The Daniel Adler Clinic Newsletter: Issue 15, Recovery

In this issue:

One of the many things I re-learned during the COVID-19 pandemic was that a cold or flu often takes a full four weeks to truly run its course.

We live in a society that pressures us to "bounce back" quickly — many people return to work after just three days of illness (if they take any time off at all).

Of course, there are circumstances where taking extended rest isn’t possible. But generally speaking, it’s wise to understand that recovery from a cold or flu happens in phases — and rushing it doesn’t serve your body well in the long term.

In this issue I will talk about the different phases of a cold and the road to boosting your recovery by including Kampo Herbal Medicine.

– Zhang Zhongjing

Feeling under the weather is never convenient — but what if a centuries-old, targeted herbal approach could shorten the drama and help you recover with less downtime?

Kampo formulas are chosen for exactly how you feel — which herbs work best at the first twinge, during the worst days, and those herbs for when you’re trying to get your energy back.

Here’s how it often plays out:

I know this timeline doesn’t fit well with the agenda of the corporate/industrial machine — but maybe it should.

As the weather turns cooler, cold and flu season inevitably returns. Most of us know the routine — scratchy throat, stuffy nose, fatigue, maybe a fever.

But did you know there’s a way to support your body through each phase of illness, in conjunction with allopathic (conventional, Western) pharmaceuticals, using a centuries-old system of herbal medicine?

That’s where Kampo comes in.

Kampo is traditional Japanese herbal medicine, rooted in Chinese medicine but uniquely refined in Japan over centuries.

[Want to learn more about the differences between Kampo and Chinese medicine? Read this article I wrote on that very topic.]

What makes it special is its focus on alleviating your current symptoms and patterns, rather than just naming the illness.

In other words, it’s not about whether you have “a cold” or “the flu” — it’s about how your body is experiencing it. This allows for much more personalized and responsive care.

Kampo can support you at each stage of a cold or flu — from the very first tickle in your throat, to headaches, to the weeks of fatigue that can follow. Keep reading to learn more on how!

What I love about Kampo medicine is how attentive it is to your lived experience — not just the virus itself, but how you feel in your body.

Whether you’re someone who gets chills and body aches first, or you always end up with a lingering cough, Kampo offers personalized support, to help alleviate your symptoms, that meets you where you are.

Recovery isn’t a single moment; it’s a series of gentle, intentional steps.

Kampo gives you practical tools for each of those moments, chosen for how you actually feel, not just for the label on the illness.

Listen to the small things your body tells you — the first tickle, the afternoon crash, the cough that won’t quit.

(Think: chills, sore throat, stiff neck, or just “feeling off”.)

This is the moment when your body is first reacting to a virus / bacteria — often before things get serious. You might feel a sudden chill, a slight sore throat, or tension in your neck and shoulders. Maybe you’re more tired than usual or just have that “uh-oh” feeling.

This is the best time to act.

Kampo at this stage focuses on helping your body expel the pathogen before it settles in too deeply, working with your body’s natural defences to support its efforts. It is not targeting the invader directly.

Common formulas that I may use at this stage include:

(There is no question. You are officially in it.)

If the virus or bacteria has taken hold — you’re coughing, congested, running a fever, or just feeling worn out — you’re in the middle stage of illness. The goal now is to help your body manage the infection, ease symptoms, and support recovery.

Kampo can be especially helpful here in preventing complications like sinus infections or bronchitis, while also helping you feel better faster.

Formulas that I may prescribe during this stage include:

(You’re mostly better, but… not quite yourself.)

Maybe you wake up feeling fine and then crash by afternoon. Or your brain feels foggy, you’re dragging through your days, or your appetite hasn’t returned. You might even have a persistent cough, especially in the evenings.

This is your body’s way of saying, “I’m STILL healing.”

Kampo sees recovery as an active phase — not just “waiting it out.” Rest and recovery is important, but so is rebuilding your strength and nourishing your immune system to prevent relapses.

Formulas that I may use in the recovery phase include:

To wrap up: act early when you sense a twinge. Get supportive care when you’re in the thick of it. And when you’re mostly back, keep rebuilding — a little nourishment now saves you from a longer setback later.

Above all, be kind to yourself this flu season — small, timely choices add up to real recovery.

If you’d like personalized guidance or want formulas delivered when you can’t make it in, contact me and we’ll figure out the best match for your current state.

Book a Kampo Treatment

While Kampo herbal formulas are generally gentle and safe, it’s important to choose the right one for your current symptoms and overall constitution.

Please don’t self-prescribe. Instead, work with a Kampo-trained practitioner (I happen to know one).

If you feel like you are coming down with something (Stage 1), or if you are bedridden and cannot come into the clinic (Stage 2 or 3), please give me a call. I can arrange to have formulas shipped directly to you after a phone consultation.

These formulas are safe to use in conjunction with Tylenol or Advil if you like to use those as part of your recovery. The same goes for if you have a bacterial infection and have been prescribed Antibiotics. It is just best not to take them at the same time.

Contact Daniel Adler

– Laozi

Beatrice is currently offering treatments at Dupont Naturopathic Family Centre until she takes her formal Board exams.

Treatments are offered at a reduced rate.

Book a Treatment with Beatrice

Finally, and as always, please remember that if you are not getting better, receiving a clear diagnosis from your Doctor is incredibly important.

If it's Pneumonia or Bronchitis, for example, you want to know and you want to receive appropriate care. Kampo can still support your recovery. But sometimes you need the Allopathic stuff.

This is not an either or situation. It's a pragmatic "what is appropriate now?" question.

As we move into another cold and flu season, remember:

— Your body knows how to heal.
— It sometimes needs support.
— Do not rush it.

Wishing you strength, warmth, and resilience this season. Stay well. Recover with patience.

Stay golden,

Daniel (T’agyol) Adler