Influenza, as a highly infectious respiratory disease, often poses a threat to people’s health
in the season of frequent seasonal changes and climate changes. Western medicine for the treatment of influenza mostly depends on antiviral drug and symptomatic treatment, while traditional Chinese medicine plays an irreplaceable role in the prevention and treatment of influenza with its unique theoretical system and treatment methods.
I. Understanding
of Influenza in Traditional Chinese Medicine
In traditional Chinese medicine, influenza belongs to the category of “seasonal cold” or “typhoid fever”, and it is believed that the morbidity of influenza is caused by the six exogenous pathogens, such as wind, cold and heat, combined with the deficiency of healthy qi in the human body, which leads to the failure of lung qi and the disharmony of defensive and exterior, thus causing a series of symptoms, such as fever, aversion to cold, headache, body pain, nasal obstruction, runny nose, cough and so on. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes “preventive treatment of disease”, that is, before the disease occurs, through recuperation of the body, enhance physical fitness, improve the body’s resistance, in order to prevent the occurrence of influenza.
Treatment of influenza
based on syndrome differentiation of
traditional Chinese medicine The core of
traditional Chinese medicine treatment of influenza lies in syndrome differentiation and treatment, that is, according to the different constitutions, conditions and pathogenic nature of patients, corresponding treatment methods and prescriptions are adopted.
1. Wind-cold binding exterior syndrome
Symptoms: severe aversion to cold, mild fever, anhidrosis, headache, body pain, stuffy nose, clear nasal discharge, cough, thin and white sputum, no thirst or thirst for hot drinks, thin and white fur.
Therapeutic method: It is pungent and warm to relieve exterior syndrome. Commonly used prescriptions, such as Ephedra Decoction and Cassia Twig Decoction, can achieve the purpose of relieving exterior syndrome and dispelling cold by dispersing wind-cold and harmonizing Ying and Wei. 2. Wind-heat invading exterior syndrome
Symptoms: severe fever, slight aversion to wind, headache, sweating, sore throat, cough, sticky or yellow sputum, stuffy nose, yellow nasal discharge, thirst, red tongue tip, thin, white and yellowish fur.
Therapeutic method: It is pungent and cool to relieve exterior syndrome. Commonly used prescriptions, such as Yinqiao Powder and Sangju Yin, are used to clear away heat and toxic materials and disperse wind-heat.
3. summer-heat and dampness impairing exterior syndrome
Symptoms: It is more common in summer. The symptoms are body heat, slight aversion to wind, little sweat, soreness or pain of limbs, dizziness and distending pain, cough with sticky sputum, turbid nasal discharge, vexation and thirst, or sticky and greasy mouth, thirst without drinking too much, chest distress, epigastric fullness, nausea, abdominal distension, loose stool, scanty and dark urine, thin, yellow and greasy tongue coating.
Therapeutic method: Clear summer-heat, eliminate dampness and relieve exterior syndrome. Modified Xinjia Xiangli Yin is commonly used to clear summer-heat and dampness and harmonize exterior and interior.
4. Cold
due to qi deficiency
Symptoms: severe aversion to cold, fever, anhidrosis, headache, cough, white phlegm, weakness in expectoration, fatigue and weakness, shortness of breath, repeated susceptibility, pale tongue with white fur.
Therapeutic method: Invigorating qi and relieving exterior syndrome. Commonly used prescriptions, such as Shensu Yin, can enhance the body’s ability to resist pathogens by tonifying lung qi.
3. In addition to drug treatment, traditional Chinese medicine is also good at using acupuncture, cupping, scraping, massage and other non-drug treatment methods to assist in the treatment of influenza.
1. Acupuncture and moxibustion therapy: Acupuncture at specific acupoints, such as Hegu, Quchi and Dazhui, can harmonize qi and blood, dredge meridians and accelerate recovery. 2. Cupping therapy: Cupping in the back bladder meridian and other parts can dispel cold and moisture in the body and relieve muscle pain.
3. Scraping therapy: Scrape on the neck and back to the extent of scraping, which is helpful to exorcise evil spirits and alleviate symptoms.
4. Massage: By massaging the temple and Fengchi acupoint, it can relieve headache, nasal congestion and other symptoms, and improve comfort.
Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes “prevention before disease”. The main measures to prevent influenza are as follows: 1. Enhance physical fitness: through reasonable diet, work and rest, as well as moderate physical exercise, enhance physical fitness and improve disease resistance. 2. Emotional adjustment: Keep a happy mood, avoid emotional internal injury, help to maintain the balance of Yin and Yang of the human body, and reduce the occurrence of diseases. 3. Traditional Chinese medicine prevention: According to the individual constitution, under the guidance of doctors, traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions or preparations such as Yupingfeng Powder and Banlangen Granules can be selected for preventive use. 4. Avoid the invasion of exogenous pathogens: timely increase or decrease clothing, pay attention to personal hygiene, avoid crowded places with poor air circulation, and reduce the chance of infection.
V.
Conclusion
Influenza is a common infectious disease. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its unique theoretical system and treatment methods, has shown advantages in alleviating symptoms, shortening the course of disease and improving the quality of life of patients. Traditional Chinese medicine treatment of influenza requires syndrome differentiation and individualized treatment according to the specific conditions of patients. At the same time, strengthening self-protection and improving their physical fitness are the key to prevent influenza and diseases.
