The Daniel Adler Clinic Newsletter: Issue 16, Prevention

In this issue:

As the colder months continue and cold and flu season wears on, many people look for safe and effective ways to strengthen their resistance to infection and prevent lingering symptoms.

In Traditional Asian Medicine, prevention is always better than treatment. Kampo herbal formulas have been used for centuries in Japan to support the body’s natural defences, and several classical remedies are still in daily use today.

In this issue of my newsletter I will discuss three Kampo formulas that can help fortify your system before illness takes hold, along with a few food-based strategies (and recipes) to strengthen your immunity naturally.

– Sun Simiao

Prevention works best when it is consistent and gentle.

In this article I present three classical Kampo herbal formulas each providing a different way to reinforce your natural defences — whether you tend to catch every cold, feel chilled after exposure, or run yourself down with long hours.

Below I outline who each formula suits and how it strengthens resistance, so you can choose the best fit for your pattern and use it proactively this cold and flu season.

The main herbs in this formula are:

Yu Ping Feng San is one of the most famous preventive formulas in East Asian medicine. It strengthens the “defensive Qi” — the body’s first line of immune defence that guards the skin, respiratory passages, and mucous membranes.

In modern terms, this formula appears to enhance immune regulation and resistance to recurrent infections, particularly in people who “catch colds easily.”

Those who are prone to catching frequent colds, allergic rhinitis, or fatigue after mild exertion. It’s ideal for long-term use during cold seasons to boost resilience.

The main herbs in this formula are:

Gui Zhi Tang is a gentle, harmonizing formula that regulates circulation between the body’s surface and core. It helps maintain body temperature and supports the function of the muscles and skin.

From a biomedical view, it promotes circulation and may modulate immune responses in early infection or after exposure to cold environments.

People who tend to feel chilled easily, experience mild sweating, or have sensitive immune reactions. It’s often used preventively for those who get “the sniffles” after being out in the cold.

The main herbs in this formula are:

This classical prescription helps the body overcome external pathogens while reinforcing inner strength. It supports immune activity, reduces inflammation, and improves recovery from fatigue.

In contemporary terms, it’s particularly valuable for people who are physically or mentally drained and therefore more susceptible to infection.

Those with lowered immunity due to stress, overwork, or chronic tiredness — especially if you tend to get sick after long hours or lack of rest.

A steady, preventive approach makes the biggest difference over time.

If one of these formulas fits your pattern, use it consistently through the cold and flu season and pair it with simple daily habits. If you’d like help choosing the right formula, book a Kampo consultation — I’ll assess your pattern and recommend a tailored plan.

Next, I’ll share three foods that gently fortify your immune system and complement these Kampo strategies.

A few simple foods, used regularly, can make prevention practical day to day.

In this article, I explore three foods—miso soup, shiitake mushrooms, and root vegetables—that are recommended for supporting illness prevention, and recipes for each are included.

The three foods below support gut balance, steady circulation and recovery from stress — the same foundations your Kampo formulas work with — and they’re easy to add to winter meals. Rotate these recipes through winter as gentle daily nourishment. They complement preventive herbs such as Yu Ping Feng San, Gui Zhi Tang and Ren Shen Bai Du San by maintaining digestive vitality — the foundation of a healthy immune response.

Fermented foods like miso contain beneficial probiotics that improve gut health. Because much of the immune system is regulated through the intestinal microbiome, maintaining healthy digestion directly supports immune resilience.

Add green onions, a quarter clove of crushed garlic and some freshly grated ginger root which both have mild antiviral and warming effects.

Note: Never boil Miso (it’s alive!!). Put all of your ingredients into a bowl while you boil some water. Slowly add the boiling water to the bowl while stirring the Miso around.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3):

Method:

Kampo perspective: Miso nourishes your organs which deal with digestion and absorption of food and it’s transformation into energy and blood. Seaweed softens phlegm and benefits the thyroid. Scallions mildly open surface pores, supporting defensive qi circulation.

Shiitake mushrooms contain beta-glucans—natural polysaccharides that stimulate white blood cell activity and enhance the body’s innate immune response.

In Kampo and Traditional Chinese Medicine they are considered both nourishing and detoxifying, helping the body adapt to seasonal stress.

Ingredients (Serves 2–3):

Method:

Kampo perspective: The combination of Shiitake, Garlic and tamari promote energy, circulation and appetite. Together, they enhance digestive and immune efficiency.

Lightly cooked root vegetables like daikon and carrot strengthen the spleen and stomach function — the core of digestive metabolism in Kampo theory.

In modern terms, they support nutrient absorption and energy metabolism, ensuring the immune system has the resources it needs to function optimally.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4):

Method:

Kampo perspective: Because of its pungent nature, Daikon disperses stagnation and clears mild “heat toxins” from the lungs and digestive tract. Carrot nourishes digestive energy and blood, while ginger warms the core and promotes circulation.

While Kampo herbal formulas are generally gentle and time-tested, prevention still needs the right match for your constitution.

Please don’t self‑prescribe; work with a Kampo‑trained practitioner (contact me anytime).

If you’re unsure which preventive formula suits you, book a consultation and I’ll assess your pattern and recommend an approach you can use consistently through the season.

These preventive formulas are typically safe to use alongside common medicines such as ibuprofen or prescribed antibiotics if needed.

It’s best not to take them at the exact same time — separate by at least two hours. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant, or take regular medication, please check with your practitioner first.

If you’re already starting to feel unwell, you can refer to my previous newsletter on Kampo herbal remedies that help with recovery through the phases of a cold.

Contact Daniel Adler

– Laozi

Beatrice is currently offering treatments at Dupont Naturopathic Family Centre until she becomes formally licensed.

Treatments are offered at a reduced rate.

Book a Treatment with Beatrice

As prevention takes centre stage this season, remember that small, consistent choices add up. The Kampo formulas and foods in this issue are meant to be practical supports you can use every day — quietly strengthening defensive Qi, stabilizing circulation and keeping digestion functioning well so your immune system has what it needs.

Prevention is not urgent drama; it is consistency.

Three simple reminders to take with you:

With steady care and simple, preventative habits, you can move through every cold and flu season with more ease.

Stay golden,

Daniel (T’agyol) Adler