Traditional Chinese Medicine can improve the overall health of individuals who take herbal supplements. While TCM is not designed to treat specific symptoms, it is meant instead to improve the natural functions of the body as a whole. Herbs and formulas “can help you regain balance in your body and strengthen your body’s resistance to disease.” Through this pathway, they can provide wide-ranging benefits.
Specific herbs and formulas have been used in TCM for centuries for their particular benefits to the immune system. We will discuss some of these formulas below. To get the most from TCM and have a safe experience, however, it is essential to visit a licensed acupuncturist or TCM practitioner for a proper diagnosis first. They will base your herbal prescription on numerous factors so you get the full benefits of treatment safely.
How To Start TCM Treatment
Chinese herbs can be taken in conjunction with Western medicine. However, before starting TCM, each patient should first visit an experienced Chinese herbalist. This accomplishes two essential functions. First, it ensures you receive a prescription tailored to your body and concerns. Second, it reduces the likelihood of negative interactions with any current medications or allergic reactions.
TCM is the opposite of a “one-size-fits-all” healthcare program. Treatment takes into account many factors, including your overall health, your body type, the specific symptoms you are experiencing, your current medications and diagnoses, as well as other information. TCM’s approach to wellness is both holistic and highly individualized.
By visiting a licensed acupuncturist or TCM doctor first, you can enjoy more substantial benefits than attempting to explore TCM on your own. You can also avoid unwanted problems, as mentioned above. Also, if you have a currently diagnosed issue, you can ensure that your supplements work alongside with your doctor’s prescription for the maximum benefit.
Common TCM Formulas and What They Do
Taking herbs daily can help boost your immune system, preventing specific symptoms from reoccurring. Herbal supplements can help manage and improve a wide range of mild and severe health concerns, from the average cold to pancreatitis. We will share some common herbal formulas with you here. We hope this will help familiarize you with TCM and broaden your understanding of how these supplements can potentially support your immune system.
Several formulas are commonly used to boost the immune system. They include:
Gui Zhi Tang
Gui Zhi Tang is often prescribed for the common cold, flu, or upper respiratory tract infections. It can also help treat postpartum fever, allergic rhinitis, cerebrovascular spasm (vascular hemorrhages in the brain), eczema, and urticaria (hives). The formula helps support wei, the body’s outer defenses, and ying, the cardiovascular system.
Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang
Chai Hu Gui Zhi Tang is frequently prescribed for the common cold, flu, and pancreatitis. It can also help sufferers of acute or chronic stomatitis (oral inflammation). The formula helps the interior and exterior of the body achieve greater harmony.
Ren Sheng Bai Du San
Ren Sheng Bai Du San is used to address the common cold, sore throats, and head stiffness. The formula helps alleviate pain and supports qi, the body’s inner defenses, as well as blood circulation.
You Ping Feng San
You Ping Feng San is used in the treatment of the common cold and other respiratory issues, such as allergic rhinitis (hay fever). The formula helps support qi as well as the body’s exterior defenses.
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Xiao Chai Hu Tang can help patients experience alternating chills and fever. It can help improve conditions associated with the shaoyang stage of diagnosis, including dizziness, vision problems, headaches, and nausea.
While each of these formulas can help boost your immune system, each formula contains different herbs. One formula may be better suited to your body, medical history, and symptoms than another. Always see a licensed practitioner with in-depth knowledge of TCM for a full exam, diagnosis, and prescription before taking herbal supplements. By doing so, you can avoid problems, protect your health, and get the most from TCM.
TCM Offers Patients a Natural Pathway to Greater Immune System Health
TCM helps individuals achieve greater wellness in a number of ways. Chinese herbal formulas can help suffers from chronic pain as well as support individuals’ immune systems. The wide variety of herbs and formulas makes it possible to treat many health problems. Also, since formulas are customized to each patient’s needs, patients, with the help of their practitioner, can optimize their health benefits.
Greater wellness begins with an in-person consultation with a licensed acupuncturist or practitioner. They can explain the history and benefits of TCM in more detail and identify the best way to supplement your current healthcare routine. A qualified and reputable TCM specialist will also ensure you take herbs of the highest quality. KPC Herbs has produced herbs, according to the highest standards, for five generations and is the premier choice of many practitioners.
To find a licensed practitioner near you who carries our products, contact us today. We hope you enjoy our products and reap all the benefits that TCM has to offer. We wish you the best of health!
*Please note: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This article is not intended to suggest specific treatments for patients or that any supplements mentioned prevent or cure diseases or problems. Before taking any herbs, all patients should discuss their options with a licensed practitioner, including any other medications the patient is currently taking, as there may be contraindications between pharmaceuticals and herbs.
References
What You Should Know About Chinese Herbal Therapy; The Cleveland Clinic; https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/transcripts/1599_what-you-should-know-about-chinese-herbal-therapy; June, 2014.
