TCM therapy to replenish Qi

Traditional Chinese Medicine (photo retrieved from online resource)

Sharing from the perspective of TCM theory, UTAR Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences Department of Chinese Medicine Dr Yap Yau Pin said, “It is vital for one to replenish their Qi to prevent flu. Once the body gathers enough Qi, it no longer needs to be afraid of the ‘evil’ invasion. Chinese herbal medicines, such as Radix Astragali (黄耆), Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae (白朮), Radix Saposhnikoviae (防风) and red dates, can be used to enhance the body’s resistance. People who are prone to repeated colds or feel fatigued and experience shortness of breath lacks Qi. Thus, they are recommended to take a medicated diet or tea that can invigorate the Qi and spleen to enhance the body’s immunity.”

The following are some of the medicated tea and therapies recommended by Dr Yap to enhance our body’s immunity.

Ginger-Scallion Root Tea (photo retrieved from online resource)

Ginger-Scallion Root Tea (葱头薑水) is used to cure colds and flu. It is largely suitable for people who are experiencing early symptom of a cold. The best example would be people who have been exposed to rain. The ingredients are smashed scallion root and one/two slices of ginger. Soak the ingredients; boil and serve as tea.

Note: Make sure there is no other symptom like fever or other heat symptoms. Also, this medicated tea is not suitable for Yin deficiency constitution (阴虚体质). Yin-deficiency usually leads to “heatiness”, thus, encouraging the growth of acne and sore throat. The nature of this tea is rather spicy (属性偏辛), hence some may feel uncomfortable after drinking.

Four Spirits Soup (photo retrieved from online resource)

Four Spirits Soup or “Si Shen Tang” (四神汤), after consuming, provides a spleen-invigorating effect. It also strengthens one’s resistance against viruses. It is made up of white lotus seeds (莲子), Chinese yam (山药), Poria (茯苓), Euryale seeds (芡实) and barley (薏仁). It can also be paired with meat optionally.

Cautions: The soup and tea mentioned above may not be suitable for everyone; it depends on their body constitution. If the body’s immune system is imbalanced, one would experience immune system disorder which causes one to fall ill. Patients with immune system disorder usually suffer from allergies, Lupus Erythematosus (红斑性狼疮) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (僵直性脊椎炎), to name a few. These patients are not allowed to enhance their immunity. In addition, those who are positive with influenza should avoid consuming the soup and tea as well.

“Nie Sha” (photo retrieved from online resource)

Besides consuming medicated teas, there are other healthcare therapies that can be easily carried out at home, such as massage. This therapy aims to dispel heat and “Nie Sha” (捏痧). Massaging one with sesame oil is useful to cure fever. Apply sesame oil on the forehead, face, chest, and back; rub and massage with your hands repeatedly for four to five times. Sesame oil can help to get rid of heat from the body through the skin. This method is especially suitable for children. Whereas for “Nie Sha” (people who have colds and headache), they may pinch between their two eyebrows with two fingers; this is to squeeze out the eruptive toxin. For people who suffer from sore throat, itchy throat or cough, they can pinch the middle of their neck to relieve the symptoms. Do not pinch the sides of the neck as you may hurt the aorta (大动脉).

Based on TCM theories, Acupressure massage is a massage therapy technique which uses finger pressure to mobilise Qi at acupressure point. The acupressure massage helps to release blocked or congested energy that centers in the body, while promoting unobstructed Qi flow for health and well-being.

The following are some examples of acupressure point shared by Dr Yap to relieve certain symptoms:

Da Zhui Point (photo retrieved from online resource)

Da Zhui Point (大椎穴) is located at the lower edge of the large bone protruding in the middle, behind the neck (颈后正中大骨头突起的下缘). Massaging this point helps to clear heat and relieve fever. It is suitable for people with a high fever.

Operation: Press the index finger and the middle finger firmly on the Da Zhui Point and massage for one or two hundred times.

Feng Chi Point (photo retrieved from online resource)

Feng Chi Point (风池穴) is located at the lower edge of the occipital bone behind the neck, a depression about two fingers wide from the back of the ear (颈后枕骨下缘，距离耳朵后部约两个手指宽的凹陷处). Massaging this point helps to relieve the headache caused by flu. It has the function of clearing heat and dispelling interior and exterior air/gas.

Operation: Hold the head with both hands; massage the acupuncture points using both thumbs for two minutes.

Ying Xiang Point (photo retrieved from online resource)

Ying Xiang Point (迎香穴) is located at the midpoint of the lateral part of the nasal wing, in the middle of the nasolabial fold (鼻翼外缘中点旁，鼻唇沟中间). Massaging this point helps to relieve nasal congestion and runny nose.

Operation: Use the index fingers of both hands to press the Ying Xiang Points on both sides of the nose, rub 50 times in both clockwise and anti-clockwise direction.

Sachets (photo retrieved from online resource)

On top of that, Sachets (香囊) made from Chinese Herbal Medicines such as Flos Caryophylli (丁香), Radix Angelicae Dahuricae (白芷), Semen Myristicae (肉豆蔻), Borneolum Syntheticum (冰片), Lignum Aquilariae Resinatum (沉香), Folium Artemisia Argyi (艾叶), Herba Eupatorii (佩兰), “Gui Guan” (桂官), Fructus Foeniculi (小茴香), “Chang Pu Shi” (菖蒲石), “Cang Zhu” (苍朮), Peppermint (薄荷) and Herba Pogostemonis (藿香), can be used to repel foulness. It serves as aromatics with detoxification properties. It can be either hung in the car or the house.

Tai Chi (photo retrieved from online resource)

One is also recommended to practise Tai Chi (太极拳) for about 30 to 50 minutes a day. Studies have shown that Tai Chi can improve lung capacity and respiratory function. It helps to increase the depth of breathing by ensuring oxygen supply. Chest tightness, shortness of breath and the decrease in blood oxygen saturation are some of the main clinical symptoms of Coronavirus. The discomfort feeling caused by these symptoms may increase the patient's anxiety and despair level. Tai Chi exercises are mainly based on abdominal breathing, which requires deep, long and gentle breathing. Thus, the tension and pressure of chest breathing are transferred to the abdomen. This helps the patient to breathe in more oxygen to enhance their hypoxia symptoms.

The food pyramid for a balanced diet (photo retrieved from online resource)

Generally, it is vital for one to have a balanced diet to maintain good health and enhance the body’s immunity; foods must be in variety and water should be consumed every day for hydration and ease of defecation.

The following are some recommendations to consider:

- People who are afraid of cold or have symptom such as cold stomach are recommended to take ginger (生姜), mustard (芥菜) and coriander (芫荽).

- People who experience symptoms such as dry throat and dry mouth are recommended to take green tea (绿茶), Semen Sojae Preparatum (豆豉) and starfruit (杨桃).

- Pear (梨), Bulbus Lilii (百合), groundnut or peanut (落花生), almond (杏仁), Semen Ginkgo (白果), Fructus Mume (乌梅), Chinese cabbage (小白菜), tangerine peel (橘皮) and perilla (紫苏), are recommended for symptoms such as cough and cough with phlegm.　　

- For symptoms such as loss of appetite and bloating, one is recommended to take Fructus Crataegi (山楂), Chinese yam (山药), white lablab bean (白扁豆), poria (茯苓), Radix Puerariae (葛根), Semen Raphani (莱菔子) and Fructus Amomi (砂仁).

- Honey (蜂蜜), banana (香蕉) and Semen Cannabis (柏子仁) are recommended for symptoms such as constipation.

- Insomnia patients are recommended to take Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (酸枣仁) and Semen Platycladi (柏子仁).

Semen Ziziphi Spinosae (left) and Semen Platycladi are used to cure insomnia (Photos retrieved from online resources)

(Translation source: https://tcmwiki.com/)