Support Zheng & Dispel Xie

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April 17, 2003

 

Dear Listmembers,

 

This article was translated from the Chinese orginal at the on-line Takung pao which was published on February 12,2003.This article was taken from the papers' data base through Chinese characters input. At the time of this posting , the paper has changed its system of input and currently, I cannot download past issues of the paper on-line. Thisarticle was publiscized at the time when the first cases of SARS were also being reported in Southern China in some local dailies like the Southern daily. I am publishing this translation to demonstrates how traditional Chinese medicine in southern China approached the issue of dealing with an epidemic like SARS. It was first seen as a flu epidemic . Then when the respiratory symptoms became more marked and manifested clinically in more or less similar fashion in many patients, the nomenclature fei dian xing fei yan ' atypical pneumonia' came about. The epidemic in Hongkong and China is still being referred to in this label. However, the English acronym SARS is being appended with fei dian xing fei yan.

 

Regards,

Rey Tiquia

Phd Candidate

Dept. of History and Philosophy of Science

The University of Melbourne

 

TCM Principle in Preventing Influenza: Support Zheng And Dispel Xie

 

TCM thinks that Gan Mao is an 'externally induced illness' wai gan ji bing brought about by the invasion of the body by Wind heteropathy feng xie . Its clinical manifestations are : headache, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, aversion to cold, fever, and soreness all over the body; or there may be coughing as the main symptoms. This condition can occur all through the four seasons of the year. However, the illness occurs mostly in winter and spring.

 

When this illness has more or less severe manifestation, and within a period of time affects a wider circle of people guang fan liu xing , and the manifesting symptoms are more or less similar, then this condition falls within the category of as shi xing ganmao (common cold which circulates at a definite season . or infectious gan mao or common cold ) .

 

As to the principle observed in preventing Gan Mao , there are two aspects: 'supporting the natural medicine of the body ' fu zheng and 'dispelling the external heteropathy' qu xie.

 

In accordance with TCM theory, ' When the Zheng Qi is within, external heteropathies would not dare invade' zheng Qi cun nei , xie bu ke gan ( this is a quote from the Nei Jing ). Under this condition, vinegar may be used to fumigate the athmmosphere kong Qi or drink decocted Da Qing Ye like tea as preventative measures. The stress is on 'dispelling heteropathies' qu xie .

 

Supporting Zheng and dispelling Xie are two aspects of an illness which are complementary. Supporting the Zheng can protect against the heteropathies xie ; while dispelling the Xie can support the Zheng. In general with regards patients who are physically weak or (weakened), the stress is on supporting the Zheng . While in cases of patients who are generally physically strong, the main thing is to dispel the Xie. However, in the concrete application ( of this concept as a tool ) seaon and weather , local conditions etc. must be looked into . In short, the principle must be applied flexibly.

 

Gan Mao comes about when the wind heteropathic 'pathotoxins' bing du (This Chinese word is also another name for virus) taking advantage of a deficiency in the body's defense capacities fang yu neng li bu zu , launches a surprise invasion of the Lung Defense Qi fei wei and the exterior skin and body hair pi mao . The invasion by the wind heteropathy is related to 'heat and cold disharmony' han re bu tiao and inappropriateness of clothing worn yi zhu bu shi on the part of the patient . On the otherhand, deficiency in Zheng Qi is related to allowing oneself to get too physically exhausted, lack of sleep and 'injury and worry from emotions' qing zhi you shang . On the otherhand, 'infectious ganmao' shi xing gan mao (or influenza " is mainly brought about by severe external heteropathic wai xie invasion. Because of its rapid transmission and transformation chuan bian kuai and its' widespread circulation , we have to put special consideration to this 'infectious gan mao'. Whenever one encounters any of the following circumstances , one has to consider this illness:

 

1) in cases wherein the symptoms of common cold putong gan mao progressively gets worse for three days, and there is a clear upward progression.

 

2) Cases where there is continuous and persistent symptoms of typical 'infectious' gan mao shi xing gan mao.

 

3) Households where two or more members suffering from 'fever gan mao ' , and the number is increasing. This should remind us of a possible 'infectious ganmao' shi xing gan mao epidemic liu xing . These cases must be quarantined as early as possible and treated as early as possible.

 

The Four Methodological Gates for Preventing Influenza liu gan

 

1) Physical exercise Prevention method: Pay attention to physical exercise which will strengthen the capacity of the Zheng Qi to protect against external factors. Based upon people's age and physical conditions, engage in varied physical exercise activities like Tai Ji quan, Exercise of the Eight brocade ba duan jin, jogging etc. At the same time develope the habit of doing regular physical outdoor activies.

 

2) Preventative Food Recipes

 

a. White raddish Bai luo bo 500 g. Scallion cong bai including whiskers 100 g. Boil into a soup and drink . This preparation is enough for 5 people for a day.

 

b. Scallion 500 g. , garlic 250 g. Slice into tiny bits and then add 2,000 g. of water, then boil . Drink one tea cup a day three times a day.

 

c. Moxa for prevention : Use the moxa stick to apply warmth to acupuncture points zu san li S. 36 and CV 5 Shi Men . This is most suitable for the elderly . those physically weak , and those currently suffering from common cold gan mao .

 

3) Herbal for Prevention

 

a. Jade Screen Formula Yu bing feng san . This may be taken by people who easily catch the common cold gan mao . It can have a considerable effect.

 

b. Da Qing Ye , Ban lan gen, guan zhong 30 g. each . Boil and take as tea.

 

c. In winter when the season of wind and cold has come take the Guan zhong decoction. (Guan zhong, si su . jing jie, 10 g. each. , gan cao 3 g. Boil . Taken 3 times a day.

 

4) Preventative Anti-Influenza Tea yu fang liu xing xing gan mao cha : Da qing ye 10 g. ye ju hua 10 g. guan zhong 10 g. jin yin hua 20 g. lian qiao 12 g. Gang mei gen 20 g. (Illex asprella root . The Ling Nan Cai yao Lu 'Records of Herbs Picked At Ling Nan' states that this herb can 'cool heat and detoxify ' qing re du ) . Make into a decoction. Take one dose a day for three days.