by Margaret Thompson-Choi, AP
During the holiday celebrations from Halloween until New Year’s Day, we Americans probably consume more sugar than the other nine months of the year combined. Too many sugary treats can lead to lowered immune systems and the inability to fight off colds and flus that may bombard us well into into the colder winter months of the new year.
Did you know that traditional Chinese herbal medicine uses foods and herbs that you already have in your kitchen to help boost the immune system, ward off colds and infections, and help relieve symptoms of respiratory illness, speeding up recovery time?
Traditionally these foods and herbs are boiled together in a tea, the liquid is drained off, and it is sipped while still warm or hot. These days the same herbal formulas have been combined into pills or tinctures that can be conveniently taken on the go. The Chinese herbs used at Holistic Women and Families Natural Health Center in Port Orange are manufactured in the United States and abide by Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations, enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
One of these herbal/food formulas called Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin, contains green onion and ginger along with five other Chinese herbs, is great for people who tend to catch colds often and are prone to sinus infections. Taken, at the first sign of a scratchy throat or runny nose, it can help reduce nasal congestion and may even help your body kick out the “wind pathogen” so you don’t get sick.
Another famous formula, Gui Zhi Tang, is compromised of cinnamon, red dates, ginger, licorice, and white peony and is designed to help with fever and chills, headache, stiff neck and nausea and vomiting.
Do you have a hacking cough that just will not go away? Try herbs that can help expectorate the lungs and stop wheezing with apricot kernel (Xing Ren) as the main ingredient.
The acupuncture physicians at Holistic Women and Families Natural Health Center can get you back to feeling great with a short consultation and supplement or herbal suggestions to boost immunity and fight winter infections. Acupuncture may be suggested to bring the body back into balance as well and is a great way to relieve sinus pressure, congestion and headaches that may accompany a cold. Call 386-872-5757 to schedule a consultation or for more information.
