Feeling invulnerable and unaware of stress and dietary causes, the averageAmerican experiences approximately 5.6 respiratory illnesses each year andyoung children, a startling 8.3! [1] Infact the common cold,[2] as one of aclass of upper respiratory diseases, accounts for 60% of all diseases.

With all the recent high tech advances of modern medicine and the billionsof dollars spent on research of far more complex and serious diseases such ascancer, one might at least expect a cure for the common cold. Not so easy,since there are more than 200 viruses, numbers of bacteria and even somefunguses that can cause cold-like respiratory problems. Because of this, it isnot likely that a vaccine can be developed for the common cold. This isparticularly true since more than any other disease, a cold represents acomplex series of energetic metabolic imbalances as well as various pathogeniccauses often unique to each patient.

Coryza, as the common cold is called in medical jargon, is considered aminor self-limiting illness mostly occurring during the autumn and winter withchills and dampness being predisposing factors. The standard medical treatmentis to spend a day or two in bed and take soluble aspirin 0.6 grams every 6hours or so to alleviate the minor discomforting symptoms.

Another factor to consider is that living and sleeping in overlyheated homes with lack of ventilation, does not allow ourTriple Warmer to help us make the proper adjustment to outer climaticconditions. As a result, we literally "catch a chill" when we stepoutside during the Winter months.

We must confess that there are in fact few cures for any disease,including the common cold. It was Hippocrates, the father of Westernmedicine who first observed how despite all our supposed cures andremedies, "the body cures itself." Given this, treatments and remediesgenerally focus on either managing the symptoms of discomfort, orideally to facilitate and optimize the body's ability to healitself. In natural medicine this is done mainly through the use ofdietary restrictions, herbs, various physio-therapeutic methods suchas inducing perspiration and of course, plenty of recuperativerest.

This is no great news for the impatient or self important, who feelthat under no circumstances can the relentless high-stress pace of hisor her daily life be interrupted because of an unexpected cold. It isfor such an individual that Western pharmaceutical medicine offersover-the-counter drugs in the form of variousantihistamines. Unfortunately, while they may temporarily relievecold-symptoms, they may also have undesirable side effects of eitherdrowsiness or excitement, lethargy, fatigue and even possiblecardiovascular collapse or respiratory arrest. Hardly a bargain inexchange for a cold!

From the perspective of holistic health, antihistamines insult thebody's life force and may have a negative impact in facilitating itsability to properly cleanse and regain health. When a cold finallyquits with such treatment, it is more an expression of despair inconvincing its host of the need to detoxify, slow down andrest. Assuming the prerequisite rest, judicious fasting or dietarylimitations, herbs and other natural therapies can give our body thestrength it needs to fully cleanse and recover.

How do these herbs stimulate the immune system? Echinacea (allspecies), today the most popular North American herb, has been shownto be both bacteriostatic and anti viral.[4] Golden seal root (Hydrastiscanadensis) has powerful effects in drying the mucus membranes andinhibiting a wide range of hostile microorganisms. Chaparral (Larreadivaricata) has strong anti microbial activity and has been shown tosedate inflammation of the respiratory and intestinal tract.[5] Garlic (allium sativum) containsallicin which has been shown to be not only antibacterial but antiviral against influenza virus.[6],[7] The powerful deep immunestimulating properties of astragalus (astragalus membranicus) will bediscussed further on.

To make your own herbal immune stimulant and cold and flu remedy,combine these herbs in equal amounts and blend approximately fourounces of the combination in a pint of gin or vodka. Allow to stand ina wide mouthed jar, shaking it daily. After at least two weeks, strainand bottle for use. Average dose consists of 30 drops to a 1 teaspoontwo or three times daily more or less as needed. During an acutecondition, I recommend taking a teaspoon steeped in a half cup ofboiling water every hour or two.

Boneset was a once popular herb for influenza and fevers. It heldofficial drug status in the US from 1820 to 1950. It is diaphoretic,febrifuge (gets rid of fevers), emetic (in large doses), andlaxative. In mild, moderate doses it is diaphoretic, especially whentaken in warm infusion. Steep one oz. of the dried herb to 1 pint ofboiling water. Take a half cup every hour or two during an acute stageof cold or fever. After five doses or so, it should induceperspiration.

The popular name was inspired from its great value in treating aparticular type of fever ("dengue") with attendant bone pain called"breakbone" that prevailed in the US during the 19th century. It isstill widely used for treating colds and influenza by British medicalherbalists specifically for the treatment of influenza andfever. Because of its bitter, somewhat nauseant taste, it has falleninto recent neglect but considering the increasing virulence ofinfluenza viruses that have been visited upon us in recent times, itseems worth reconsidering the use of this old-time cold and influenzaremedy.

Now let's look at some individual herbal remedies.

It is sold neatly sized and packaged, resembling yellow colored tonguedepressors. As with many Chinese herbs, but more especiallyastragalus, there are many different grades from which tochoose. Ideally this process will be facilitated by knowing yoursupplier. Quality is determined partially by its larger size, thedepth of yellow color and most definitively by a noticeable 'sweetish'flavor when a piece of the root is chewed.

About 6 to 15 grams is taken or for convenience, around three or fourslices, of the root can be simmered alone or with fresh ginger in ahalf quart of water for approximately 30 to 45 minutes. This can thenbe used as tea or you can use it as stock for soup or to cook cerealor rice. Traditionally most Chinese families serve it in Winter to theentire family in soup once a week whether any of them immediately needit or not, somewhat like the way some Westerners regularly take adaily multi vitamin. For those who are actively working onstrengthening their immune system, it should be taken regularly onceor twice daily over a period of weeks or months as needed.

Because it has a metabolically warming and drying nature, astragalusis not recommended to use if there is any accompanying acuteinflammation, fever, or noticeable dryness of the skin and mucusmembranes. In general it is best to use it inter currently when thedisease is not in its most actively inflamed and acute stage.

In my own experience, I like to make fresh garlic oil by blendingseveral cloves of peeled garlic in olive oil. A teaspoon of this isthen taken every hour or two not only to relieve the immediate coldsymptoms but because of the anti-biotic and anti-viral properties ofgarlic, to at least help prevent the spread of theinflammation. Garlic oil is very effective for coughs as well asearaches. For the ears, simply moisten a wad of cotton and put it intoeach ear before retiring. Relief is usually overnight.

Ginger, garlic and boiled water all fulfill the fundamentalprerequisite strategy for treating the common cold, to inducestimulation of the surface capillaries and break the cold by inducingperspiration. As previously stated, herbs that are classified eitheras surface stimulants or diaphoretics such as elder, mint, lemon balm,oregano, yarrow, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne pepper and garlic areused. The addition of sucanat or honey can serve as a valuablecomponent of treatment because it helps to replenish and nourish theenergy that is consumed with the use of herbal stimulants anddiaphoretics.

This is especially important for some vegetarians who may lack anynutritional reserve and generally respond poorly to the use of herbalstimulants and diaphoretics that disperse internal energy to thesurface. These individuals also respond especially poorly to the useof antihistamines and antibiotics that consume some of the body'sreserves.

The ingredients are mixed and sifted. The dose is one teaspoonfulsteeped in a cup of hot or boiling water sweetened with raw brownsugar or honey. Cover and allow it to stand until cool enough to drinkthe clear liquid, leaving the powder.

Evidently upper respiratory complaints were at least as prevalent inthe 19th and early 20th centuries. It was Dr. Nowell's most commonlyprescribed herbal formula. He states: "We have made and usedComposition Powder for over forty years --- we regularly mixed it inbatches of sixty pounds -- As a remedy in colds, beginning of fevers,flu, hoarseness, sluggish circulation, colic cramps, etc. we believeit has done more good than any other single preparation ever known toman --- If this compound were kept in every home, and used as theoccasion arose, there would be far less sickness. Give it freely inyour practice and your patient will bless you."[9]

It is taken similarly to composition powder previously described but Ifeel the addition of licorice and marshmallow root gives it a smootheraction.

This combination is especially suitable for patients of a more delicateor frail constitution. After taking one or two cups of the tea, one shouldretire to bed to sweat. It should then be followed by a bowl of rice porridge ahalf hour or so after sweating to replenish any lost vitality.

The Shang Han Lun of Chang Chung Ching, from which thisformula is taken, was essentially dedicated to treating colds andother contagious diseases caused by cold. The reason as stated byChang in his preface, "two-thirds of my relatives (more than twohundred) succumbed to disease, seven-tenths of which (deaths) were dueto an epidemic fever." Evidently colds leading to more serious upperrespiratory problems were also an issue in 2nd century China aswell.

Medical inefficiency must also have been a problem since part of theintent of the book was to reform 2nd century Chinese medical practice. TheShang Han Lun consists of some 113 predominantly herbal formulasoriginally intended to treat acute, externally contracted disease such ascolds, flus and fevers. Their therapeutic efficacy have since been more deeplyunderstood and broadened so that they have become the core formulas of clinicalChinese herbalism as well as Japanese Kanpo herb medicine.

TCM tends to differentiate constitutionally between delicate, mediumor strong patients. Delicate patients tend to be underweight, colder,frailer and more susceptible to external diseases. Medium patientshave a medium build and are neither pronouncedly delicate or excessivein build. Strong patients tend to have a large bodily frame, strong,excessive manner and less vulnerable to cold.

This is slowly simmered in 2 or 3 cups of boiling water for 30 minutes ina covered non-metallic vessel. One cup is taken two or three timesdaily.

This formula is good for those with a somewhat delicate constitutionwho have a tendency towards fatigue, gastrointestinal weakness,headache, heaviness in the head, neuralgia, fever, chills, floatingpulse, distention beneath the heart. It is primarily used for treatingthe common cold, influenza, pneumonia, tuberculosis and pleuritis.

Yin Chiao San

Bamboo manna (phylostachys nigra) is the inner sap of bamboo. It iscalled zhu li in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and is similarlyused to clear inflammation and phlegm from the lungs. Pippli (piperlongum) called bi ba in TCM, along with the other ingredients insito paladi are hot and counterbalance the cooling energy of bamboomanna. Although, not as preferred, one can substitute black pepper forpippli in this formula. These herbs tend to stimulate circulation andraise the body's resistance to external cold pathogens.

A simplification of this combination is readily made by combiningpowdered black pepper, cardamom, echinacea root (either purpurea orangustifolia) and, if available, adding kudzu starch powder. The driedherbs should be finely powdered and mixed with warm honey to form athick goupy consistency. In this form, it can be stored in a smallwide mouthed jar and will keep indefinitely unrefrigerated. A teaspoonof this combination can be taken three or four times a day followed bya cup of boiled warm water.

Since the beginning of recorded history, people have been vulnerable tooccasional colds and flu. As a result there is a wealth of practical dietaryand herbal wisdom for us to draw upon from many cultures. As we have seen,proper treatment of a cold can range from the simplest use of drinking boiledwarm water to a complex Chinese herbal formula from the second century A.D.Once established, a cold might have to simply run its course. Even then, itsduration and discomfort can be reduced considerably with therapeutic diet andherbs. Proper treatment will also help prevent what might at first be a simplecommon disease from developing into a more complicated life threateningproblem.