California health officials have announced the state’s first flu-related pediatric death this season — a child from Orange County. Forty-four children in the state have been treated in hospital intensive care units for the flu. Nationwide, 10 children have died this season. Four of those children also had staph infections. Health officials have said, “Children with certain underlying conditions — immune deficiencies, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease and other things … are more likely to get severely ill.”
Each year in the United States, more than 225,000 people are hospitalized and 35,000 die because of flu-related complications. This year the H3N2 strain has mutated slightly and now has become the predominant one in the United States. A traditional Chinese herbal approach–which kills flu germs, enhances immunity and protects internal organs–may prove effective now.
Experts say, flu shots this year are ineffective for the H3N2 flu strain.
Treatment of colds and flu with Chinese herbs is specific to symptoms because the herbs address the penetration (seriousness) of the disease. A serious disease is thought to attack deeper body defenses. Death results when the disease has reached the level of vital organs–lungs, heart, kidneys or blood. Prevention and treatment according to TCM (traditional Chinese herbal medicine) is effected with herbs that not only kill germs but bring inflammation to superficial levels by increasing sweating, detoxifying the body and protecting vital organs. Here is an excerpt from an article concerning flu and SARS from April, 2006 article by Jake Paul Fratkin, OMD, Lac
The article sounds very complicated because traditional Chinese diagnosis observes the “level of a disease” (which areas of energy and the physical body that are effected.) But, as you may see, if you have Yin Qioa (yin chiao) pills and Gan Mao Ching (gan mao qing) pills on hand you are rather well covered for essential herbs to help prevent colds/flu from spreading deeper and weakening immunity.
The method used to treat SARS among Hong Kong herbalists was to use classical formulas such as these with the addition of herbs with strong antiviral effects. This same approach may prove helpful now. Here are Fratkin’s words:
Unlike Spanish Flu, SARS took between two and six weeks to cause death. Using the insights of experienced TCM doctors, the Chinese government publicized herbal approaches to treat various stages of the illness, and how to treat healthy people in contact with those who were sick. In Hong Kong, where TCM has been forbidden in the hospital system since 1945, many Western doctors saw the ineffectiveness of the Western response and actually promoted the use of TCM herbal formulas for their own health workers, as well as the general public.
Wen Bing Prescriptions
When SARS hit China and Hong Kong, TCM doctors were quick to identify patterns and offer prescriptions. From classical wen bing theory (warm diseases), three stages were observed: initial, acute and recovery. Key prescriptions were recommended to the general public that could be obtained as patent medicines, for those unable to utilize TCM practitioners.
For the initial stage, or as prevention, three formulas were recommended. For wind-warmth in the wei level, with fever and chills, yin qiao san was recommended. For warm toxin in the upper burner, with signs of sore throat and fever, the formula was pu ji xiao du yin. For summer heat attacking the lung and wei level, with signs of lung fire cough, they recommended sang ju yin.
For the acute stage, the following formulas were recommended. For spring-warmth, with excess heat in the stomach causing high fever, bai hu tang. For summer heat-warmth with stagnation of damp-heat, causing fever with heaviness, nausea and diarrhea, gan lu xiao du yin. These formulas should be familiar to herbalists.
For the third, critical stage, custom prescriptions were required. For wind-warmth, ying level with yin fire, qing ying tang was recommended. For spring-warmth, heat in the ying or blood level, use qing wen bai du yin. The composition of these two formulas is as follows:
Qing Ying Tang (Wu Jutong, 1798)
* shui niu jiao (cornu bubali);* xuan shen (radix scrophulariae ningpoensis), sheng di huang (radix rehmanniae glutinosae), mai men dong (tuber ophiopogonis japonici), jin yin hua (flos lonicerae japonicae), lian qiao (fructus forsythiae suspensae), huang lian (rhizoma coptidis), dan zhu ye (herba lophatheri gracilis), dan shen (radix salviae miltiorrhizae)
* Here, water buffalo horn has been substituted for xi jiao (cornu rhinoceri).
Qing Wen Bai Du Yin (Yu Shiyu, 1794)
* shi gao (gypsum), zhi mu (radix anemarrhenae asphodeloidis), gan cao (radix glycyrrhizae uralensis), dan zhu ye, xi jiao, sheng di huang, mu dan pi (cortex moutan radicis), chi shao (radix paeoniae rubrae), xuan shen, huang lian (rhizoma coptidis), huang qin (radix scutellariae), zhi zi (fructus gardeniae jasminoidis), lian qiao, jie geng (radix platycodi grandiflori)
In addition to these formulas, the Chinese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization made numerous recommendations of herbal combinations and formulas that were distributed through the mass media.
In the management of the SARS crisis, an interesting trend emerged – that of reinforcing classical formulas with the addition of herbs with strong antiviral effects. Usually classified under the “clear heat, resolve toxin” category (qing re jie du), many of these herbs were discovered during the 1950s. At that time, the Chinese government conducted broad health campaigns that encouraged rural villages to share any knowledge of local herbs with strong medicinal effects. Since that time, relatively obscure herbs have come into predominance for their effectiveness against viruses; many were also used to treat SARS.
The following herbs have shown strong anti-flu virus effect, and were sought after and used by many during the epidemic: chuan xin lian (herba andrographitis paniculatae), she gan (rhizoma belamcandae chinensis), guan zhong (rhizoma dryopteris crassirhizomae), shan zhi ma (radix helicteris), yu xing cao (herba cum radice houttuyniae cordatae), mao dong qing (radix ilicis pubescendis), qi ye yi zhi hua (rhizoma paridis polyphyllae), bai jiang cao (herba cum radice patriniae), hu zhang (radix et rhizoma polygoni cuspidati), ma bian cao (herba verbanae) and zi hua di ding (herba cum radice violae yedoensis).
In addition, two herbs from Taiwan that had been introduced into mainland China in the late 1980s were recognized for their strong antiviral properties. These are san cha ku (radix et ramus evodiae leptae) and gang mei gen (radix ilicis asprellae). These two herbs comprise 56 percent of the extraordinary patent medicine gan mao ling, used for the common cold.
Hi Letha!
I have two children (20 mo & 4 1/2 year old) what can I give them to help boost their immune systems? Can I use the same herbs listed above if they come down with the flu? What dosages do I use?
Thanks and I love your articles!
Jackie
Thanks for the very timely article! I have used the herb andrographis mentioned in your article and its very effective. Especially if taken the first day or two of the illness, the illness recedes. I always keep some on hand for that reason.
Dear Jackie
I like recommending homeopathic remedies for children because of the exact dosage (on the bottle) and the ease of giving it. You can add it to water or give it to them under the tongue. Just don’t mix the remedy with food. 6 x strength is fine for daily use – 1 – 2 times and 30C strength once a day for acute problems. see below:
A good one to give anyone to help boost immunity is homeopathic Calc. Sulph.
It is blood purifier and detoxifier for the entire body. We need it when we have symptoms of skin or digestive or breathing problems. Here is some info on it from a website about homeopathic remedies.
The advice applies to children and adults. Follow directions for the product when you find it in the pharmacy or health food store. —easily available, safe and fast-acting.
Through a deficiency of Calcar Sulph. in the liver this destruction of unfit corpuscles is delayed, hence the blood soon contains an oversupply of useless cells. Under normal conditions all useless blood corpuscles disintegrate by means of Calcar-sulph. in the liver; their remnants are excreted through biliary action from the circulation by the shortest route. But if a part of these useless corpuscles must be destroyed by oxidation within the circulation, their elimination will thereby be rendered tardy.
Such remnants as are not excreted by way of the liver from the circulation, nor taken up by the lymphatics, reach the mucous membranes and skin, producing there catarrh and eruptions.
General Biochemical Action. – Calc. Sulph. stands in close relation to suppurations. It cures purulent discharges from the mucous membranes and purulent exudations in serous sacs, as well as tubercular ulcers or abscesses of the intestines, and ulcers of the cornea, etc. It is curative in suppurations at that stage in which matter is discharging or continuing to ooze after the infiltrated places have discharged their contents of pus. All ailments in which the process of discharge continues too long and the suppuration is affecting the epithelial tissues. Acts upon the connective tissue. If there is a deficiency of it in any small parts of its domains, suppuration is the result. The presence of pus with a vent is the general indications.
Guiding Symptoms and Characteristic Indications.
Mind
Mental Symptoms. Changeable mood. Sudden loss of memory; of consciousness. Absent minded and irritable. Anxious, better in open air. Discontented, full of fears.
Head
Head and Scalp. – Scald head of children, if there be purulent discharge or yellow, purulent crusts. Suppuration, etc., about the scalp. Headache with nausea and with feeling as if eyes were sunken. Headache comes on from becoming cold, but made better by cool air. Pain around whole head, worse forehead. Craniotabes. Vertigo, with deadly nausea, on moving head quickly. Much dandruff. Hair falls out.
Eyes
Eyes. – Deep – seated abscess of the cornea. Inflammation of the eyes with discharge of thick, yellow matter. Hypopyon; to absorb the effusion of pus in the eye, after Silicea. Retinitis. Deep ulcers of the cornea. Ophthalmia, pus thick and yellow. Cornea steamy, pus in anterior chamber; sensation as from a foreign body; has to tie up eye; after injury to the eye from a splinter. Phlyctenular keratitis and phlyctenular conjunctivitis when accompanied by swelling of cervical glands. Hemiopia. Twitching of eyelids. Inflamed canthi.
Ears
Ears. – Deafness with discharge of matter from the middle ear, sometimes mixed with blood, after Silicea . Pimples around ear. Sensitive swellings behind ear with tendency to suppuration.
Nose
Nose. – Cold in the head, with thick, yellowish, purulent secretion, frequently tinged with blood. Nosebleed. One sided discharge from nose. Edges of nostrils sore. Yellowish discharge from posterior natures. Dryness of nose, crusts form, itching, obstructed.
Face
Face. – Swelling of the cheek if suppuration threatens. Tender pimples under the beard. Herpetic eruptions on the face. Pimples and pustules on the face.
Mouth
Mouth. – Inside of lips sore. Raw sores on lips. Dry, hot mouth. Gum – boils.
Tongue. – Tongue flabby, resembling a layer of dried clay. Sour soapy, acrid taste. Yellow coating at base. Inflammation of the tongue when suppurating. Clay – colored coating.
Teeth. – Rheumatic toothache. Toothache with inside of gums swollen and sore; swollen cheek. Gums bleed on brushing teeth. Gum – boils, ulcerated teeth.
Throat
Throat. – Suppurating sore throat. Last stage of ulcerated sore throat, with discharge of yellow matter. Suppurating stage of tonsillitis when abscess is discharging. Diphtheritis of the soft palate; fauces are much swollen. Quinsy, discharging pus. Choking. [ Hepar. ]
Stomach
Gastric Symptoms. – Desire for fruit, tea, claret, and green, sour vegetables. Great thirst and appetite. Nausea, with vertigo. While eating, roof of mouth sore. Burning pain in stomach. Craves stimulants to overcome the tremulous weakness.
Abdomen
Abdomen and Stool. – Purulent diarrhea, mixed with blood. Dysentery, stools purulent, sanious. Intestinal ulcers with typhus. Painless abscesses about the anus in cases of fistula. Pain in region of liver, in right side of pelvis, followed by weakness, nausea and pain in stomach. Diarrhea after maple sugar and from change of weather, in children worse after eating, painless, involuntary. Itching of rectum, moisture about anus. Prolpasus ani. Costiveness, with hectic fever and difficult breathing. Pus – like, slimy discharge from the bowels.
Urinary organs
Urinary and Sexual Organs. – Red urine with hectic fever, Cystitis, chronic state, pus forming. Nephritic. To control the suppuration in cases of bubo alternately with Silicea. Gonorrhea with purulent, sanious discharge. Abscess of the prostate. Chronic suppurating stage of syphilis. Glandular ulceration, etc. Spermatorrhea. Menses late, long – lasting, with headache, twitchings, great weakness. Extravasation of pus within the pelvic tissues unconfined by any phyogenic membrane. Itching after menses, in vagina, swelling of labia.
Respiratory
Respiratory System. – Cough with purulent and sanious sputa and hectic fever Asthma with hectic fever. Empyema, pus forming in the lungs or pleural cavities. Purulent, sanious expectoration. Pain across the chest. Pneumonia, third stage Obstinate hoarseness. Third stage of bronchitis. Empyema after thoracentesis. Consumption. Oppression and soreness of chest. Burning and weakness in chest. Purulent sputa. Catarrh, with thick, lumpy, white – yellow or pus – like secretions. Croup after Kali mur. In children, severe cough with malaise in the chest, green stools, herpetic eruptions.
Hi Jean
Thanks for your comment.
Andrographis is proving to be popular here in s. Florida too. I used it a couple of days and my host is now using it for the “thing” that is going around.
He says he had felt like he had swallowed flber glass – a tickle in the nose and throat and now after 1 day of andrographis and narrow leaf (radix heliceteris ) the dry scratchy feeling is gone and he can breathe freely.
best, L.