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The history of Chinese medicine has been a long continuous evolution over 23 centuries. Through its effectiveness in treating many disorders including: colds & flu, digestive complaints, pain, emotional states etc., it has spread throughout the world. In the area of colds & flu Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can have an immediate & often dramatic effect on severity and duration. It might even keep you from getting sick at all. The medicine is not only acupuncture though. It also includes herbal formulas and many adjunc therapies. One such threrapy is moxibustion. In one aspect of this therapy, the herb moxa or mugwort (its common name) is rolled into little balls, applied to acupuncture points and heated. Moxa can also be applied to the top of acupuncture needles or rolled into a cigar shape and heated warming both the needle and acupuncture point. Moxibustion has the effect of increasing immunity, warming the point and the body and allowing the energy to move more freely. As practioners we work with the meridian networks (pathways that connect the exterior body with the interior body and from meridian to meridian). To picture the meridians one can think of a web or network overlaying the body. In TCM colds are viewed as an invasion of wind, which is often seen as entering through the back of the neck. Therefore one way to avoid getting sick is to wear a scarf particularly in cold windy weather. Colds are also categorized as either cold or hot and produce varying symptoms accordingly. Treating the cold with TCM is very specific to each individuals needs and particular diagnosis. The role of ones own immunity (or defensive Qi) is also important in determining if you get sick. Qi is the animating force that gives us the ability to move, feel, think and work. Some things to keep in mind, right after you exercise your immunity is lower and may stay so for up to 4 hours depending on how hard you exercised. This is the time to get out of your sweaty clothes, keep extra warm, eat some warm food (less energy is expended by your body to warm it up thus increasing immunity). Also try to avoid rubbing your face after touching doorknobs etc. as germs are spread easier this way. When you come in for a treatment with a cold or flu the practitioner will do a full assessment. He/she will ask about all your symptoms, checking your pulses and tongue and assessing your body. The practitioner will then make a diagnosis. The treatment will consist of acupuncture points to alleviate the symptoms, clear the pathogen, and strengthen and balance the meridians. Adjunct therapies such as moxibustion, gwa sha ( technique to clear heat and move Qi ), cupping (applying suction cups to the body), applying essential oils or herbal linaments etc are also often used as well. The practitioner will also prescribe specific formulas to kill the virus or secondary bacteria, clear wind heat or wind cold, alleviate the symptoms and strengthen Qi and immunity. When you first feel a cold coming on some things you can try are: making fresh ginger and scallion tea (simmer a few slices of each in 1 cup of water covered for 5 minutes and drink when it has cooled some), soaking in a warm ginger bath, and avoiding sugar (which decreases immunity) and dairy (which can increase congestion). Also, there are many different herbal formulas that can treat your specific needs and of course acupuncture can help immensely. Eric Meleney L.Ac., MSOM, Dipl. NCCAOM is a practitioner of Oriental Medicine. He is owner of Crane Medicine and has been practicing in Boulder, CO. since 2001. He can be reached at 720-560-1674. Or at www.ericmeleney.com.
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