If COVID has taught us one thing, it’s this: when you are unwell, go home, rest, and get better. Modern pharmaceuticals like Aspirin and Tylenol can help us recover, but herbal formulas help too!
Important disclaimer
The herbs listed on this page are part of a larger formula. The complete formula, plus herb quantites, are not given. Even if you are experiencing the conditions outlined below, you should not take these herbs without consulting a professional first.
Treating cold and flu symptoms
Here are two herbal formulas that can be kept in your medicine cabinet and can be used with ease. These formulas are safe for use with modern pharmaceuticals in assisting you to overcome the invading virus.
The natures of these two formulas are very different, working with different mechanisms and targeting different “cold-flu” situations; understanding your symptoms is important before taking the formula.
Note: these remedies do not kill the virus, but rather they help you deal with the symptoms. This will ensure you are more comfortable and allow you to muster your energies for your recovery.
Warming formula
If your symptoms include: Suddenly feeling chilly, with achy muscles (especially neck, upper back, and head). A “sniffly” runny nose with clear sputum. A desire to warm up by drinking hot tea.
I would suggest a delightfully simple and “warming” formula that would include:
- Cinnamon twig
- White peony
- Red dates
- Ginger
- Licorice
These ingredients do wonders to support your system and facilitate recovery.
Cooling formula
If your symptoms include: Experiencing a sore throat. Feeling thirsty for cold drinks. Sweaty, irritable, feverish, with a headache, and have red, itchy eyes.
This calls for a “cooling” formula that contains some of the following:
- Honeysuckle flower
- Forsythia
- Burdock fruit
- Mint
These ingredients, plus other selected herbs, will “cool” you off and alleviate your symptoms.
Feeling flu-ey? I can help
I am a Registered Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner (RTCMP) in good standing with the College of Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners of Ontario. For a more personalized approach to herbal medicine, please contact me to book an appointment.
About Daniel
I am a practitioner of traditional East Asian medicine based in Toronto, Ontario. You can find more about me on my bio or learn more about the treatments I offer.
As always, thanks for reading!
– Daniel (T’agyol) Adler