Acupuncture Against Colds and Flu. Prevention and Treatment.
In addition to an examination of acupuncture against colds and flu, here are some very useful recommendations, written during the media frenzy of A flu. Indeed, swine flu, or H1N1, was among us in 2009. Far from being the first flu in history to present risks of serious complications in asthmatics, newborns, elderly people, and the immunosuppressed, it certainly will not be the last. Let us take the simple means at our disposal to prevent the proliferation of viruses transmissible by airborne routes such as influenza. If an infection occurs, learn below how to respond in a natural and effective manner to the different stages of infection, whether simple or accompanied by complications. Here is an excerpt from a viral email, full of common sense:
The author of the following initial recommendations is Dr. Vinay Goyal, a globally recognized emergency physician and director of a department of nuclear, thyroid, and cardiac medicine. Here is a translation of his message, full of wisdom. Useful information to share in your networks... The only access routes for the flu virus are the nostrils, mouth, and throat. During an epidemic as widely spread, it is practically impossible not to come into contact with flu A (H1N1) despite all precautions.
However, the real problem is not so much contact with the virus as its proliferation. While we are in good health and show no symptoms of infection by flu A (H1N1), there are precautions to take to avoid virus proliferation, worsening of symptoms, and the development of secondary infections. Unfortunately, these precautions, relatively simple, are not sufficiently publicized in most official communications. Here therefore are these few precautions:
1. Avoid, as much as possible, touching your face with your hands.
2. Twice a day, gargle with warm salt water. There is normally 2 to 3 days between the time the throat and nostrils are infected and the appearance of symptoms. Gargling regularly can thus prevent virus proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy person as a vaccine on an infected person. Therefore, this simple, inexpensive, and effective preventive method should not be underestimated.
3. At least once a day, clean the nostrils with warm salt water. Blow your nose vigorously then, using a cotton swab dipped in warm salt water, coat both nostrils. This is another effective method to decrease virus spread.
4. Strengthen our immune system by eating foods rich in vitamin C. If vitamin C is taken in tablet form, ensure they also contain Zinc to accelerate absorption.
5. Drink as much hot beverage as possible. Hot beverages have the same effect as gargling but in reverse. Hot beverages clean the throat of viruses that may be there and carry them into the stomach where they cannot survive, thus preventing their proliferation or any other damage. There would be an advantage to conveying this message to as many people as possible; it can only be helpful.
Consult an acupuncturist at the beginning of a cold or flu. Warning: The medical and lifestyle hygiene advice that follows may be contraindicated to your state of health or in combination with your medications. This article cannot replace the advice of a healthcare professional, such as an acupuncturist, in a clinical context.
During family epidemics or even throughout the entire period of infection, echinacea (in tincture form) and vitamin C from citrus fruits (clementine, lemon, orange) and pinch-rolling maneuvers for all are appropriate. Your acupuncturist at Clinique Shanti can teach you the beneficial ancient technique of pinch-rolling (拨法); it is a tool to keep in your pocket!
The more recent the condition, the more frequently you apply the protocol. With warm water in generous quantities.
The first day: every 30 minutes for echinacea tincture and every hour for 250 mg vitamin C. A change in the appearance and frequency of stools may then be observed. The subsequent days, if the threat of infection is still present or already established; before meals, 3-5X daily, apply the dosage described at the end of this article.
Echinacea Purpurea
Wind-Cold
If chills predominate over fever, and mucus remains clear (as it almost always is at the beginning) and/or the throat only itches throughout the infection: add ginger, garlic, and cayenne to the diet and perform exercise that causes perspiration 1X daily.
Tea of sweet mint, ginger, thyme, echinacea (flowers and roots).
Wind-Heat
If fever predominates over chills, and mucus becomes thick (with possibility of significant nasal congestion) and/or the throat is painful (more than just itching; pain when swallowing): stop spicy-hot plants and foods such as garlic, ginger, thyme, and cayenne. Particularly avoid grilled or fried foods.
Tea of peppermint, elderberry, thyme, plantain, echinacea (flowers and roots).
If fever sets in, add: catnip, yarrow. Steam treatment: Boil one liter of water and immerse: chamomile, sweet mint, elderberry, calendula (calendula contraindicated in pregnancy)
Position your entire head above the steam and cover with a towel. Breathe through your nose and blow as needed, then return to the steam.
After 5 days of treatment, if the condition does not seem to improve and/or if the mucus becomes green and/or streaked with blood: add goldenseal (tincture) to the basic treatment of echinacea-vitamin C-pinch-rolling described above.
COUGH
All types of cough: rub the anterior and posterior thorax, emphasizing the midline, with pure balsam fir essential oil or slightly diluted in sweet almond oil. Do not hesitate to consult if the cough is accompanied by fever and/or lasts more than one week.
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A post shared by Clinique Shanti (@cliniqueshanti) on March 5, 2017 at 12:09 PST
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If productive cough (with mucus) descends to the bronchi: elderberry, thyme, plantain, mullein are excellent allies. If the cough is dry, irritating, without mucus: thyme, plantain, mullein, marshmallow, chokecherry stop the cough and renew the mucous membranes. If the cough is spasmodic, in fits: add to the previous recipes chamomile and a pinch of lavender. After the infection has passed (there is no more fever or mucus) if fatigue persists: For one month of deep tonification and wise prevention: drink approximately one liter per day; reishi (to be added in boiling water on the stove 20-30 minutes before removing from heat, pour over other plants then cover 10-15 minutes additional): lemon balm, fennel, whole flowering oats, nettle, honey or maple syrup, just enough to make the beverage palatable.
Continue vitamin C in the morning. In the evening, take a tablet of yogurt containing friendly bacteria—prebiotics and probiotics. If the lymph nodes are still swollen: add to the previous recipe calendula and cleavers (tincture; adult: 6-12 drops). Request a blood test if after one month of treatment this specific condition does not improve. (swollen/sensitive lymph nodes)
And most importantly: keep smiling, drink as much liquid as possible, and rest well. The art of convalescence: it was formerly prescribed with much wisdom to take one day of rest per day of fever after its passage.
The plants mentioned are taken as infusions (except echinacea, goldenseal, and cleavers which are taken as tinctures). Infusion: 1 teaspoon per plant per cup of water, cover with hot water 10-15 minutes. Drink at least 1 liter per day, and more as needed. Echinacea tincture: adult; 20-30 drops may be contraindicated in autoimmune diseases, allergies, tuberculosis, multiple sclerosis, HIV. Goldenseal tincture: adult; 5-10 drops, no more, 2-4X daily, no more and no longer than 3 weeks (risk of liver and/or kidney damage), contraindication: pregnancy, acute stomach inflammation, problems with assimilation of B-group vitamins.
Photo of Echinacea Purpurea by H.Zell
Olivier Roy, Acupuncturist, Clinique Shanti, Acupuncture Montréal.
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