The 5 Best Foods for Colds & Flu in Chinese Medicine
By Emma Suttie, D.Ac, AP
Eat. Your. Medicine.
The changing of the seasons, especially the transition from warm to cold weather makes everyone more susceptible to colds and flu. The good news is that nutritional therapy is one of the pillars of Chinese medicine and contains a huge arsenal of foods for combating colds and flu. There are also a great many foods and herbs that build the immune system which will help you get over your cold or flu, as well as make sure that you get through the rest of cold and flu season with the best health possible. Below are the most effective foods for dealing with colds and flu in Chinese medicine. Remember, Chinese medicine has been around for thousands of years, so these have been used for a long time and they really work. ;)
1. Congee
This image from seriouseats.com
Congee or "Jook" is a like the Chinese version of chicken soup. It is a traditional breakfast in China, as well as an all purpose remedy when we are sick. Congee is made with rice and water (about a 1:10 ratio of rice to water). Other ingredients are added depending on what type of cold or flu you have, whether it is a heat type with symptoms like severe fever, mild chills, sore throat, sweating, and thirst, or the cold type with symptoms of severe chills, profuse, clear discharge from the nose, mild fever, no sweat, headache and general aching. White rice is very easy to digest which makes the spleen happy and is less work for the body when should be directing all its energy to fighting the pathogen. Congee is also delicious, nutritious and you can eat it any time of the year, but it is generally eaten in the colder months for its warming and nourishing properties. Here are some delicious congee recipes you can try.
2. Ginger
Ginger is one of the most widely used herbs in Chinese medicine. It has so many medicinal uses, that you should always keep some in your kitchen! Ginger is a very warming herb and has a pungent flavour. It acts on the lungs, spleen and stomach. Ginger warms the middle burner which stops vomiting and warms the lungs to stop cough. Its actions are to direct heat from inside the body to the outside, helping to resolve fever by inducing sweating. Adding a couple of slices of raw ginger to some boiling water and drinking it as a tea is a good way resolve a fever by increasing sweating. Another excellent way to use ginger when you have a cold or flu is to grate some fresh ginger and put it in a old sock, tie a knot in the top and throw it into a warm bathtub. This is a very good way to stimulate sweating and break a fever. It will also leave you smelling delicious.
Here is a nice infographic that lists some of ginger's healing properties.
this lovely infographic from mindbodygreen.com
3. Bone Broth
this image from barebonesbroth.com
Many traditional cultures use bone broths because of their numerous healing properties, and in Chinese medicine they are powerful Qi and blood tonics. One of the reasons that bone broths are so good for our health is that they are cooked using the bone marrow of the animal, and the marrow in Chinese medicine is produced by the kidneys and contain kidney Jing. Jing is something that we get from our parents at birth, and it is very precious and vital to good health. Things like working too hard (or partying too hard), not sleeping enough, being under a lot of stress for extended periods of time and childbirth are things that we can deplete Jing. Women lose Jing having too many babies too close together without time to recover, and men lose Jing from ejaculation, but bone broth is a way we can rebuild our Jing essence. Depleted Jing causes premature and accelerated aging. This is why living a balanced lifestyle is so important! Preserving precious Jing is the goal when it comes to health and longevity. Consuming bone broth therefore is extremely tonifying to Jing as it is literally made of Jing. Bone broth is also excellent to stimulate the immune system, so its a good choice when you are suffering from any ailment, especially colds and flu.
4. Honey
this image from thespiritscience.net
Honey is sweet in flavour and its energy is neutral. Honey acts on the spleen, stomach, lung and large intestine. Honey tonifies the Qi of the middle burner as well as the lungs, relieves spasms and alleviates pain. It is very moistening to the inside of the body, so it is very good to use when you have extreme heat which is very drying. Honey lubricates the bowels to promote bowel movements, detoxifies, lowers blood pressure and slows down the acute symptoms from colds and flu. It is indicated particularly for chronic cough and constipation. Honey has the added benefits of:
- boosts the immune system
- relieves coughs & sore throat
- heals wounds & burns
- helps to heal ulcers
- relieves constipation
- improves sleep
- boosts athletic performance
5. Garlic
this image from livingtraditionally.com
Garlic is one of the most widely used herbs in the world for its numerous healing properties. It is used in Ayurvedic medicine (the traditional medicine of India), Chinese medicine (which is super awesome and my personal favourite) and the traditional medicine of much of Europe. In Chinese medicine it first appeared in Chinese texts more than 2000 years BCE as an effective treatment for poisoning. It is also known for its ability to treat infection and cleansing the body of pathogens. Garlic is considered a warming herb in Chinese medicine, and is used to aid the spleen and stomach in digestion and aids to expel harmful microorganisms. It is known to cleanse the blood of cholesterol and is a powerful immune booster. Here are some more of garlic's amazing healing properties:
- Anti-bacterial
- Anti-microbial
- Anti-fungal
- Anti-viral
- Anti-parasitic
- Commonly used to treat infections of the upper respiratory tract
- Taken preventatively for infectious conditions, both digestive and respiratory
- Reduces blood pressure
- Reduces blood cholesterol
- Used to treat worms (ringworm and threadworm)
- Promotes circulation
- Promotes sweating
- Eliminates yeasts, including Candida albicans
- Inhibits viruses and other micro-organisms associated with degenerative diseases like cancer
- Eliminates toxins from the body, including poisonous metals like cadmium and lead
- A drop of garlic oil in the ear canal once a day relieves ear infections
- A poultice made of garlic draws out swelling from boils
- Eliminates worms
- Used for dysentery, snake bites, warts, hepatitis, asthma, tuberculosis, hay fever, asthma and diarrhea
- When traveling eating a clove of raw garlic before suspected food or water will protect against dysentery
- Eating a clove of raw garlic a day will protect against colds and flu
- Garlic tea relieves poison ivy, poison oak and nettle stings
- Promotes the growth of healthy intestinal bacteria
One thing to note about garlic is that the medicinal parts exist in the oils which is where all the strong smells are, so using garlic pills with no smell doesn't really work. You are missing all the good healing parts. One of the best ways that I know to use garlic is to take a clove and crush it into a spoon and take it raw. It is intense, but it is the best way to make sure you are getting all the healing benefits. You can do this daily as a preventative, or at the first signs that you are coming down with something. You might want to make sure that you have some juice to chase it with, and even though it is intense, it works to ward off illness almost every time.
For some information on garlic and its incredible healing properties, you can read - Why Garlic is Your New BFF. :)
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The 5 Best Foods for Colds & Flu in Chinese Medicine : Chinese Medicine Living
5 Acupressure Points to Boost Your Immune System
Emma Suttie, D.Ac, AP
Acupuncture and everything that falls under the umbrella of Chinese medicine - including herbs, food therapy, cupping and moxibustion - was designed as a medicine of prevention. Instead of waiting until they got sick, the ancient Chinese (and I suspect many modern Chinese) took steps to boost their immune systems so they were better equipped to fight off disease and stay healthy. There are many very powerful acupuncture points that serve to boost the immune system and help it to fight disease, and by using some gentle stimulation, you can build your body's immunity right in the comfort of your own home, at work, in the car or wherever - that is what makes acupressure so awesome, you can literally do it anywhere. :)
Acupressure is simply applying pressure to the acupuncture points instead of using needles. Acupressure is an excellent way to stimulate these points whenever you feel like your immune system could use a boost. Below are a list of 5 powerhouse points to boost your immune system and help you fight off any bacteria and viruses that might be floating around.
Most acupuncture points run bilaterally - meaning on both sides of the body, except for the meridians that run along the midline. So, each of these points have a right and a left. One side is often more tender than the other, but it is a good idea to stimulate both to get a balanced effect. Below are 5 acupressure points to boost your immune system.
STOMACH 36
Location - Stomach 36 is located about 3 cun, or 4 finger breadths below the bottom of your kneecap, and directly on the outside of your tibia, which is your shin bone. You can feel a depression and this point is often tender. Have a look at the image below to help you locate it.
Stomach 36 is perhaps one of the most powerful points for boosting immunity in the entire body. It is said that after you have reached 30 years of age, it is a good idea to stimulate this point on a regular basis, as it will keep the body strong. Burning moxa (the burning of a Chinese herb) will increase its effect, and this is often something I use in clinic if I feel someone's immune system is deficient and needs a boost.
Stomach 36 is an important point to stimulate the immune system and build up the body's defences. It stimulates qi in the entire body as well as calms the spirit. It is one of the strongest points for tonifying qi and blood, thus is a strong point for building the body's energy reserves.
SPLEEN 6
Location - Spleen 6 is located about 3 cun, or 4 finger breadths above the middle of your ankle bone (called your medial malleolus) on the inside of your leg. Find the highest point of your ankle bone, then measure upwards. Spleen 6 is located just behind the tibia, or your shin bone that runs up the front of your leg. This point also tends to be quite tender, especially on women. See the image below to help you locate it.
Spleen 6 is a powerful point for tonifying the spleen and stomach which are the body's main organs of digestion. As we tend to live in a spleen deficient culture - you can read why here - The Spleen in Chinese Medicine - so using Spleen 6 is a good way to strengthen the often deficient spleen, harmonize the digestion and boost the immune system. Spleen 6 is also an important point for invigorating the blood, alleviating pain, resolving dampness and regulating menstruation. It also calms the mind which is something many of us could use. Another added benefit of this powerful point is that it is the meeting point of the spleen, liver and kidney meridians, so has the effect of harmonizing those organs which benefits the entire body.
LUNG 7
Location - Lung 7 is located about 1.5 cun above your wrist crease. 1 cun is the width of your thumb. There is a bump that protrudes at this point, this is called the styloid process. The point is here located between two tendons. See the image below to help you locate it.
The lungs are the organ most closely related to the immune system in Chinese medicine. They are called the "tender organ" as they are directly connected to the outside of the body via the mouth. Lung 7 is traditionally used for the beginning symptoms of a cold or flu like chills and fever, congestion, sore throat and cough. It is also used for many kinds of headaches. Stimulating lung 7 is known to boost the immune system. It treats the symptoms of cold and flu, but it excellent for strengthening the body's resistance so that it never gets to that stage.
LARGE INTESTINE 11
Location - Large Intestine 11 is located at the end of the crease formed when you bend your arm. It is the outside end of the crease. This point is also usually tender on most people. Use the image below to help you locate it.
Large intestine 11 is traditionally known as a point to treat heat in the body, and is a principle point to reduce fevers. It is known to remove heat causing sore throat, toothache, and bloodshot eyes. It treats all kinds of skin conditions (many are caused by heat) and lowers high blood pressure. It is also a powerful point to prevent colds and flu's by tonifying the immune system.
KIDNEY 27
Location - Kidney 27 is located just below the collarbone or clavicle 2 cun (or two thumb widths) from the midline. This point falls into a depression in the first intercostal space (between the clavicle and the first rib). This point is also generally sore, and more so if you have an upper respiratory infection. See the image below to help you locate it.
Kidney 27 is known for its strong effects of treating disorders of the chest - especially phlegm, wheezing, cough and asthma. Kidney 27 is a strong immune booster and especially good for people prone to upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis. Anyone having many recurring upper respiratory infections would be seen in Chinese medicine to have a weakened immune system, so, if you are prone to those types of infections, kidney 27 is for you.
What to Do
You can do these points any time that you are feeling run down and feel like you need a bit of a boost. A good way to use them is together, stimulating all five points, especially in the fall during cold and flu season to build up your immunity.
- Make sure you have a few minutes and that you are in a comfortable position.
- Start at the bottom, and work in order towards the points at the top of the body - that would be
- Spleen 6
- Stomach 36
- Lung 7
- Large Intestine 11
- Kidney 27
- Since all these points are on both sides of the body, you want to do both sides. You will probably find that one side is more tender than the other.
- Apply pressure with your finger or thumb to each point for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Do both sides, then move on to the next point.
- To use this set for maximum immune boosting effectiveness, do it twice a day, once when you get up and once before you go to bed. If you feel that you are still tired and feeling susceptible to catching cold, then increase it to three times a day.
During the rest of the year, you may use this set as often as you wish to keep your body strong and able to fight off disease - remember, prevention is the best medicine!
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*Image credits - A Manual of Acupuncture by Peter Deadman