TCM for H1N1 &flu

The second attack of H1N1 pull the nerve of the world and public immunity demands more action urgently. Similar situation happened years ago when SARS scared the world, though this time the virus is generated with more unknown elements. Flu has been the number one health concern in human history and the Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) set up its pathology principle upon flu & cold treatment thousands years ago. In China, TCM therapy has been applied for treatment and prevention on both SARS and the recent H1N1.

Virus attack the body when immunity is low in lung or spleen system by the term of TCM. Sinus and throat are the easily affected part and running nose, sore throat with headache will indicate the flu attack, as the opening of lung system get inflammation.  Many people learn to clean their hands to avoid virus contamination, it is a good idea to add the cleaning of your eyes, nose, lip and even the ears area, as the virus might hide itself around the opening part and steal the chance to enter the body later.  Cough and sneezing is the automatic reaction that bring up the positive energy to fight against flu. In TCM, the lung is described as a bell, and vibrations made by cough or sneezing rings the immunity system. If there is shallow breathing or chest pain, you’d better consult for H1N1 test,as common flu normally will not develop that quickly. This is a symbol telling a deficiency of lung system, and in most case it goes with temperature or fatigue. TCM remedy could help to block the virus at this level by detoxing and strengthen the immunity, as the next affected system will be the digestion and bladder system if the flu goes worse. The unique diagnosis method of TCM could tell the internal change and decide the prevention for further action, as the body is taken as a unity, while pharmaceutic drugs have to decode virus to target. That’s how when the SARS and H1N1 still tested in lab, the TCM remedy have been applied early in treatment and prevention in Chinese hospital.

We also need to consider the climate changes that influence the body. When the late fall and winter comes, the dryer weather could challenge the internal organs and we need to compensate the body fluid by taking honey, pear or simply drink more water to balance. Keeping body warm is also important as the H1N1 could easily be an add-on when a common cold attacks. Younger people around 25 are the most affected by H1N1 as they enjoy more public gathering and fashionably dress less. People with cardiac, asthma,COPD or allergy concerns need to boost their immunity, as in TCM, those symptoms indicate weaker energy and could lead a complicated situation if the virus attacks. It is hard to squeeze too much info in a short writing, but keep in mind that TCM could help you stay healthy in the shadow of H1N1.