This winter has been a particularly bad winter for colds and flu. The repeated exposure to cold and flu viruses tends to weaken people and make them more susceptible to future colds and flu. This is especially important for those people who have spring allergies. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) it is understood that allergies are created by a deficiency in the ability to protect the body from the environment. When the outer defenses are weakened, then allergy symptoms and susceptibility to more colds and flu is increased. Spring allergy symptoms are seen as a response to the wind and other environmental factors in the same way as a cold or a flu is a response to a viral infection. Spring winds in particular drain the energy of the body.
For those who have spring allergies, the time to deal with the situation is now. There are classic herbal formulas specifically designed to strengthen the body against wind and the draining effect it has. The most important formula in this category for over the last 500 years is Yu Ping Feng San or Jade Windscreen. This formula strengthens the lungs and the outer defenses of the body to decrease allergy symptoms and help the body prevent a cold or flu from developing.
The problem with this situation is that the defenses of the body are slow to build up. It usually takes a few months of using a formula like Jade Windscreen to improve the defenses of the body. For those who have spring allergies, and/or have had a lot of colds and flu this winter, the time to start a herbal treatment to build up the defenses for spring is now. There are specific diagnostic criteria for the proper use of Traditional Herbal formulas. Patients should consult with a nationally board certified herbalist to see if Jade Windscreen or a modified version is appropriate for their situation.
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