With the wide range of temperature changes in autumn, it is essential to actively and effectively prevent and control colds, and Chinese medicine has certain characteristics in preventing colds. Under the guidance of the principles of holistic regulation of Chinese medicine, prevention by three factors according to person, place and time, and non-specific prevention, active application of Chinese medicine can achieve good preventive effect.
How to prevent colds
Discriminatory treatment and holistic concept are the core of the theoretical practice of Chinese medicine, which should not only consider the strength of the body’s positive energy, physical and mental conditions, susceptibility to disease and evil, but also include the state of integration of the body with the external environment (nature and society). Based on this comprehensive consideration, TCM prevention is implemented by taking into account the whole body and the individual. It includes three aspects: life behavior prevention, psychological prevention and drug prevention.
I. Life behavior prevention
1. Pay attention to climate change
According to the law of climate change in the region, listen to and watch weather forecast programs, change clothes and blankets in time when the weather changes abnormally, and pay attention to the appropriate temperature and cold, especially in winter to keep warm.
2.Physical exercise
According to their own conditions, appropriate physical activities, such as tai chi, jogging, walking, etc.. When the weather is abnormal, you can also do suitable sports indoors. Physical exercise can relax the muscles and bones, smooth the blood and qi, enhance physical fitness and improve the body’s resistance.
3.Eating regimen
Diet should be light and rich in nutrition. It is advisable to eat milk, eggs, meat, fish, soy products and other high-protein foods, fresh vegetables and fruits and other vitamin-rich foods. Avoid eating excessively greasy, sticky, sour and fishy and stimulating foods.
Medicine and food have the same origin, and medicinal food is an organic combination of medicine and food, which is beneficial to the prevention of colds.
Black bean and two white soup: 12g of black bean, 15g of white onion, 30g of white radish and 3g of cilantro, boil with water and take with heat. It is suitable for taking in late autumn and winter cold season.
Ginger, date and sage drink: 3g of sage leaves, 3g of ginger, 3 jujubes, 15g of brown sugar, cut ginger into julienne strips, slice jujubes, put into a tea cup with sage leaves, cover with 200-300ml of boiling water, steep for 5 to 10 minutes, add brown sugar and stir well, drink while hot. Suitable for late autumn and winter cold season
Mint and pear porridge: 3g of mint, 30g of duck pear with skin, 6 jujubes, add water, decoct soup and set aside; boil millet or rice porridge, add mint and pear soup after the porridge is cooked, and then boil. Suitable for taking in the spring time.
Chrysanthemum and rutabaga tea: chrysanthemum 5g, rutabaga 10g. Boiling water is steeped and taken frequently as tea. Suitable for taking in the spring.
4.Strengthen personal and public hygiene
Improve indoor and environmental hygiene. Pay attention to cleaning the nasal cavity, and for dry nostrils, use cotton swabs with fragrant oil to moisten the nostrils; do not spit anywhere, do not share towels, handkerchiefs and eating utensils; wash and dry clothes and blankets regularly.
During the epidemic period, try to go out and avoid public places such as shopping malls, hospitals and other crowded places, and wear a mask when taking buses and elevators. Regularly disinfect your home and public places such as workshops, classrooms, dormitories, etc. For example, fumigate with vinegar, acetic acid, lactic acid (12ml/100m3), peroxyacetic acid (1 to 3g/m3), etc.
Second, psychological prevention
Now the state of health is an overall concept including physiological, psychological and social adaptability intact state, the abnormal psychological state is bound to affect the overall defense mechanism, so the prevention of colds must take certain psychological preventive measures. The principle of psychological prevention of colds is neither negligence nor excessive tension and fear.
1, the correct understanding of the characteristics of the cold, to prevent unnecessary tension. Learn and understand the methods of cold prevention. Exchange information with relatives and friends frequently, communicate with them, and maintain a good and positive attitude.
2.After your loved ones or friends fall ill, you should respond calmly, don’t be overly afraid or panic, and do a good job of disinfection and protection of your living environment. Should avoid excessive tension, maintain optimism, help prevent colds.
Three, medicine prevention
According to the aforementioned characteristics and principles of Chinese medicine to prevent colds, inherit the academic experience of ancient and modern doctors to prevent colds, in accordance with the basic theory of Chinese medicine to summarize and synthesize, and closely related to the physical state of the adapted population, combined with seasonal and other factors, the following three types of prescriptions are formed for reference and selection in the prevention of colds.
Prescription 1: Radix Codonopsis Pilosulae 9g, Radix Bupleurum Chinense 6g, Radix Scutellariae 10g, Radix Sulforaphane 6g, Radix Glycyrrhiza Uralensis 6g.
Functions: Benefiting Qi and publishing
Indications: People who are prone to shortness of breath, fatigue, sometimes sweating, intolerant of cold and heat, sensitive to the external environment and easy to catch a cold. Such people are more likely to feel unwell when it is cold and windy.
Decoction: 1 decoction of water daily. After the medicine, take a small bowl of hot rice porridge and sweat slightly, avoid the wind at this time and wait for the sweat to close before going out.
Alternative Chinese medicines: anti-sensory and agent, Yu Ping Feng capsule, etc.
Prescription 2: Northern ginseng 10g, mulberry leaf 10g, chrysanthemum 10g, honeysuckle 12g, forsythia 12g.
Functions: Nourishing Yin and promoting the production of body fluid, clearing heat and detoxicating
Indications: Redness of the face, dryness of the mouth, throat and nose, preference for coolness, slightly dry stools and yellow urine. Such people are more likely to feel discomfort in dry weather.
Decoction: 1 decoction of water daily. Once in the morning and once in the evening. 3 to 5 doses are suitable.
Alternative Chinese medicines: Sang Ju Cold and Flu Tablets, Yin Qiao Detoxification Tablets, etc.
Prescription 3: Patchouli 10g, Perilla 10g, Atractylodes 6g, Comfrey 6g, Radix et Rhizoma Glycyrrhizae 6g.
Functions: Regulating the stomach and intestines, detoxifying and resolving dampness
Indications: Dark complexion or lack of luster, sticky or sweet in the mouth, unpleasant or heavy feeling in the limbs, preference for fatty, sweet and greasy food, loose stools or easy diarrhea. This group of people is more likely to feel discomfort when the climate is humid.
Decoction: 1 decoction of water daily. Once in the morning and once in the evening. 3 to 5 doses are suitable.
Alternative Chinese medicines: Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Soft Capsules, etc.
Prescription 4: Astragalus membranaceus 10g, Asteraceae 10g, Bai Qian 10g, Chen Pi 10g, Almond 10g.
Functions: Benefiting Qi, promoting lung circulation, relieving cough and resolving phlegm
Indications: People who are prone to cold, cough and phlegm, and have a history of chronic bronchitis in the elderly.
Decoction: 1 decoction of water daily. Once in the morning and once in the evening. 3 to 5 doses are suitable.
Alternative Chinese medicines: Yu Ping Feng San capsule, Kidney Tonic Punch, etc.
When applying Chinese medicine for prevention, it is necessary to differentiate different situations and choose Chinese medicine prescription for prevention according to the time, place and person. The elderly and children should take them in reduced dosage under the guidance of physicians; patients with chronic diseases and women during menstruation and after delivery should use them with caution; pregnant women are prohibited. Preventive prescriptions should not be taken for a long period of time, but generally for 3 to 5 days. If you feel uncomfortable after taking herbal preventive prescription, stop taking the medicine immediately and consult your physician promptly; it is prohibited for those who have a history of allergy to the drugs in herbal preventive prescription; use with caution for those with allergy.