Winter is here, and so is the flu. A high incidence of influenza prevails each winter season and is especially common in Perth. This year the prevention of the flu during winter is even more crucial due to the global spread of swine flu.

Since ancient times Chinese medicine has had a special interest in preventative medicine, one of its vital principles being: “if your vital essence is strong within, evil cannot invade - Zheng qi cun nei, xie bu ke gan” (Huangdi Neijing). There are many past and present Chinese medicinal journals which have recorded and analysed suitable diets, lifestyles, living environments and work in relation to improving the immune system, which plays an enormous role in helping you to avoid or recover quickly from illness.

In order to prevent getting the flu, firstly we need to understand the its clinical symptoms. This is to help remind and alert you to early medical intervention. Common early influenza symptoms include: sneezing, sore throat, clear nasal discharge and general lethargy. If there is no improvement during the early stages of influenza, other clinical symptoms will appear such as headaches, whole body aches and pain, coughing, yellow phlegm, fever and constipation. Often when influenza is not timely treated, it will develop into other diseases, such as pneumonia, asthma, bronchitis and urinary and bladder infection. If the conditions of influenza does not improve it will lead to reduced constitution, compromised immunity, and eventually diseases of the internal organs. So which main internal organs play a direct role in preventing influenza?

The Lungs
Chinese medicine believes that the Lungs govern the skin and “open up” between the nasal/sinus passage and throat. The functions of the skin, nose and throat are all nourished by the Lungs. When they are strong, this leads to more efficient functioning of the skin, nose and throat. The main entry routes of influenza and virus are through the skin, nose and throat because the respiratory system and the skin has direct and most contact with the external environment; they are akin to the body’s defense system against the attacks of external diseases. Therefore within the early stages of “battles” with influenza, the “battle wounds” will manifest as early signs of localised symptoms such as sore throat, sneezing, aversion to cold and hot sensation of the skin. This is how your body tells you that you are sick.

Here are some suggestions for vastly improving the function of the Lungs, thus allowing the body to defend against external diseases naturally. Expose yourself daily to an environment with natural fresh air (avoid car congested areas) and deeply inhale and exhale ten times, to allow the lungs to absorb fresh clean air and improve blood circulation of the upper respiratory system. Increase or decrease your clothing as appropriate to the temperature, but do not remove any clothing especially when you are sweating. This is because wind or cold air can penetrate through the open skin pores when there is perspiration leading to the onset of influenza. Self massage the nose surroundings and throat areas to improve blood circulation of these sites for increased immunity. When indoors, one should frequently open the windows and allow fresh circulation of air to prevent viral particles from slowly accumulating to an infectious degree. When possible, avoid individuals with influenza; do not overwork or be over-stressed; sleep adequately; so that the body can strengthen its own immunity.

Large Intestine
The Large Intesting is also a vital internal organ for its preventative function against winter influenza. Chinese medicine believe that the Lungs and Large Intestine have a close association, in other words most of the toxins from the Lungs are excreted through the Large Intestine. If we do not have regular bowel movements, then the body will slowly accumulate toxins which cause what Chinese medicine considers an imbalance of “heat”. These toxins remain stagnant within the intestinal and digestive system, and will affect the normal functioning of the Lungs to reduce their immunity. Amongst Chinese there is a common saying that “if there is a presence of internal heat, one will easily contract influenza”. Therefore, ensure normal daily bowel movement so that the body can easily excrete its toxins. Have reasonable meals, try not to over indulge in one sitting especially during dinner time and consume moderate amounts of meat. Otherwise digestion will be adversely affected and undigested food will accumulate leading to heat, which affects the function of the Lungs, reducing immunity. Also avoid or eat less spicy food because it can lead to the accumulation of intestinal heat. Eat more light and cool foods such as celery, white radish, carrots, Chinese cabbage, pear, watermelon, orange, green tea, mint tea, honey, and lemon etc (for more information regarding diet please refer to our other related articles).

If you easily contract influenza during the yearly winter season, or you have a weak constitution, or you have recently recuperated from influenza, or following surgery, you should take preventative measures. The ancient Chinese medical text “Huangdi Neijing” mentions: “not to treat during disease but to treat before the onset of disease”. You can seek an experienced Chinese physician to better understand one’s own constitution and imbalances of the main internal organs (spleen, gall bladder, large and small intestines and urinary bladder) through traditional diagnosis methods such as pulse and tongue diagnosis. Early medical interventions such as herbal medication and acupuncture, all help to improve the body’s immunity against contracting influenza, or will minimise the severity and length of influenza symptoms.

If you have contracted influenza, or it keeps relapsing without recovery, you should seek immediate medical help or intervene with Chinese medicine treatments.

If you have any further queries please feel free to discuss them with us. We wish you a warm and pleasant winter season.