In the Valley we have had a mild fall with lots of sun. The waves of colds and flus following kids back to school didn’t hit as hard as it has in past years. But the weather is turning now, and the influence of winter is creeping into our daily lives. This cold penetrates deep into our bodies, and for us living on the west coast, we are well aware of how it feels. The damp air blown in off the ocean hits us hard, and we aren’t fully aware of its influence until we fly south and realize most of our troubles melt away.
This phenomenon is foundational in Chinese medicine. As Chinese medicine seeks to realize a balance between us and our external world. From weather to climate, work stress to family stress, diet and lifestyle. Every part of our world affects us on some level.
Naturally then, you ask: “what does the weather have to do with viruses and pathogens?” Well if we look at the concept of “Terrain theory vs. Germ theory” I can explain. Germ theory is the idea that pathogens enter the body and make us sick, and the solution is to kill the germ. Terrain theory looks at the body and acknowledges that yes there are pathogens and germs, but they are all over us all the time. The best we can do is to make sure that the body/immune system is strong and that will prevent the pathogens from affecting us.
What I’m getting at is: Cold causes a disruption in our normal physiology, a weakness in our immunity where pathogens then take over and we get sick. The function of a formula like Gui Zhi tang is to recalibrate our system to be strong and immune to the pathogens around us, to restore normal physiology. Now I’m not saying Chinese herbs do not have antiviral effects, because they do. I’m saying that the cold can make us sick, and we use Chinese herbs to restore vitality to the system.
Thus with the cold winter reaching its peak, I’m going to talk about a foundational formula in Chinese medicine. This formula is one of our best tools to combat the cold wind.
Line 12: With TaiYang wind strike the Yang floats and the Yin is weak. When the Yang floats, fever manifests spontaneously: when the Yin is weak, sweat spontaneously emerges. For chills, shivering sensitivity to drafts, shuddering fever, sounds from nasal congestion, and dry heaves, Gui Zhi Tang governs.
Some of the most common symptoms we see with this formula are slight sweating, aversion/intolerance to cold, chills, and slight fever. This sounds a lot like a common cold right? Now a common cold does not always present like this, and we have other formulas for when it does not. But this is a very common presentation and I’m sure most of you have felt this before. This formula uses the warm and moving quality of the Cinnamon twig to propel warmth throughout the body and to reach all corners of the periphery. Ginger is used to warm and strengthen the center, this provides the foundation of healthy energy in the body to be propelled to the exterior. Functionally, the White peony has the ability to astringe the exterior, this means to seal up the exterior of the body so that sweat does not leak out, which can further damage the warm energy of the body. Lastly, the Red date and Licorice are used in a popular combination with the Ginger to strengthen the digestive center of the body. When our digestion is not strong, we cannot make energy, therefore recovery will be very hard. This combination is used in countless formulas to support the foundation of health, our digestion.
This small and simple formula has a very broad range of effects and can treat many more conditions then the acute symptoms I describe here. If you want to learn more about Chinese herbs and the endless conditions they can help treat, I’d be happy to meet you in the clinic and see if Chinese herbs are right for you!
Dr. Bob Malecki, Dr.TCM