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Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Colds and Flu: In Chinese medicine, you catch either a “Cold” or a “Hot”. The cold or hot comes in on the wind and is called a Wind-Cold or a Wind-Heat.
The Wind-Cold is the common cold with body aches, chills, stuffy nose, possible headache and clear or white mucus.
A Wind-Heat is similar to the flu, with symptoms like a fever, sore throat, possible headache and yellow mucus.
Many Chinese herbs have been shown to be anti-biotic, and anti-viral. Different herbs should be chosen if the patient has:
- Just contracted a cold or flu
- A full-blown cold or flu
- A lingering cold or flu
- A few lingering symptoms from a cold or flu
The Chinese pharmacy is at its most effective in the initial stages of a cold or flu. If the patient begins herbal treatment within the first few hours of onset, the cold or flu can usually be avoided completely. Most of our patients keep these herbs in their medicine cabinet at home.
Seasonal Allergies should be treated one month prior to the onset of allergy season. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs help to keep the immune system from overreacting when the pollen count rises.
Asthma is often long-standing and has an emotional component. If the patient wants to lower or eliminate their dosage of western medication, the acupuncturist/herbalist will work in conjunction with the patient’s western doctor to slowly reduce reliance on the western medications. Acupuncture is very helpful at finding and releasing the emotional component to asthma. This emotional release as well as tonifying the lung and kidney energy can often help to reduce asthma symptoms.
Insomnia runs rampant in our society today. Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture differentiate between many different types of insomnia. Of all the different types, a common thread in many of the patterns is stress and anxiety. Our lives (in a city) are so complex and fast paced that it is no wonder that we find it difficult to relax and sleep at night.
Chinese herbs are often useful in helping to calm the mind and spirit, allowing the body to rest. Acupuncture also helps to calm and relax the sleep-deprived person. Insomnia needs to be a priority in the treatment room, because lack of sleep only exacerbates other symptoms.
High Blood Pressure needs a combination of Chinese herbs and acupuncture. The acupuncture can help the patient to relax and calm the rising yang energy that often causes hypertension. Chinese herbs are often a necessary adjunct to acupuncture if one is to lower their blood pressure without medications (or in conjunction with Western medications). Herbs can be taken with western meds, in most cases. Lifestyle changes are often crucial with high blood pressure. Some type of relaxation (yoga, meditation, walking) is an essential element in treating high blood pressure.
If you have questions regarding whether a specific medical issue you are dealing with can be helped by Chinese medicine, don’t hesitate to give us a call.
