Prevention and Early Treatment for Viruses: Part 1
In our efforts to reduce infection rates for viruses, many of us have also been interested in studying strategies that have had some success in flattening the curve of infection. Practitioners of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine have been using herbs that boost the immune system and strengthen anti-viral protection. Based on recent case studies coming out of Hong Kong, I have been strongly recommending the use of antiviral Chinese herbs for prevention, early treatment, and recovery from viruses. While I and other practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are not treating pneumonia patients who need to be in a hospital, we can and should focus on being prepared with early treatment herbs on hand. As with all TCM, effective treatment and prevention requires knowledge of the individual patient’s health history and symptoms. To make a telemedicine appointment now, click here, to go to my appointment calendar so I can evaluate your needs and have herbs delivered. To learn more, read on!
Early Symptoms and Prevention
As recent studies have emphasized, the early symptoms of illness are not the same for everyone. Some start with chills, body aches, and a headache; some start with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, stomach pain, or vomiting; and others start with sore throat, swollen glands, fever, and extreme fatigue, though other combinations of these various symptoms are also possible. Chinese herbs are most effective when taken at the first sign of symptoms. This is why you should be prepared to treat any symptoms by having herbal formulas on hand. In prescribing herbal formulas, the one-size-fits-all model of over-the-counter or prescription drugs can actually work against effective prevention and treatment. For this reason, practitioners of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) need to see and talk to patients first before they give treatments or prescribe formulas. Fortunately, applications like Zoom have made it possible to do this online when we cannot see patients in person.
Prevention is paramount for viruses. As with any sickness, the aim is to prevent the virus from going deeper into the body and becoming more serious. In Chinese medicine, we have an understanding of the body in layers or levels. The wei level is the most superficial or exterior level so when a person is getting sick we use herbs and acupuncture to treat this first stage (we call this treatment to “release the exterior”). If the pathogen is stronger than the patient and they don't receive treatment, the pathogen goes deep to the qi level, and then the xue or blood level, and so on. The deeper the pathogen goes without treatment, the stronger and more serious the illness becomes; the more serious the illness, the worse the prognosis is (a prognosis is how likely it is that the patient will recover).
While viruses and bacteria thrive in diseased and weak tissue, viruses in particular have shown a strong capacity to stay alive and spread. It is much adepter at survival, for example, than a virus like Ebola, and more contagious than a similar virus like SARS. Viruses are also more virulent in a weaker host, including someone with preexisting conditions such as heart disease, respiratory problems, diabetes, or autoimmune disease. China has dealt with over twenty epidemics over the last two hundred years, and many textbooks that we study in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine were born out of those experiences. The primary aim with viruses, as in treating sickness more generally with Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the host and make their bodies an inhospitable place for viruses and bacteria. If the patient is stronger in this sense, they can better fight off the initial infection and stop it from going deeper and becoming more serious.
A Preview of Recent Studies
In Part II of this introduction, I will write a little more about case studies on viral treatment and prevention and provide some links to read more. Some of the most striking studies have been on herbal formulas given to hospital workers during the SARS epidemic. SARS and current viruses share a lot of the same genetic makeup, and the success of these formulas in preventing infection of SARS has informed their use during the current virus pandemic. The custom formulas that I am ordering for my family and my patients are based on these new case studies.
While prevention and early treatment, of course, is the most important thing to focus on during this pandemic, it is not the only thing. Anxiety, stress, depression, and insomnia can be debilitating, and herbs treat these ailments as well. If you would like to get prepared, treat early symptoms, or improve your mental well being, book a Zoom appointment. I will evaluate and prescribe which herbs are best to take now, as well as more comprehensive formulas to have on hand in the event early treatment of the virus is needed. Herbs can be delivered same day in Los Angeles or shipped to you. The best way to stay safe is by being prepared!