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Building a Chinese Herbal Medicine Kit: Part II
Now that we are officially in the autumn season, I'd like to focus on a few patent Chinese herbal medicine formulas that will be particularly useful at this time of year. According to Chinese medical philosophy, fall is the season that corresponds to the lung organ system. This system consists of not just the lobes of the lungs themselves, but also the rest of the respiratory tract, including the nose, sinuses, throat and bronchi.
The lungs are also associated the organs of the skin and the large intestine. So with this in mind, I'd like to share several patent formulas that I recommend frequently for a number of common ailments. As we all know, fall is often the beginning of the cold and flu season. Often a cold will be accompanied by specific symptoms, such as a sore throat, sinus congestion, runny nose or copious phlegm in the sinuses or lungs. If this is the case, you may use any of the following patent formulas:
- For sore throats, Lu Shen Wan is the number–one formula that I recommend. Inside each plastic vial are 100 tiny black pills that look like poppy seeds. Take 10 at a time with plenty of water at the first sign of a tickle or scratchy throat, and, in my experience, this will nip most sore throats in the bud. (Hint: Remember when you go to open the vial that the cap unscrews clockwise, the opposite of what we usually expect.)
- For sinus congestion of either the stuffy or runny variety there is a formula called Bi Yan Pian. These tablets look like little red M&M's and are sugar coated and easy to swallow. The wonderful thing about this formula is that besides being highly effective it doesn't have the side effects most over-the-counter remedies have of making you either drowsy or speedy. Bi Yan Pian can be combined with Gan Mao Ling for a cold with sinus congestion or used alone for sinus allergy symptoms.
- For colds or flus that occur with lots of phlegm, I recommend a formula called San She Dan Chuan Bei Ye, an elixir that comes in individual vials for easy consumption. For patients with a dry cough or scratchy throat there is a tasty formula called Lo Han Kuo. Dissolve these cubes in hot water for a delicious tea that will soothe the irritation and relieve symptoms. The cubes are made from the herb Lo Han Kuo and sugar and tend to be on the sweet side, so diabetics should use with caution.
As a way of saying thanks for taking the time to read this article, I am offering a free sample of any one of these products to the first five people who call my office. Simply call (415) 370–3839 and say which product you are interested in trying, then stop by the Heaven and Earth Clinic at 337 West Portal Avenue to pick it up.
While you are there you can also sample a cup of our seasonal herb tea concocted by our master herbalist, Josh Horowitz. It contains a number of pleasant–tasting herbs that benefit the lungs and the immune system.
© 2000 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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