Traditional Chinese Medicine and Flu Prevention
TCM Utilizes Herbs and Food to Increase Immunity to Influenza Virus
Jul 31, 2009
With avian flu, swine flu and other new strains of the influenza virus appearing on a regular basis, more ways of protecting people from becoming infected are being explored. Traditional Chinese Medicine offers another option for flu prevention and treatment.
The Limitations of Flu Vaccinations and Influenza Drugs
The types of drugs used to fight influenza infections, adamantanes and neuraminidase inhibitors, have their shortcomings. The adamantanes are not effective against Influenza B strains and many North American flu viruses are resistant to them. Up to one-third of the people treated with adamantanes will shed adamantane-resistant viruses, which can infect others.
The neuramidinase inhibitors, such as Tamiflu, reduce the severity of flu infections if given within 48-60 hours of symptoms appearing. But Tamiflu is already proving to have resistance problems.
Immunization against the flu is also problematic. Vaccines developed for a specific strain of flu tend to work well in preventing that strain but flu viruses mutate rapidly and each ‘flu season’ tends to see a different flu strain emerging. Immunization against influenza is limited in this case.
Vitamin or Mineral Supplements and TCM Based Diet in Flu Prevention
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, diet is considered a key element in maintaining healthy balance. These diets, which are based on the sign/symptom pattern for health conditions rather than laboratory testing, are designed to address individual health issues. It is likely that these TCM dietary recommendations address some of the vitamin mineral deficiencies which may contribute to lowered immunity, which increases the risk of influenza infection.
Ideally the appropriate TCM based diet alone would address any vitamin or mineral deficiencies but in some cases there may be value in supplementing the most commonly deficient vitamins and minerals to increase natural immunity, especially during flu season.
Immune Boosting and Anti-Viral Chinese Herbal Formulas
There is growing evidence for the immune enhancing properties of a variety of Chinese herbs. Huang qi (Astragalus membranaceus) and Ren shen (Panax ginseng) are two that are well known outside the world of Chinese medicine but there are many others in the Traditional Chinese material medica which may be more appropriate in flu prevention for different individuals.
Other herbs are being proven to have anti-viral properties. Most of these are Heat clearing herbs that have been used in Traditional Chinese medicine for various types of fevers. Huang Lian (Coptis chinensis) has specifically shown promise against influenza viruses.
Influenza viruses rapidly mutate to become resistant to various treatments. Western researchers tend to look for one active ingredient to use as a basis for making drugs or vaccines to combat these viruses. The TCM practice of using whole herbs makes it harder for the virus to target a specific thing to develop resistance against.
Immune enhancing and antiviral herbs should only be taken under the supervision of a Traditional Chinese herbal practitioner, who will also give advice on diet and lifestyle issues that may aid in preventing serious illness. Over the counter products that may contain contaminants or genetically modified herbs should be avoided.
The 1918 influenza pandemic was the first of many flu outbreaks which resulted in high mortality levels. Since that time much progress has been made in the understanding of influenza viruses and their effect on human health. Traditional Chinese medicine's long history of using herbs to enhance health and prevent disease can be utilized in fighting the influenza virus.
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