H1N1 and Traditional Chinese Medicine

Swine Flu – H1N1: Prevention and Treatment with Chinese Medicine

As the media brings swine flu back into the foreground, people around the world are becoming more concerned about how their families and themselves may be affected. H1N1 first came into our consciousness in April of 2009, but our attention slowly dwindled as more and more people successfully recovered from the illness as they would have from any other mild flu.

Now our fears are again ignited as various organizations warn of an expected increase in severity and mortality in the coming months. On August 23, a White House advisory panel issued a report estimating that up to 90,000 deaths from swine flu may occur, along with up to 50% of the population being affected. The seasonal flu is reported to average about 36,000 deaths per year. On August 24th, officials from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention suggested that the projections should be regarded with caution and are an unlikely scenario. This is good news and encourages us to be less fearful.

Chinese Medicine is one of the holistic options in preventing and treating H1N1.
Prevention begins with the most basic practices of hand washing and creating or maintaining optimum health. Supporting healthy immune function can prevent infection if you are exposed. As individuals, we have a major role in creating our optimum health. This means eating well, resting well, and getting regular exercise. As practitioners of Chinese medicine, we can offer acupuncture and herbal formulas to bolster your immune system. When using Chinese medicine to strengthen the immune system, it is necessary to start herbal therapies and acupuncture a month or more before the flu season hits.

If one does become ill with the flu, Chinese medicine can help to shorten the duration and severity. Acupuncture is most helpful at the very first stages of illness and can help with sore throat, body aches, and shortening the length of illness. Herbal medicine is helpful during the initial stages of illness as well as days into the illness. When using herbal formulas to eliminate the illness before it settles, it is recommended to start taking herbs at the first signs of onset. This means having a relevant herbal formula on your medicine shelves so you can start taking it immediately. Herbal medicine will help diminish symptoms and chances of complications if the illness has settled, such as pneumonia. Acupuncture and herbal medicine will also help during the recovery phase, building the body back up to normal function.

As with any new or severe illness, it is recommended to visit your primary care physician so that we can work in conjunction with their care.