Clinical Use
Typical head cold symptoms: Sudden onset,
sore throat, swollen glands, fever, stuffy head and sinus
(with yellow mucous), slight cough.
Suggested Dosage
1.5- 2 tsp. in c warm water 3-6 times daily between meals.
My experience is that one should be aggressive in treating
Wind Heat before it develops into a more serious condition.
The common cold may appear relatively benign but can rapidly
turn into a more complicated respiratory disease such as bronchitis
or pneumonia.
I usually advise my patients to take this formula every 2-3
hrs until the symptoms change for the better. Then, when the
symptoms improve, they can begin to reduce the frequency.
ATTACK #1 can be taken continuously for up
to ten days. By then, the symptoms will have either changed
or gone deeper into the system (commonly the lungs). This
would call for a different formula (such as, for example,
Cough #2).
Cautions & Considerations
If symptoms of cough and chest congestion
are also pronounced, alternate taking this formula with Cough
#2. For flu symptoms (without sinus/head congestion),
use Attack #2.
TCM Explanation of the Formula
The symptoms at this stage clearly show
that the External Pathogenic Heat has become entrenched in
the exterior layers. Unchecked, it will progress rapidly and
entangle the lungs with wetness and heat.
Clinically, I have found that traditional formulas like Yin
Chao San are not as effective as they used to be for
most people. Viral strains mutate continually and it appears
that each year they have become more virulent. This calls
for a more aggressive formula to resolve the symptoms before
they move deeper into the respiratory system.
Echinacea and Andrographis
are two herbs that work well together to strongly clear Toxic
Heat. They have been shown to have broad-spectrum anti-viral
and anti-bacterial actions.
Elderberry, also known as Sambucus,
does an excellent job of clearing external wind heat by direct
anti-microbial and diaphoretic actions. This well-studied
herb that has been shown to be extremely effective even on
its own for treating colds and flu.
Forsythia Fruit clears toxic heat, has broad-spectrum
anti-infective and anti-inflammatory actions, and is especially
useful in upper respiratory infections.
Licorice Root also clears toxic heat and
soothes the lungs.
Stuffy head and sinus passages indicate that the Wind Heat
and Wetness has blocked the flow of qi, not allowing it to
descend naturally. Angelica Root, Magnolia Flower
and Chrysanthemum Flower address this problem.
Angelica Root works very specifically to
clear the sinus passages of infection and opens the blocked
qi.
Magnolia Flower and Angelica Root
are often used together and provide a strong focus in the
formula to clear the sinus passages.
Chrysanthemum Flower helps the heat and head
pressure to descend.
It is important that the lungs stay open and maintain their
ability to circulate qi. If not, wetness and heat may accumulate
and result in bronchitis type symptoms: chest congestion,
pressure, coughing, weakness of lungs, yellow/green mucous.
Morus Root and Platycodon Root
work almost synergistically to open and circulate the lung
qi.
Platycodon Root also treats the symptoms
of sore throat and helps to open the lungs.
Morus Leaf soothes and opens the lungs and
relieves the exterior.
Citrus Peel regulates the lung and spleen
qi.
Licorice Root and Citrus Peel
also mildly tonifies the spleen. This can help reduce wetness
and keep the digestive functions operative.
Echinacea also has a stimulating effect on
the immune system to help keep up its ability to fight off
virus and bacterial infections.
|
