THE TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA WITH CHINESE MEDICINE

THE TREATMENT OF INFLUENZA IN CHINESE MEDICINE

WESTERN MEDICINE VIEW

INFLUENZA

Influenza spreads every winter and accounts for a substantial mortality every year. Influenza viruses are characterized by a high variability and high infection rate. The so-called “Spanish Flu” of 1918  killed an estimated 40-50 million people world-wide, more  than did the First World War.1 

Two other pandemics occurred in 1957 with 2 million deaths and 1968 with 1 million deaths (“Asian” and “Hong Kong” Flu respectively).2  

The most recent large epidemic in the United Kingdom was in 1989-1990, when an estimated 26,000 people died in association with influenza.3

There are three types of influenza virus, A, B and C. Influenza A viruses are found in humans and animals, whereas B and C are found only in human beings.  Infection with influenza produces an immune response with the production of antibodies in the blood which neutralize the virus. If the person encounters the same influenza virus again while the antibodies are still present, the body is protected and the person should not develop the infection.

It is a characteristic of influenza viruses, and especially of the A virus, that they frequently mutate into sub-types so that the virus is “one step ahead” of the natural immunity created by the body.  It is usually when sub-types develop that epidemics occur because the antibodies produced will not protect individuals against an influenza virus in which the surface proteins have undergone a significant change since the previous infection.

An example of a new subtype a few years ago was the H5N1 “avian influenza” virus, first isolated in Hong Kong in May 1997, which previously had only been found in birds and was not associated with disease in humans. The latest example of a sub-type is the H1N1 virus responsible for the so-called “swine flu”.

           

Influenza viruses spread from person to person by tiny droplets produced by coughing and sneezing. The initial site of infection is the lining of the respiratory tract, and the infection has a short incubation period of up to five days. The virus is shed in respiratory secretions starting about one day before the onset of the illness and lasting for about three to five days.

The classic symptoms of influenza include fever, malaise, headache, aches and pains in the muscles and joints, and a characteristic dry cough and sore throat. The acute illness usually lasts for three to five days but recovery may be slow, and cough and tiredness may persist for two to four weeks post infection.

Complications may occur in groups of patients who are particularly at risk (e.g. those with underlying lung disease or those with defective immune systems), and usually affect the lungs and the heart. Upper and lower respiratory tract infections are common and subsequent invasion of the lungs by bacteria may result in the development of pneumonia.

CHINESE MEDICINE VIEW

Influenza cannot be diagnosed and treated properly without a thorough understanding of the theory of the 6 Stages but particularly that of the 4 Levels.  The beginning stages of an acute respiratory infection usually manifest with symptoms of invasions of exterior Wind. 

The “Shang Han Lun” by Zhang Zhong Jing (c. AD 220) provided the earliest framework for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases from exterior Wind-Cold.  Although this classic does also discuss invasions of Wind-Heat and their treatment, a comprehensive theory of exterior diseases from Wind-Heat was not developed until the late 1600s by the School of Warm Diseases (Wen Bing). 

Thus, the two schools of thought which form the pillars for the diagnosis and treatment of exterior diseases in Chinese medicine are separated by about 15 centuries: they are the School of Cold-induced Diseases (School of Shang Han) based on the “Discussion of Cold-induced Diseases” (“Shang Han Lun”) by Zhang Zhong Jing  and the School of Warm Diseases (Wen Bing School) which started in the late 1600s and early 1700s. 

The main advocates of this school were Wu You Ke (1582-1652), Ye Tian Shi (1667-1746) and Wu Ju Tong (1758-1836).

Ye Tian Shi is the author of Wen Bing Lun, Discussion on Warm Diseases

While in Western medicine every external infectious disease is differentiated according to the pathogenic virus or bacteria,  in Chinese medicine, they area ll caused by Wind-Heat. 

Why does Chinese medicine attribute such importance to external diseases from Wind?  The Su Wen says that Wind may be the cause of "100 diseases".  I have listed below the main reason why we should pay close attention to diseases from exterior Wind.

CONSEQUENCES OF WIND INVASION

• Can give rise to residual pathogenic factor: long-lasting cough
• Residual pathogenic factor can aggravate asthma
• Residual pathogenic factor can lead to post-viral fatigue syndrome
• In children it can be the start of a Wen Bing disease, e.g. varicella, morbillus, meningitis, polio
• Wen Bing influenza can cause mortality, especially in the elderly
• Latent Heat is cause of serious, modern diseases, e.g. AIDS, leukaemia, auto-immune diseases.

SHANG HAN LUN - THE SIX STAGES       

            

The symptomatology of Wind-Cold was discussed by Zhang Zhong Jing in the “Discussion of Cold-induced Diseases” (c. AD 220) where he first elaborated the theory of the 6 Stages.

               

The Six Stages are:        
  

Tai Yang
    Wind-Cold with prevalence of Cold (“Attack of Cold”)

    Wind-Cold with prevalence of Wind (“Attack of Wind”)

Yang Ming
    Channel pattern (Stomach-Heat)

    Fu pattern (Stomach-Fire)

Shao Yang 

Tai Yin

ShaoYin

Jue Yin

The first stage, Tai Yang, is the only Exterior one.  At this stage Wind-Cold is on the Exterior and only the Lung's Wei Qi portion is affected, not the Interior.  The Lung's diffusing and descending of Qi is impaired and the external Wind is lodged in the space between skin and muscles impairing the circulation of Wei Qi. 

The essential symptoms of the Tai Yang stage are:

- aversion to cold or shivering

- occipital headache and/or stiff neck

- Floating pulse

“Aversion to cold” indicates the typical cold feeling and shivering which comes on as a wave in the beginning stages of a cold or influenza.  It is characteristic in so far as it is not relieved by covering oneself.  Most people who experience a bad cold or flu shiver even in bed under the blankets.

The occipital headache or stiffness is due to the obstruction of Wei Qi circulation in the Tai-Yang channels (Small Intestine and Bladder) which flow in that area.

The Floating pulse reflects the rushing of Wei Qi towards the Exterior to fight the pathogenic factor.

               

Besides these three cardinal symptoms there are many others such as a runny nose, sneezing, possibly a fever, a cough, body aches, itchy throat, etc.  All these are due to the impairment of the diffusing and descending of Qi by the Lungs and by the obstruction to the circulation of Wei Qi in the muscles. 

In particular, the aversion to cold occurs simultaneously with “emission of heat” (fa re), i.e. the patient’s body emits heat and it feels hot to the touch: please note that the patient may or may not have an actual fever.  

Therefore “aversion to cold” is a subjective cold feeling of the patient while “fever” (or rather “emission of heat”) is an objective hot feeling of the patient’s body to the touch.

Aversion to cold is caused by the obstruction of the space between skin and muscles by exterior Wind: as the Wei Qi circulates in this space and warms the muscles, when it is obstructed by exterior Wind, the patient feels cold: remember, this can and does happen with Wind-Heat too. 

The emission of heat is an expression of the fight between the body’s Upright Qi and the exterior Wind.

Cou Li space

WARM DISEASES (WEN BING)

What does “Warm disease” mean?  This is my own translation of the Chinese term Wen Bing.  The above-mentioned doctors from this school of thought introduced important innovations to the theory of Wind in Chinese medicine. The School of Warm Diseases postulates that some exterior pathogenic factors go beyond the natural characters of “Wind”; they are so virulent and strong that, no matter how strong a person's body's Qi may be, men, women and children fall ill by the dozen.  More importantly, for the first time in the history of Chinese medicine, these doctors recognized that some external pathogenic factors are infectious.

A further innovative idea stemming from this school was that the pathogenic factors causing Warm diseases, all of them falling under the category of Wind-Heat, enter via the nose and mouth, rather than via the skin as happens for Wind-Cold. 

Bearing in mind that Wind-Heat is intended here in a broad sense as it may also manifest as Damp-Heat, Summer-Heat, Winter- Heat,Spring-Heat and Dry-Heat, the essential characteristics of Warm diseases therefore are:

1) They manifest with the general symptoms and signs of Wind-Heat in the early stages 

2) There is always a fever (not only “emission of heat” but an actual fever)

3) They are infectious

4) The Wind-Heat penetrates via the nose and mouth

5) The pathogenic factor is particularly strong and virulent

6) The Wind-Heat has a strong tendency to become interior Heat

7) Once in the Interior, the Heat has a strong tendency to dry up body fluids.

Thus, although all pathogenic factors contemplated by the School of Warm Diseases fall under the broad definition of Wind-Heat, not all diseases caused by Wind-Heat are Warm diseases.  Some of the exterior diseases that start with symptoms of Wind-Heat are Warm diseases (with all the above-mentioned characteristics) and some are not.  

Examples of Warm diseases are influenza, measles, chicken-pox, German measles, poliomyelitis, smallpox, scarlet fever, whooping cough or meningitis. An influenza epidemic that sweeps the world is always a Wen Bing disease.  This is because it is very virulent and has a strong tendency to enter the Qi level (causing chest infections) very quickly.

Examples of Wind-Heat diseases which are not Warm diseases are common cold (of the Wind-Heat type), glandular fever (mononucleosis) and any non-specific upper-respiratory infection manifesting with symptoms of Wind-Heat.

The distinction between “simple” invasions of Wind-Heat and invasions of Wind-Heat that are a Wen Bing disease is a very important consideration in practice: it is possible to stop diseases from “simple” Wind-Heat at the early stages, but although true Warm diseases may always be alleviated in the initial stages, they may not always be entirely stopped at the initial stages. 

In particular, in the case of Warm diseases, even though it may not stop them at the Exterior level, Chinese medicine can certainly achieve the following aims:

- Alleviate the symptoms

- Shorten the course of the disease

- Prevent transmission to the Ying and Blood levels (see below)

- Prevent complications

- Prevent the formation of residual pathogenic factors
- Stop pathogenic factor at Qi Level
- Treat sequelae

The treatment of exterior invasions is important because they can have very serious consequences in children and the elderly.  In children, many serious diseases start with symptoms of invasion of Wind-Heat: in the initial stages one does not know what disease it might be and it is therefore important to treat the manifestations early. 

For example, measles, diphtheria, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, acute nephritis, scarlet fever and meningitis may all manifest with symptoms of Wind-Heat in the beginning stage.  In the elderly, exterior Wind may easily penetrate the Interior causing bronchitis and pneumonia which is often fatal in old age.

THE FOUR LEVELS

Wei Level

                                Wind-Heat

                                Damp-Heat

                                Summer-Heat

                                Wind-Dry-Heat

Qi Level

                                Lung-Heat

                                Stomach-Heat

                                Stomach and Intestines Dry-Heat

                                Gall-Bladder Heat

                                Stomach and Spleen Damp-Heat

Ying Level                                                          

                                Heat in Pericardium                       

                                Heat in Ying       

Blood Level

                                Heat Victorious agitates Blood

                                Heat Victorious stirs Wind

                                Empty-Wind agitates in the Interior

                                Collapse of Yin/Yang

The Wei Level concerns the exterior stage of an invasion of Wind-Heat of the Wen Bing type, the other three Levels describe pathological conditions which arise when the pathogenic factor penetrates the Interior and turns into Heat. 

Although the theory of the 4 Levels arose in application to Wen Bing diseases, it can and should be applied also to any invasion of Wind-Heat, whether Wen Bing or not. 

The four Levels represent different levels of energetic depth, the first being the Exterior and the other three being the Interior.  The interesting part of this theory is the distinction, within the Interior, of three different levels, the Qi Level being the most superficial (within the Interior) and the Blood Level the deepest. 

               

The Wei Level of the 4 Levels broadly corresponds to the Tai Yang Stage of the 6 Stages. The former deals with Wind-Heat and the latter with Wind-Cold.

The main symptoms of invasion of Wind-Heat at the Wei Level are aversion to cold, shivering, fever, sore throat, swollen tonsils, headache and body-aches, sneezing, cough, runny nose with yellow discharge, slightly dark urine, slightly Red sides of the tongue and a Floating-Rapid pulse.  

It is worth noting that in Wind-Heat too there is aversion to cold as this is due to Wind-Heat obstructing the Wei Qi which therefore fails to warm the muscles. 

Aetiology and pathology

An invasion of an exterior pathogenic factor is due to a temporary and relative imbalance between it and the body's Qi. This imbalance may occur either because the body's Qi is temporarily and relatively weak or because the pathogenic factor is very strong or both. The body's Qi may be temporarily and relatively weak due to overwork, excessive sexual activity, irregular diet and emotional stress or a combination of these.  When the body is thus weakened, even a mild pathogenic factor may cause an external invasion of Wind.

“Wind” indicates both an aetiological factor and a pathological condition.  As an aetiological factor, it literally refers to climatic influences and especially sudden changes of weather to which the body cannot adapt. 

As a pathological condition, “Wind” refers to a complex of symptoms and signs manifesting as Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat.  In clinical practice, this is the most important aspect of the concept of Wind.  Thus, the diagnosis of “Wind” invasion is made not on the basis of the history (no need to ask the patient whether he or she has been exposed to wind), but on the basis of the symptoms and signs. 

If a person has all the symptoms and signs of “Wind” (aversion to cold, shivering, “fever”, sneezing, runny nose, headache and a Floating pulse), then the condition is one of exterior Wind, no matter what climate that person has been exposed to in the previous days or hours. 

Indeed, there are also chronic conditions which manifest with symptoms of “Wind” and are treated as such even though they have no relation to climatic factors.  For example, allergic rhinitis (due to house-dust mites or pollen) manifests with symptoms and signs of “Wind” and is treated as such.

Influenza manifests primarily with symptoms of Wind-Heat.

Simultaneous cold feeling and fever

The simultaneous fever (or "emission of heat") and aversion to cold is the most characteristic symptom of the beginning stages of an invasion of Wind: they indicate that there is an invasion of an exterior pathogenic factor and that this factor is still at the Exterior level.  As long as there is aversion to cold, the pathogenic factor is on the Exterior.

I shall now discuss in detail the pathology and clinical significance of the "aversion to cold" and "fever" in the beginning stage of invasion of exterior Wind.

Aversion to cold

In Exterior patterns, the aversion to cold and cold feeling is due to the external Wind obstructing the space between skin and muscles where the Wei Qi circulates; as Wei Qi warms the muscles, its obstruction by Wind causes the patient to feel cold and shiver (even if the pathogenic factor is Wind-Heat).  Thus, Wei Qi is not necessarily weak but only obstructed in the space between skin and muscles. Both Wind-Cold and Wind-Heat cause aversion to cold.

Generally speaking, there are three aspects to the "cold feeling" in invasions of exterior Wind:

1)       the patients feels cold

2)       he or she has "waves" of shivers

3)       he or she is reluctant to go out and wants to stay indoors.

Except in mild cases, the cold feeling is not relieved by covering oneself.

               

In conclusion, a feeling of cold in exterior invasions is due to the obstruction of Wei Qi in the space between skin and muscles and it indicates that the pathogenic factor is on the Exterior: as soon as the feeling of cold goes, the pathogenic factor is in the Interior.

"Fever“

As for "fever“, the Chinese terms fa shao or fa re do not necessarily indicate "fever".  "Fever" is a sign in modern Western medicine, not in old Chinese medicine.  In old China, there were obviously no thermometers and the symptoms fa shao or fa re described in the old texts do not necessarily mean that the patient has an actual fever. 

It literally means "emitting heat" and it indicates that the patient's body feels hot, almost burning to the touch: the areas touched were the forehead and the dorsum of the hands (as opposed to the palms).

In fact, it is a characteristic of fa re (so-called "fever") in the exterior stage of invasions of Wind that the dorsum of the hands feel hot compared to the palms and the upper back feels hot compared to the chest. This objective hot feeling of the patient's body may or may not be accompanied by an actual fever although in Wen Bing diseases it is.

               

When the symptoms of shivers and feeling cold occurs simultaneously with the objective sign of the patient's body feeling hot to the touch (or having an actual fever), it indicates an acute invasion of external Wind and it denotes that the pathogenic factor is still on the Exterior. 

In particular, it is the symptoms of shivering and feeling cold that indicate that the pathogenic factor is on the Exterior: the moment the patient does not feel cold any longer but feels hot and, if in bed, he or she throws off the blankets, it means that the pathogenic factor is in the Interior and it has turned into Heat.

The "fever", or hot feeling of the body in external invasions of Wind is due to the struggle between the body's Qi (Zheng Qi) and the external pathogenic factor.  Thus, the strength of the fever (or hot feeling of the body) reflects the intensity of this struggle: this depends on the relative strength of the external pathogenic factor and the strength of the Zheng Qi. 

The stronger the external pathogenic factor, the higher the fever (or hot feeling of the body); likewise, the stronger the Zheng Qi, the higher the fever (or hot feeling of the body). Thus the fever will be highest when both the external pathogenic factor and the Zheng Qi are strong.

Therefore, there are three possible situations:

1.        Strong pathogenic factor and strong Zheng Qi: high "fever" (or hot feeling of the body)

2.        Strong pathogenic factor with weak Zheng Qi or vice versa: medium "fever" (or hot feeling of the body)

3.        Weak pathogenic factor and weak Zheng Qi: low "fever" (or hot feeling of the body) or no "fever"

However, the relative strength of the pathogenic factor and the Zheng Qi is only one factor which determines the intensity of the fever (or hot feeling of the body).  Another factor is simply the constitution of a person: a person with a Yang constitution (i.e. with predominance of Yang) will be more prone to invasions of Wind-Heat rather than Wind-Cold and will be more prone to have a higher fever (or hot feeling of the body). 

Indeed, it could be said that the constitution of a person is the main factor which determines whether a person who falls prey to an invasion of Wind develops Wind-Cold or Wind-Heat.  Were it not so, in cold, Northern countries nobody should fall prey to invasions of Wind-Heat which is not the case.  This is also the reason why, in children, invasions of Wind-Heat are far more prevalent than Wind-Cold: this is because children are naturally Yang in nature compared to adults. 

There are also new, artificial factors which may predispose a person to invasions of Wind-Heat when succumbing to Wind and these are very dry, centrally-heated places, hot working conditions (e.g. cooks, metal workers), etc. 

The tongue often does not change in invasions of Wind-Cold but it does change in invasions of Wind-Heat.  The diagrams below indicate the places on the tongue where it might become red or develop red points in invasions of Wind-Heat.  The redder the tongue, the more intense the Wind-Heat.

The most important thing to establish when we see a patient suffering from an acute respiratory infection is whether the stage of the condition is external or internal, i.e. whether the pathogenic factor is still on the Exterior or is in the Interior. In terms of levels, this means distinguishing whether the patient is still at the Wei level or at the Qi level.

The differentiation between the Wei and the Qi level is relatively easy: if the patient has aversion to cold, he or she is still at the Wei level; if he or she does not suffer from aversion to cold but, on the contrary, from aversion to heat, the patient is at the Qi level. Thus, influenza will always start with manifestations similar to the Wei-Qi level of the 4 Levels.  If the pathogenic factor is not expelled at the beginning stages, it will change into Heat and penetrate into the Interior.

Once the pathogenic factor penetrates into the Interior, the body's Qi carries on its fight against it in the Interior: this causes a high fever and a feeling of heat, in marked contrast to the aversion to cold and the shivering which occur when the body's Qi fights the pathogenic factor on the Exterior. 

At the exterior level, the internal organs are not affected and it is only the Lung's Wei Qi portion which is involved.  When the pathogenic factor becomes interior, the organs are affected and especially the Lungs and/or Stomach (see below). 

This stage of development in the pathology of these diseases is crucial as, if the pathogenic factor is not cleared, it may either penetrate more deeply and cause serious problems (at the Ying or Blood Level) or give rise to residual Heat which is often the cause of chronic post-viral fatigue syndrome.

In the Interior, the main patterns appearing will be either the Yang-Ming pattern of the 6 Stages or, more commonly, one of the Qi-Level patterns within the 4 Levels.  In general, at the Qi Level, either the Stomach or Lung or both are affected.

In the patients we see, the Lungs are most commonly affected and the patterns are usually Lung-Heat or Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs.  Sometimes, it may be Dry-Heat in the Lungs.

WEI LEVEL

The Wei level is the beginning stage of invasions of Wind-Heat: it is the only exterior level, i.e. characterized by the presence of the exterior Wind on the Exterior of the body. 

The Wei level comprises of four different patterns according to the nature of the pathogenic factor, i.e. Wind-Heat, Summer-Heat, Damp-Heat and Dry-Heat.  Of these four, Wind-Heat is by far the most common one.

               

The clinical manifestations of invasion of Wind-Heat at the Wei Level are "fever", aversion to cold, headache, sore throat, slight sweating, runny nose with yellow discharge, swollen tonsils, body aches, slight thirst, tongue Red in the front or sides with a thin-white coating, Floating-Rapid pulse.

The pathology of aversion to cold and "fever" has already been discussed.  The headache is caused by the obstruction of the channels of the head by exterior Wind in the same way as for the Tai Yang Stage.

The body aches, which may be very pronounced, are caused by the obstruction of the muscles by exterior Wind. The tongue coating is white because the pathogenic factor is on the Exterior.

A sore throat is due to invasion of the Wind in the Lung channel in the throat: a sore and red throat is a distinctive sign of invasion of Wind-Heat as compared to Wind-Cold.

WEI LEVEL - WIND-HEAT

"Fever", aversion to cold, headache, sore throat, slight sweating, runny nose with yellow discharge, swollen tonsils, body aches, slight thirst, tongue Red in the front or sides with a thin-white coating, Floating-Rapid pulse.

THREE TREASURES Remedies 

EXPEL WIND-HEAT
                                         

Expel Wind-Heat is for invasions of Wind-Heat at the Wei Level.  The dosage is at least 9 tablets a day but if the symptoms are severe, an adult can use up to 12-15 tablets per day.  Expel Wind-Heat should be a stand-by remedy in any household with children.

ACUPUNCTURE 

LU-7 Lieque, L.I.-4 Hegu, T.B.-5 Waiguan, Du-14 Dazhui, L.I.-11 Quchi, LU-11 Shaoshang (in case of tonsillitis), BL-12 Fengmen with cupping, BL-13 Feishu.

QI LEVEL

If the external Wind is not expelled, it will usually turn into Heat and enter the Interior and most frequently the Lungs.  The main symptoms at this stage are aversion to heat, a feeling of heat, possibly fever, cough (which may be dry or productive), slight breathlessness, restlessness, disturbed sleep, thirst, a feeling of oppression of the chest, Red tongue with yellow coating, Deep-Full-Slippery pulse.  These are manifestations of the Qi level.

The main patterns appearing at the Qi level are:

1.       Lung Phlegm-Heat

2.        Damp-Phlegm in the Lungs

3.        Dry-Phlegm in the Lungs

QI LEVEL - INTERIOR HEAT

Aversion to heat, a feeling of heat, possibly fever, cough (which may be dry or productive), slight breathlessness, restlessness, disturbed sleep, thirst, a feeling of oppression of the chest, Red tongue with yellow coating, Deep-Full-Slippery pulse. 

THREE TREASURES Remedies

RINGING METAL

Ringing Metal, a variation of Qing Qi Hua Tan Tang Clearing Qi and Resolving Phlegm Decoction can be used for acute chest infections following an invasion of Wind, i.e. when the pathogenic factor is Phlegm-Heat in the Lungs at the Qi level.

The main manifestations calling for this remedy in this context are: a cough following a cold or flu, expectoration of profuse sticky-yellow sputum, slight breathlessness, a feeling of oppression of the chest, fever, thirst, disturbed sleep, a Full-Slippery pulse, a red tongue with sticky-yellow coating.

Dosage: for adults, take 9-12 tablets a day.  Reduce the dosage for children according to age.

ACUPUNCTURE

LU-7 Lieque, LU-10 Yuji, Du-14 Dazhui, L.I.-11 Quchi, LU-5 Chize, BL-13 Feishu, LU-1 Zhongfu, Ren-12 Zhongwan, Ren-9 Shuifen, ST-40 Fenglong.

CLEAR METAL

Clear Metal was formulated to treat the Qi Level of influenza but it does treat the Ying level as well. The most common patterns at this level are either Lung-Heat of Lung-Phlegm-Heat so that the patient develops bronchitis or pneumonia.

Clear Metal was formulated to treat primarily Lung-Heat at the Qi Level when the patient displays the following symptoms: cough, breathlessness, fever, feeling of heat, thirst, tightness of the chest and upper back, a Red tongue with yellow coating and a Full-Rapid pulse.

Clear Metal has also a strong anti-viral action. Besides treating the Qi Level primarily, Clear Metal also treats the beginning stages of Ying Level.  The clearest indication that the Heat is reaching the Ying level is the absence of coating on the tongue.    

At the first signs of the beginning of influenza (feeling chills, fever, sore throat) take Expel Wind-Heat. If one is in doubt whether the symptoms are those of a "simple" influenza or of those of a more serious type (such as H1N1 influenza), then Expel Wind-Heat and Clear Metal can be taken simultaneously for a couple of days until the clinical manifestations reveal what type of virus it is. 

If the symptoms persist and progress rapidly to the lower respiratory tract causing high fever, cough, breathlessness, respiratory distress and inspiration crackles, the patient should stop taking Expel Wind-Heat and take only Clear Metal immediately at a higher dose.

Please note that this remedy can be administered concurrently with any Western anti-viral medication or antibiotics.

The dosage for an adult is at least 9 tablets per day.  This dose can be exceeded in severe cases.

ACUPUNCTURE: 

LU-7 Lieque, LU-10 Yuji, Du-14 Dazhui, L.I.-11 Quchi, LU-5 Chize, BL-13 Feishu, LU-1 Zhongfu.

YING LEVEL

At the Ying Level, the Heat has penetrated to a deeper energetic layer and it has begun to injure the Yin.  At this level, Heat is obstructing the Mind and the Pericardium causing delirium and even coma.  Fever at night is a distinctive sign of the Ying Level.

The tongue appearance at the Ying  Level is an important sign that differentiates this level from the Qi Level: at the Ying Level, the tongue is Deep-Red without coating (while at the Qi Level, it is Red with a thick coating).

YING LEVEL - INTERIOR HEAT

Fever at night, dry mouth with no desire to drink, mental restlessness, mental confusion, insomnia, delirium, incoherent speech or aphasia, body hot, hands and feet cold, macules, Red tongue without coating, Fine-Rapid pulse.Clear Metal may be used for the Ying Level.

BLOOD LEVEL

The Blood Level is the deepest energetic layer with Heat affecting the Blood.  There are several different patterns with varying clinical manifestations but the chief clinical features of the Blood Level are as follows:

1. There is Yin deficiency

2. Heat is affecting the Blood causing bleeding

3. Heat is affecting the Mind causing delirium or coma

4. Heat in the Blood causes bleeding under the skin with the appearance of macules

5. Internal Wind may develop causing convulsions and tremors

6. Collapse of Yin or Yang may occur

MACULES are a definite sign that Heat has reached the Blood Level.  There are five patterns at the Blood Level, i.e. Heat victorious moving Blood, Heat victorious stirring Wind, Empty Wind agitating in the Interior, Collapse of Yin and Collapse of Yang.

"Blood" here should be intended as a description of the deepest energetic level of the body.  When Heat penetrates this level in the context of a Wen Bing disease, the person may die. 

The chief sign of invasion of the Blood Level by Heat is bleeding, which may be in the stools, in the vomit and under the skin.  Indeed, the presence of maculae under the skin always indicate that the Heat has reached the Blood level and the situation is potentially serious.

BLOOD LEVEL - INTERIOR HEAT

Heat agitates Blood: High fever, mental restlessness, manic behaviour, dark macules, vomiting of blood, epistaxis, blood in stools, blood in urine, Dark-Red tongue without coating, Wiry-Rapid pulse.

Heat stirs Wind: High fever, fainting, twitching of limbs, convulsions, rigidity of neck, opisthotonos, eyeballs turning up, clenching of teeth, Dark-Red tongue without coating, Wiry-Rapid pulse

Red sides = Wei Level

Red sides = Wei Level

Red, thick-black coating = Qi Level - Fire

Red, no coating = Ying Level 

Red, no coating, Purple = Blood Level

HERBAL SENTINEL

Herbal Sentinel is the remedy to take for prevention.  It strengthens immunity and resistance to viruses and bacteria by tonifying Lung- and Kidney-Qi. It is to be taken continuously as long as the swine flu epidemic continues in dosages of 4 tablets a day (for an adult).

               

There are two Herbal Sentinel remedies: Herbal Sentinel - Yang and Herbal Sentinel - Yin.  The former is for people with a tendency to Yang deficiency (with a Pale tongue); the latter for people with a tendency to Yin deficiency (with a tongue lacking in coating completely or partially).

ACUPUNCTURE: 

LU-7 Lieque, LU-9 Taiyuan, BL-13 Feishu, Du-12 Shenzhu, Ren-12 Zhongwan, Ren-4 Guanyuan, KI-3 Taixi, BL-23 Shenshu.

THREE TREASURES

ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTIONS

1. Invasion of Wind-Cold

Key symptoms and signs: runny nose, sneezing, aversion to cold, shivering

Three Treasures remedy: EXPEL WIND-COLD

2. Invasion of Wind-Heat

Key symptoms and signs: influenza (aversion to cold, fever, body aches, etc.), tonsillitis, laryngitis

Three Treasures remedy: EXPEL WIND-HEAT

ACUTE BRONCHITIS

PHLEGM-HEAT IN THE LUNGS

Key symptoms and signs: acute cough with expectoration of profuse, yellow sputum following an upper respiratory infection, oppression of the chest, thick-sticky-yellow tongue coating, Slippery and possibly Rapid pulse.

Three Treasures remedy: RINGING METAL

LUNG-HEAT

Key symptoms and signs: acute dry, barking cough, with the occasional expectoration of scanty sputum, chest tightness, Red tongue with yellow coating, Rapid-Full pulse.

Three Treasures remedy: CLEAR METAL

PHARYNGITIS

Traditionally called “Swelling and pain in the throat”

In the past included many different conditions e.g.:

·         Retro-pharangeal abcess

·         Sudden obstruction of the throat

·         Acute tonsillitis

·         diptheria

But this is too broad a category to differentiate.

Aetiology and Pathology 

From Exterior invasion of Wind-Heat (rarely Wind-Cold) due to:

·         sudden changes of weather

·         Improper environment

·         Weakness of LU-Wei Qi

·         Open to invasion of Wind-Heat

The throat opens on the outside to nose and mouth, on the inside to LU and ST. LU dominates the skin.

Sore throat can be due to two conditions:

                1. Wind-Heat penetrating the throat from mouth and nose causing swelling and pain.

                2. Wind-Cold invades skin, Ying and Wei lose balance, the P.F. cannot be expelled. It accumulates in the throat causing swelling and pain.

Treatment

External attack of Wind-Heat symptoms:

Symptoms of external attack, acute onset, short duration and:

·         Dry/ itchy throat

·         Slightly red

·         Swelling

·         Pain

·         Yellow-sticky sputum

·         Hoarse voice

·         Fever

·         Aversion to Wind

·         Headache

·         Cough

If serious the patient also has:

Scanty-yellow urine

Constipation

Red tongue-sides

Thin-Yellow tongue coating

Floating and Rapid pulse

Internal Treatment 

Expel Wind, clear Heat

Prescription: Clear Throat Benefit the Diaphragm Decoction. Qing Yan Li Ge Tang (Jing Jie, Fang Feng, Bo He, Zhi Zi, Huang Qin, Jin Yin Hua, Lian Qiao, Xuan Shen, Jie Geng)

If there is a bad sore-throat with yellow-sticky mucus add:

Zhu Ru and Gua Lou to clear ST-LU Heat and resolve Phlegm

ACUPUNCTURE: L.I.-4, LU-10, LU-11 , LU-5, L.I.-1, TB-1, CV-22, TB-5, TB-2

TONSILLITIS

·         Inflammation of the tonsils

·         Red, swollen, painful throat

·         White and red pyogenic swellings on the tonsils with pus

·         If the tonsils are very big – as big as silk moths it is called - !!

Tonsillitis is the most frequently seen throat condition.

There are three types:

                1. Wind-Heat

                2. Empty-Heat

                3. Qi and Blood stagnation

Aetiology and Pathology

Exterior Wind-Heat enters the mouth and nose invades the LU-WEI stage “infuses” to the throat

The pathogenic factor stagnates the clear fluids cannot be transformed they condense into Phlegm. Phlegm-Heat stagnates the tonsils swell and become inflamed (Toxic Heat). Tonsillitis can also be due to ST-Heat “hitchhiked” by Wind-Heat.

The tonsils are swollen, red and have either white spots, or white-yellow pus-filled spots on them, which can break and bleed.

Other symptoms are: Fever, aversion to cold, headache, weary limbs, aching bones, red-sided tongue, White or Yellow tongue coating, Floating and Rapid pulse.

Treatment 

Expel Wind-Heat, resolve Toxic Heat

Prescription: Clear the Throat and Benefit the Diaphragm Decoction (see above).

ACUPUNCTURE: LU-11, LU-10, L.I.-4, L.I.-1, TB-5, TB-10


CHANNELS AND GENERAL POINTS FOR THE FOUR LEVELS

To order Three Treasures remedies go to:

Acurea Medical Inc
3579 US-50, Ste 311, Carson City, NV 89701 USA
Tel: (408) 440 1855
Email: monika@acureausa.com
Website: www.acureausa.com


END NOTES

1. WHO website, 2009.

2. Ibid.

3. Association of Microbiologists (UK) website, 1998.

4. World Health Organization website, July 2009, http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/frequently_asked_questions/about_disease/en/index.html

5. Ibid.