian along the spine. There is a Back Transporting point for each of the six yin organs and each of the six yang organs. They are called “transporting” points because it is said that they transport “Qi” to the inner organs.
Congee is a thin porridge or gruel most often made from rice. Congees strengthen the Spleen energy and nourish Blood. Congee is very commonly eaten for breakfast in China. Because of the nourishing properties of congee, and the fact that it is very easily digested, congees are often prescribed for elderly or chronically ill patients with weak blood and low energy. Congee made with brown rice is often given to nursing mothers to increase milk supply. The therapeutic properties of congee may be enhanced by adding traditional chinese herbs or other nutritional foods with properties known to address specific health issues. 
Ginger has been used for centuries in China for both culinary and medicinal purposes. Used in many forms - fresh ginger, dried ginger, ginger tea, ginger juice, or ginger oil – ginger is an important herb in the Chinese diet.
Life is full of stressful situations. To varying degrees, we all have some level of fear and anxiety. Maybe it's a stressful job or maybe a more specific deep seated fear like fear of flying, fear of the dentist or even fear of failure. For me, it is definitely a fear of public speaking that will fray my nerves. I was first introduced to a product called Rescue Remedy when I was in acupuncture school. Several students were putting a few drops under their tongue right before final exams. They said that it was an amazing way to calm yourself if you were a person who suffered from test anxiety. 
In upstate NY, we are finally in the throes of heat and humidity or what we call the dog days of summer. This is the time when thousands of people in mainland China are lining up at special clinics in their local hospitals to start herbal plaster therapy, or fu tie, for chronic asthma and other respiratory diseases. 
Millions of women suffer from painful periods. Often the pain occurs the day before the period starts. Some women experience menstrual cramps during the period. And some feel exhausted and achy when the period is over. Chinese Medicine explains menstrual period cramps in terms of the proper flow and quantity of Qi (energy) and Blood. By asking very detailed and specific questions about the menstrual cycle a practitioner can determine the underlying cause of menstrual cramping. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas are very effective to resolve the vast majority of painful period cramps. 
In Chinese medicine, mouth sores (whether they are sores on the lips, sores on the tongue, or sores inside the mouth) are trying to warn you that the environment in your body is out of balance. The location of these sores, the frequency that they occur and what triggers them are all clues to the nature of that imbalance. A practitioner of Chinese medicine takes all of this information, along with other signs and symptoms in the body, to correctly diagnose and treat not only the mouth sores, but also address the general constitution of the patient so that the cause of the problem is eliminated.
In Chinese Herbal Medicine, many foods are included in the medicial literature because of their health benefits. After thousands of years of observation and recorded experience, walnuts have been shown to have very specific therapeutic effects in the human body. 