Common cold is a very wide spread
illness. It may occur in any season, but is more common more in
fall and winter.
According to statistics, adults may get an average of one or two
colds per year. Children may get 4 or more because their immune
systems are immature. Scientists think one cold a year may exercise
the immune system. If adults get colds frequently, it may be a
sign that their immune system is not working properly.
There are over 200 viruses that can cause the common cold, which
is an infection of the upper respiratory tract. Common colds spread
through the air and direct contract transmission. It has very high
infectivity. The experts have found that more than 200,000
people die due to common colds every year. The main symptoms include
head congestion, headache, sore throat, coughing, sneezing, nasal
obstruction, aversion to wind (chill), watery eyes, fever, aches
and pains. Most colds clear up on their own in a week to ten days,
but occasionally a cold can lead to a more serious illness, such
as bronchitis, pneumonia, nephritis, orchitis, or myocarditis.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, common colds often result
from lowered superficial resistance and invasion of the exogenous
pathogenic factors. The weakened body resistance makes the body
inadaptable to intense changes of the weather with abnormal cold
or warmth. Then the exogenous pathogenic wind attacks the body
through the pores, skin, mouth and nose, which are related to the
lungs and the defensive function. Usually, pathogenic wind combined
with other pathogenic factors like pathogenic cold cause a wind
cold syndrome, or with pathogenic heat cause a wind heat syndrome.
Invasion of exogenous pathogenic wind and cold may retard the lungs
dispersing function and block the pores. Invasion of exogenous
pathogenic wind and heat may impair the lungs’ descending
function by the evaporating heat, and lead to abnormal functioning
of the pores. Because each patient’s constitution is different,
and the internal and external causes are mutually influenced, the
syndrome must be various. Discomfort may be focused around head,
throat and nose, bronchial tubes and lungs, or stomach and intestine.
Generally, recovery from the common cold will occur more quickly
and completely if symptoms are treated with the combination of
traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine.
The flu shot is a kind of prevention recommended by Western medicine.
According to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention, certain
individuals are at risk for complications associated with the flu
and need to be vaccinated
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every year, especially those individuals who have
chronic lung diseases; those who have received medical care in
the past year for chronic metabolic disease; and those whose immune
systems are compromised by disease. Examples of this include those
who suffer from human immune deficiency virus, or are undergoing
medical treatment (i.e. chemotherapy); and children who are on
long-term aspirin therapy that puts them at risk for Reyes syndrome
following the flu.
But flu shot is not the perfect prevention method. Research shows
if an individual has had five flu shots, their chances of getting
Alzheimer’s Disease is ten times higher than if they had
two or less shots. Alzheimer’s Disease is linked to mercury
and aluminum that is in every flu shot. The gradual mercury and
aluminum build up in the brain causes thought process dysfunction.
Meanwhile, the flu virus types will change very year. The flu shots
will be re-formulated each year according to the expert’s
forecast of which virus is expect to be prevalent in the upcoming
season. The estimate may not be 100% exact.
Traditional Chinese medicine tells us that to prevent the common
cold, it is essential to exercise everyday. It is especially important
to do breathing exercise, such as Tai Chi Qi Gong, to improve your
immunity. If you sweat after working out, dry yourselves with towel
and then put clothes and hat on to avoid getting chilled. When
you sweat, the pores will open wider, and the exogenous pathogenic
wind may attack your body through the skin and meridians and result
in a common cold. Wash your hands, face, nose and mouth often to
help prevent flu infection. Eat proper food depending on the weather.
Bone soups with various vegetables, ginger, garlic, green onions,
turnip greens, cilantro, pears, grapefruit, apples and cranberries
are highly recommended in fall and winter. Drink plenty of water,
and open your windows every morning to get fresh air into the rooms.
Adequate sleep and rest are necessary too. Acupuncture and TuiNa
(Chinese medicinal massage) are the best natural methods to improve
immunity and prevent common cold and good for all ages. Because
they directly work on the skin as well as internal organs, they
can strengthen the superficial resistance and the defensive function
of the body and keep the pathogenic wind and cold and virus away.
Contact Li Hua L.Ac. TCMD at Atlanta Acupuncture Center or 404-250-9903 or e-mail
lihua@aac2000.com or surf her web site at www.aac2000.com |
