A Brief Note on TCM Treatment of Flu
After last winter's flu outbreak in Beijing, the disease shows signs of return. Many institutions are vaccinating against flu. But recently we find that even after vaccination, some still come down with flu — likely tied to viral variation.
A brief TCM note on flu treatment. By TCM forecast, this winter's main qi is cold (taiyang cold-water); the restraining qi is heat (shaoyin sovereign-fire). The whole winter may run warmer, with alternating cold-and-hot. TCM splits common cold into two kinds: wind-cold and wind-heat. Both may appear this winter.
Wind-cold cold. Body-and-joint ache, mild fever, heavy aversion to cold, no sweat, headache, cough, clear runny nose. Best take Tongrentang's Ganmao Ruan Jiaonang (Cold Soft Capsule) — a Jiuwei Qianghuo Decoction modification.
Wind-heat cold. Heavier fever, light aversion to cold, sweat, mild joint ache, sore-dry throat, thirst, cough. Use Lingqiao Jiedu Wan — four pills with water, boil ten minutes, twice a day. With severe sore throat or tonsillitis, take Pingxintang's Jinfeng Chongji.
If symptoms are not clear, or self-medication for a week gives no effect, consider other causes — elderly with qi-deficient cold, children with food-trapped cold, women with blood-deficient cold — go to the doctor for pattern-discernment treatment.