Clinical Use
• Cold and Flu Protection - Take at the first signs of cold and flu.
• Take after exposure to others who have cold or flu symptoms.
• For airline travel, take at the beginning and end of the flight. On longer flights, it may be taken as needed.

Suggested Dosage
2 tsp. in c warm water as soon as possible when the first symptoms appear. Take 1 –3 times daily or until symptoms are resolved. Often, this happens with only one dose. SELF DEFENSE is intended for short term use (1-3 days). If the symptoms continue to progress, then take a dose of either Attack #1 or Attack #2 (see below).

To treat a cold or a flu once fully contracted take Attack #1 or Attack #2 as directed since they are both much stronger in their anti-viral and clear heat action.

Cautions & Considerations
It is better to take SELF DEFENSE at the beginning stage of colds and flu than Attack #1 or Attack #2 due to its combination of clearing external wind heat and tonifying the wei qi. It is not intended to be taken once the symptoms progress into a full-blown cold or flu.

TCM Explanation of the Formula
SELF DEFENSE includes a well-known formula called Jade Wind Screen (Astragalus Root, Atractylodes BaiZhu, Siler Root). This formula tonifies the lung and spleen qi and helps to expel the pathogenic Wind Heat that is lodged in the exterior layers. Other herbs are included in the formula to enhance these two primary actions.

SELF DEFENSE also draws on another well known formula called Gui Zhi Tang – decoction of Cinnamon Twig. (Cinnamon Twig, Ginger Root, and Licorice Root minus Jujube Fruit and Peony Root) to help balance the ying and wei. Ginger Root also helps relieve the exterior and improve digestion and assimilation.

The symptoms treated with this formula are typical of the onset of the common cold with mild symptoms of slight sore throat, fatigue, some sinus congestion etc. This indicates that the ying and wei are weak and have allowed the External Wind Heat to penetrate the exterior defensive layers. At this stage, one needs to quickly expel the Pathogenic Wind Heat and restore the wei qi. Wind Heat can move to the interior very quickly and become entangled in the lungs as wetness and heat. So we need to act quickly before it gains the upper hand.

The TCM principle of using clear heat and tonifying herbs together is utilized in this formula as follows: Echinacea, Mahonia, Dryopteris Rhizome, and Licorice Root work well together to clear the invading pathogenic heat. Cinnamon Twig is a diaphoretic herb that also has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties. Chrysanthemum Flower relieves the surface and clears heat and the head area. Ginger Root also relieves the surface. In addition, it opens the digestion and helps the absorption of the formula.