immune boost

[Guest guest]

There has alot research in Chinese medicine for treat and prevent virus

infection:

 

A cold and influenza is an infection of the upper respiratory tract, both of

them caused by virus. There has more than 200 different viruses are known to

cause the symptoms of the common cold. In the course of a year, individuals in

the United States suffer 1 billion colds, according to some estimates.

Viruses cause infection by overcoming the body's complex defense system. The

body's first line of defense is mucus, in the nose and throat. Mucus traps the

material we inhale: pollen, dust, bacteria and viruses. When a virus

penetrates the mucus and enters a cell, it commandeers the protein-making

machinery to

manufacture new viruses which, in turn, attack surrounding cells.

 

Depending on the virus type, any or all of the following routes of

transmission may be common:

Touching infectious respiratory secretions on skin and on environmental

surfaces and then touching the eyes or nose.

Inhaling relatively large particles of respiratory secretions transported

briefly in the air.

Inhaling droplet nuclei: smaller infectious particles suspended in the air

for more than half hour.

The development of a vaccine that could prevent the common cold and influenza

has reached an impasse because of the discovery of many different cold

viruses. Each virus carries its own specific antigens, substances that induce

the

formation of specific protective proteins (antibodies) produced by the body.

Until ways are found to combine many viral antigens in one vaccine, or take

advantage of the antigenic cross-relationships that exist, prospects for a

vaccine

are dim. Evidence that changes occur in common-cold virus antigens further

complicate development of a vaccine. Such changes occur in some influenza virus

antigens and make it necessary to alter the influenza vaccine each year.

How Chinese medicine thinking and treating cold and influenza before vaccine

has been using? Chinese medicine recognizes that immunity is important for

infection illness: “Zhen Qi (immunity) exists in body, evil (virus, bacteria)

couldn’t infect the bodyâ€. This was two thousand years ago Chinese medical

book

“Nei Jing†said. In Chinese medicine, there has two steps for preventing and

treating cold and influenza:

1. Prevent:

A. Wash your hands frequently, that could stop virus through touching way

to get infection;

B. Take Chinese herbal medicine like “Yu Ping Feng Sanâ€, “Dong Chong

Xia Cao†or acupuncture points like St 36, K3, R3,4, etc., that could

strengthen

your immunity to fight with infection when you have gotten virus or bacteria

infection (if somebody has autoimmune diseases must be careful to use

strengthen immunity method).

C. “Sniff & Relieve†(SR) that could help you to clean the air and mucus

of nasal cavity ( the place that virus reproduce), reduce virus density, you

could breath clearer air.

Treat the cold and influenza:

There is several medical herbs and acupuncture points showing that inhibits

cold and influenza virus:

1. Herbs: Fanfeng (Saposhnikovia divaricata), Baizhi (Angelica

dahurica), Gaoben (Ligusticum sinense), Shingyi (Magnolia liliflora), Buohe

(Mentha

hapalocalyx Briq), Nubanzi (Arctium lappa L.) Caihu (Bupleurum chineese DC),

Banlangen (satis indigotica Fort)

Acupuncture point: D14, LI11,7, St36etc.

 

We hope more and more people have interesting in Chinese medicine and

research it.

 

Best!

 

Judy

anmedicine.com

 

 

 

 

 

In a message dated 10/28/2004 1:04:58 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

llbeandip writes:

Since cold season is here, and there is a shortage of flu shots...has

anyone started any immune boosting treatments? To help with prevention

of flu/colds, I am thinking of supporting SP & ST since it can be said

that the qi originates from the middle burner (from food/water---gu qi),

as well as moxa on ST 36. Any ideas to help patients prepare for the

cold season?

Thanks

Lauren