Article By Sako Makarians posted on Jan 29, 2010

For ease of use I have written this article in three segments. The first segment is for quick access to the most effective natural treatment protocol for H1N1 and other Influenza-A infections. If you or a loved one is displaying signs and symptoms of what might be the swine flu you have no time to experiment. The subsequent segment will deal with explanations of the herbs, dosages from adults to infants with general guidelines and precautions. The final segment addresses professionals who understand herbal medicine and want to create a stronger and more precise formula for individual patients.

Part A: Simple powerful herbal remedies to combat H1N1and other Influenza-A type infection
If you are not an expert in herbal medicine and are looking for alternative answers, frankly Traditional Chinese Medicine has the best and most powerful natural treatment regimen. Unfortunately most people know nothing about these herbs and definitely do not know where to find them or who to ask for help. I hope to shed light on this matter and give you access to the amazing world of Chinese herbal medicine. It is Cheap, it is extremely effective, there is significant scientific and empirical evidence to support it and it is everywhere. The protocol can also be used for children above one year old, but specific dosages and guidelines described further in the article need to be followed.

The main herbs and formulas in order of importance:
Ban Lan Gen
Huo xiang zheng qi tang
Sang Ju Yin & Yin Qiao Sao
Huang Qin
Yu Xing Cao
Andrographis (Chuan Xin Lian)

Also very important:
Bed rest
Chicken soup with Ginger and Garlic
Drinking fluids

Avoid:
Dairy
Greasy or fried foods and sweets
Alcohol and Vinegar
Grapes and cantaloupes
Overeating or hard to digest foods

Supplementation:
Vitamin D, E, Zinc

Western Herbs:
Elderberry
Mullein

Top Herbs and formulas for boosting immunity (not for use during an illness):
Astralagus
Ginseng
Yu Ping Feng San
Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang

Foods:
Garlic
Onion/Green onion
Oregano

Part B: Herbs and strategies

Ban Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis) – this was also one of the key herbs used during the SARS epidemic. Originally used in the treatment of sore throat and fever, it has since been recognized as one of the key herbs in handicapping viral proliferation in the body. This herb can be used not only to fight the infection, but also as a preventative if someone in the household or work has contracted the flu. If you were to pick one single herb as your silver bullet, than this would be it. 
You can purchase the granulated extracts of Ban Lan Gen from nearly any Chinese herbal shop. If there is a Chinese neighbourhood or a Chinese grocery store close to you, you are most likely going to find an Herbal shop nearby. You can purchase the raw herbs and boil them yourself (cooking instructions at the end of Part A.) but it is much easier if you get the granules which are like instant coffee and mix with warm water to drink. They are very inexpensive and palatable. They often come in 10 gram doses and some are readily mixed with cane sugar or glucose so children (and many adults) do not complain. In severe cases such as the H1N1 my recommended dose for adults and children over 12 years of age is 20-30 grams which is two to three times the textbook dose. Realistically the text book dosages are indicated for larger formulas made up of 4 to 12 herbs on average. So once we are reduced to taking a single herb, unless there is a specific reason not to take it at a higher dose then it is much less a concern. For Ban Lan Gen, 10 grams is an average daily dose for adults. As the herb is very safe and well tolerated, a higher dose is important to fight the infection. For Children between 1-2 years old and about 20 lbs, 3-5 grams will suffice. For Children 3-4 years old 5 10 grams is well tolerated. I have given this formula to my children many times.  The granules can be mixed with a small amount of water (about an ounce or less) to dissolve, given throughout the day with a dropper, or mixed with a larger amount of water or juice for sipping to conceal the taste which is peculiar at most. Same as any new food it is important that you test a little with them to make sure that they do not show an allergic reaction to the herb. 
Ban Lan Gen is also safe to take with acetaminophen or ibuprofen, but it is good to administer it one hour before or after so you can monitor their fever better. For children 4- 10 years old, it is safe to take 5- 15 grams per day. Infants and children often enjoy drinking the sweetened version unless they are told that it is a medicine. Certainly it is better to take the sugar free version, but compliance will be the deciding factor. It is not worth the undue stress on the child if they are ok drinking it sweet or one diluted with juice.  Also with H1N1, if you are having digestion issues and nausea, than drinking the sweetened version does become easier. Along with the granules stores also often sell a dissolvable cube version of the herbal extract which often has sugar added. This is also fine to use, but just a little more difficult to dissolve. The cube version is referred to as Cha, or tea. So if they are sold out on the granules, it is ok to substitute. The herbs can be taken throughout the day in 2-4 hour intervals. This is also ok with children. Oral use of Ban Lan Gen is very safe. The possible drug interactions and allergies are rare. The research shows that Ban Lan Gen has some antiplatelet and anticoagulant effects as do many herbs, even ginger. Although no interactions have been documented it might potentiate the effects of drugs such as heparin or warfarin in higher doses but this is not typical. Please also note that Ban Lan Gen is not an antibiotic and it would be inappropriate for bacterial infections.

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang- Is one of the most common and frequently used formulas in Chinese pharmacopeia. The formula has been used for many centuries for Chills, fever, accompanied with nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. This is the key formula for nausea and digestive disorders especially diarrhoea which are very common with severe viral infections such as H1N1. The formula consists of many effective all natural herbal ingredients that can control nausea and diarrhea accompanied with chills, fever and body ache. It has also been successfully used to even combat food poisoning, so the applications are not limited simply to flu. 
There are many reliable and effective versions of this formula available in Chinese herbal shops. Again, it is best to take a pill or granulated version. For children, if you can’t find the granules, you may crush the pills and dissolve in hot water. Just be careful if you are using a dropper that there are no solid pieces of the pills left in the liquid as it is a choking hazard for children. Pills are easy to take for adults but children will fight you with anything that needs a dropper to dispense. Again dissolving it in a little hot water and then mixing it with juice is a good way to go. The formula has an aromatic smell, and I have found this one acceptable to children and adults alike once mixed with orange or cranberry juice or just added to water with a little sugar. The formula is also very safe, and is very well tolerated in higher dosages 2 or more times the packaging recommendations. For instance if the package indicates using 10 grams per day, this is fine for children 5 and up. For children 1-3, you may use one third to half of the regular dose, 3-5 grams. And you can use half the dose for a 3 or 4 year old. For adults, double dose to 20 grams if the signs and symptoms are more severe. If you find the need to take more than the general daily dose you should space it 3-4 hours apart to give time for the body to respond. Please avoid buying the liquid versions as they might contain alcohol or other preservatives. Although the liquid versions are effective in other instances, for flu, and especially children, they are the incorrect choice and should be avoided.
 
The above two prescriptions are the key natural remedies to overcome the illness. The following medicinal are also very effective, but if you find yourself overwhelmed with too much information, than just stick to the above two, and if needed you can add one of the below ingredients to your arsenal.

Sang Ju Yin and Yin Qiao San - Sang Ju Yin is a very effective formula for fever accompanied with cough as the main respiratory sign. This is the most basic of remedies traditionally used to treat cough and fever without adversely effecting the course of the illness that many cough suppressants do. If they don’t have Sang ju yin, you can buy the replacement Yin Qiao San. The herbs are somewhat different, but if you have a fever, then this formula is also ideal. Sang Ju Yin is better for coughs while Yin Qiao San has stronger anti viral and fever reducing properties. In many instances fevers are very well controlled once the herbs take effect. It simply means that the herbs are effectively fighting the infection or slowing down the proliferation and allowing your body to mount a defensive. The Fever that accompanies H1N1 is often very severe, and these formulas, although effective are not meant to replace pharmaceutical drugs such as Acetaminophen or ibuprofen which might be necessary especially for children.  

If you are taking the first two formulas mentioned earlier (Ban Lan Gen and Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang) then you may in addition take Sang Ju Yin or Yin Qiao San in doses recommended on the packaging. If children are not presenting with nausea, diarrhea or vomiting but have a high fever and cough instead, then you may replace Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang with Sang Ju Yin or Yin Qiao San. However, for children, I still prefer Ban Lan Gen with Huo Xiang Cheng Qi Tang as the foundation of my prescription as very often the digestive system gets involved. The dosage for ages 1-3 can be approximately one quarter to one third the daily recommended dose, and for ages 4-10 you may use half to 2/3rd the recommended daily dose spread out through the entire 24 hour day. For adults it is safe to take 2-3 times the regular daily dose. With children, it is important not to overmedicate and to spread out the dosages throughout the day. Although the herbs are safe to take, small children can easily gag especially if a dropper is not used correctly. This happens with any medication, but the chances go up greatly if you are doing it frequently, so please be careful. It is much easier to add the herbs to juice to mask the taste than any other way. Also, since H1N1 often presents with digestive disorders, If you overmedicate, your child might develop loose stool or diarrhoea.

Huang Qin (Scutellaria baicalensis) and Yu Xing Cao (Herba Houttuyniae): These are two excellent herbs that can fight lung infections. They are known to have anti bacterial and anti viral functions. It is less likely you will find them in pill or granule form, and most likely you will need to buy the loose herbs and boil them yourself or seek a professional who might have the granules. There are many Chinese cold and flu remedies that contain Huang Qin as one of the top three ingredients such as Xiao Chai Hu Tang which is also very good for flu and fever. Yu Xing Cao is less frequently used but it is very effective nonetheless. The dosages for adults are approximately 5-15 grams per day for Huang Qin and up to 30 grams per day for Yu Xing Cao, boiled for 5 minutes and simmered for an additional 20-30 minutes. It is very difficult to administer the herbal decoctions to small children, so it is more geared for children over 10 years of age and adults. A daily dose can be divided into two or three cups, taken morning, noon and night. Some prefer to take these herbs until the symptoms subside, and it is absolutely fine to continue taking until the chest starts to feel clear again, which could be about a week or a little bit more.

Important: Dos and Don’ts
Bed rest is also very important if you suspect H1N1. Turn off the television and put away your work and studies. It is not worth your health. Food staple should consist of chicken soup with lots of ginger and garlic. Ginger and garlic are the culinary kings of the natural medicine cuisine. And yes, food is medicine. A bowl of chicken soup is important to speed up recovery. And if there is no chance of cooking soup at home, then you can buy a clean version from outside and chop fresh ginger and garlic into it. It is important to avoid fried, greasy foods. No milk products or sweets, as they will interfere with the body’s defences. Also do not overeat. This will put an undue strain on your system. It is not a coincidence that most animals stop eating when they are sick. Also milk and greasy foods and some grains such as wheat are mucus producing and will therefore have adverse effects on the respiratory system. Avoid vinegars and alcoholic beverages, especially wines. Most salad dressings contain vinegar and they must be avoided. Grapes and Cantaloupes should also not be consumed as they can worsen the symptoms in some people.So if you want a natural source of vitamin C, stick to oranges rather than grapes.
It is good to supplement your diet with rich coloured fruits and vegetables such as carrots and blueberries. Also, try to eat more cooked vegetables rather than raw such as cooked carrots in soup or steamed warm vegetables. This eases the digestion, improves absorption of the nutrients and warms the body.

Fever:
Controlling fevers is much more difficult with herbal medicine unless you really know what you are doing. The below guidelines are not intended treatments for individuals with a medical history such as severe asthma or cardiac or respiratory condition.  Taking herbal medicines that control and fight the infection will bring the fever down gradually, but you should not take the fever lightly, nor should you run to the over-the-counter drug cabinet as soon as you have a little headache and fever. Especially for infants Acetaminophen and Ibuprofen (Tylenol and Advil as common brands) should be handy. It works, it is relatively safe, and you can have a level of certainty that you will reduce the fever if necessary. Some viruses such as H1N1 are notorious for producing a very high fever. For those of you how are hard on taking anything that is not natural I am unenthusiastic in suggesting natural alternatives, as a high level of expertise is required to control dosing and monitor efficacy, and there is no guarantees.
Generally speaking, uncomplicated fevers are not an issue. It is a normal part of the immune response and fever reducing-over-the counter medicines are not necessary. This is a different case for parents who have children who are susceptible to febrile seizures. If you are a parent who is holding off on Acetaminophen unless you really have to administer it then keep a close watch on the fever, and continue giving the herbs and formulas presented in this article. They are very effective in controlling the infection and indirectly reducing the fever. Once the herbs begin to disrupt the proliferation of the infection, the body gets a good chance to mount a proper offensive against the invasion. This in general results in a quicker recovery with milder symptoms such as fever, ear pain and body aches. If you like to know the names of some herbs that I use to reduce fever in the clinic, they are Chai Hu, Jing Jie, Bai Zhi, Zhi Mu and Shi Gao. However this is not a fair description as it requires proper diagnosis to use them correctly.  The herbs initially described in the article such as Ban Lan Gen and Yin Qiao San combined with rest and chicken soup with garlic and ginger are actually a very important part of a good treatment.
You can use a damp room temperature cloth on your forehead, neck and nape and keep replacing it in order to keep the head cooler. This is particularly important for children with high fevers especially when you have already exhausted your arsenal of over the counter medicines. This is a way of keeping the head cool just enough so that they will not have a febrile seizure. If the child is feeling thirsty and hot than this is the correct approach. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a child with high fever who is not responding to medication. If you find that the fever is moderate to somewhat high (39C) and they feel cold and shiver more with the application of the damp cloth to the forehead, it is better to stop the cloth and instead cover them a little more to promote sweating as the cool forehead might confuse the body and cause it to constrict the pores. So worming with a blanket instead often produces a good sweat thereby reducing the fever.
Realistically fever is not as much of a concern for generally healthy adults as it is for infants and very small children. Evolutionarily, fever is one of the best mammalian defences created to combat viral infections. Viruses are generally very temperature sensitive and stop replicating once they are in an environment that is above 39 degrees (102.2 F). Unfortunately, many people take antipyretics in such an early stage that one of the body’s key defences that reduce the control on the spread of infection is immobilized. This is often seen in children when over concerned parents go overboard and begin to administer drugs such as acetaminophen believing that it helps to combat the cold. Little do they realize that these medications are actually very specific drugs with side effects. As children generally feel better, they have a tendency to run more which exhausts the system further making them more likely to have the fever come back stronger. Having said this, at the same time please do not wait for the last minute to administer antipyretic medications to children as they take time to work. Since a child’s immune responses are not as developed as an adult, they cannot regulate their body temperature as well. This combined with a larger body mass compared to skin surface are to dispel heat can lead to high and quickly fluctuating temperatures. It is always worth a visit to the doctor if the illness persists as an ear or throat infection could be the culprit.
Roughly 40% of ear and throat infections are actually viral in nature so many quick visits to doctors often lead to antibiotic prescriptions as a safe measure of treatment when they are actually unnecessary and even harmful. So if you have a healthy child, just keep monitoring them day and night and keep them well hydrated and rested. Do not stifle children with blankets at night and keep a vigil watch over them. If they are to run a fever at night that skyrockets, you would not want them to have a seizure while they are still under thick blankets. If know the proper dosages for Acetaminophen or Ibuprofen for your child and the fever is still not under control then you may alternate them every 3.5 hours until the fever is reduced.  This does not mean you continue to use the medication if the children do not have a fever once the dosage time is reached. For adults with continuous fever with sever chills and without sweating, Advil cold and flu can work wonders. This is a combination of Ibuprofen and Pseudoepedrine, which is a modified compound first extracted from a Chinese herb that was used to reduce fevers and treat colds.
Another way of helping to combat fever while keeping your child hydrated is through homemade popsicles using pure orange or other favourite juices instead of sugary chemicals that is sold outside. It is a daunting task to convince a child to drink fluids if they are irritable and defiant, and poor hydration would cause a spiralling of their condition. The Popsicle might just provide the edge you need.  Some people have claimed applying egg whites or a small garlic paste to the soles of the feet and keeping it overnight for the purpose of reducing the fever. However, this method has failed to produce any favourable results for the times that I have experimented with this. In fact in one instance using the garlic paste caused the fever to spike. Therefore I am adding this note as a point of consideration for individuals who might get this recommendation from the internet or a natural remedy book and expect it to work.
It is good to follow your local health guidelines to insure that you receive proper treatment when called for. This is important for parents who are unsure when they should take their child in to see the doctor. The reality is that fevers are very complicated, especially in smaller children. They can come and go as they please, and this might lead people to think that it was either something they did that caused it to reduce, or vice versa it was something they did incorrectly that brought it on. There are options available that can be attempted as long as they do not delay a proper medical treatment. For instance, if your child develops a skin rash with high fever at night and you have no way of diagnosing what it could be, instead of waiting it out it is crucial to take a trip to Toronto Sick Kids hospital where an expert can help you. The truth is that very often individuals run to the doctor’s office at the first sign of a cold.  It is not surprising as the media has done a superb job of scaring everyone. This mad rush to the doctor’s office has lead to extended waits, overmedication and unnecessary tests to determine the causes of an illness. The flu virus can cause severe respiratory complications. Therefore if you or your children have a condition that compromises their health such as asthma or breathing problems, you should not hesitate to seek proper medical treatments. It is nothing wrong with seeing a doctor to listen to your breathing and just to make sure everything is ok. It is also very common for adults and children to develop sore throats. Severe pain does not equal strep throat, and some redness in the child’s ears does not mean they need antibiotics. At the same time there are individuals who need antibiotics such as dealing with a case of chronic throat infection that is causing only a slight symptom such as cough at night for a child, while a wrong diagnosis might lead to the prescription of an inhaler instead.

Supplements and western herbs:
There are sufficient articles available on the use of vitamins D, E and Zinc. Vitamin D has received the most notoriety in recent months and with good reason. It is evident that it is not just good for your bones but an amazingly important component of a healthy immunity. Living in Ontario, Canada, it is one supplement that I consider indispensable especially during the darker winter months. It is very safe to use and the daily dosage recommendations are severely understated. . As a general rule, taking vitamin D is very safe and can is demonstrated to be beneficial for recovery. Now there is one more reason to stop using sun blocks. If you are generally low in energy or tend to have a low blood count, than you should also benefit from sublingual B12.
Although most of us have heard of the benefits of Vitamin C in preventing and helping fight a cold, this is not very well supported by scientific studies. Although Vitamin C only showed minor benefit in reducing the number and duration of colds I believe it is good to have a glass of orange juice a day when you are sick. Not only are you getting Vitamin C, but you are also hydrating yourself and adding many valuable nutrients to your system. Certainly fresh juice is much better, but it is not absolutely critical.  It is also noteworthy that fruits such as oranges and tangerines are also good in helping dissolve mucus in the lungs which I recommend as part of a recovery diet. This is why it is almost always better to reach for a natural source of a nutrition rather than one from a pill.
Zinc with copper, vitamin D and E have been suggested for maximum immunity. The benefits of these substances are more notable as immune enhancers rather than a treatment unless you have a deficiency. I supplement with these irregularly every few days.  Zinc and Vitamin E are certainly very good for the immunity as shown by studies, but their roles as natural remedies are overstated through inexperience and theoretical principles. Many of these supplements also work very well in concert together so it is inappropriate to provide mere single nutritional supplementation as a treatment protocol for what could turn out to be a potentially life threatening illness. The plant world has given us many solutions and the proper herbal protocol combined with diet and rest are still the primary method. For instance, Zinc is good for colds, and it is a known for its topical antiseptic properties. This is why it is often used in nearly every baby cream for rashes. However, if you require internal antibiotics, it is appropriate to combine them with zinc supplementation while Zinc by itself would not suffice. Also, if you are buying Vitamin E, the natural Vitamin E with mixed Tocopherols is enormously better than high doses of the synthetic version. So it is better to pay twice the price at the store and receive four times the benefit.
As far as Western herbs are concerned, Elderberry juice is not only effective but also one of the safest. I am yet to see a child who would refuse to take Elderberry juice. Although not as strong as some of the other medicines described, it is nevertheless very effective and very quick acting on some individuals who take it at the first signs of a cold. It is important purchasing a good quality product and maintaining a high dose, very often higher than that recommended on the packaging. Elderberry and Ban Lan Gen Tea make a great pair and a good way of taking in fluids.
Mullein has also been reported as having countless number of benefits from fighting viral infection to clearing the phlegm from the lungs. It is one of the more common Western herbs used in the flu season for the respiratory system. I have limited experience with this herb, but I must make note of its wonderful effectiveness on those occasions. You can purchase a Mullein tincture from most health food locations that carry supplements as well.
Chamomile is another popular herb used during colds. It is a rather effective relaxant and can make sleep much easier especially for children. Although it is difficult to administer a therapeutically significant dose to include it as part of the main protocol, It is probably my most recommended and favourite general herb. Although it was traditionally used for many illnesses from fevers to indigestion and emotional disorders, I find that drinking a cup of Chamomile tea can give you a peaceful sleep which is ideal for a quick recovery during an illness. Chamomile can also moisten and sooth the throat to reduce coughs during the night.
Herbs like oil of Oregano and Chinese Goldenseal are not the ideal choices and are better left for bacterial infections. These herbs are harsh and drying in nature and are not the proper medicinals for the initial stages of a flu infection. Chuan Xin Lian (Andrographis) is a good alternative over the former natural antibiotics because it is not nearly as harsh but very potent. Just because some claim invincibility using oil of Oregano does not warrant this potent substance to be used to fight a virus. There are so many medicines that do a much better job and are much better tolerated.
Echinacea is one herb whose efficacy as a cold remedy has come under question in the recent years. Some studies have shown that it works very well, while others have claimed that the benefits are negligible. The main point that can be drawn from those experiments is that the correct herb species and the appropriate dosage are required for an appropriate effect. Yes, Echinacea can be used to thwart a cold attack and reduce the time of the illness, and yes it is a popular and an easily obtainable herb. However, there are many other herbs that do an excellent job of strengthening your system and fighting the infection which make Echinacea a lesser choice. Also it is unclear if Echinacea can be of benefit when it comes down to serious viral infections such as SARS or Swine Flu. So if you are familiar with a product that has worked for you then by all means continue to use it. My personal experience has been that specific antiviral herbs and herbs that benefit the respiratory system are of much higher benefit then an immune modulating herb. Nevertheless I still grow Echinacea in the back yard and do believe it has room in the medicine cabinet. One product that I have found effective is Sambu Guard which contains a mix of Elderberry, Echinacea and Acerola Cherry which is very high in vitamin C.

Immune Boosting Herbs and Formulas:
Astragalus and Ginseng have been used traditionally to strengthen the immune system to prevent an illness. The reality is that they were used only rarely and in specific circumstances during an acute illness such as a cold or flu. These days the above two herbs are overused similar during the course of a disease as they are believed to be curative. This is a misconception and a misunderstanding of traditional medicines. Ancient wisdom sheds light to why many experiments have failed to show significant results when using Ginseng, Astragalus or Echinacea to prevent flu. These two herbs are considered to be Qi tonics. They have the ability to strengthen the immune system so you are less susceptible in catching a cold. Also, if you have used Qi tonic for a given length of time, the body being strengthened by the herbs does a better job of defending itself. However, these herbs do not have a significant ability to fight an infection by themselves. They indirectly benefit the immune system that does the fighting. If one contracts a serious illness such as cholera, typhoid or SARS, using Ginseng would be unwise. Yes it is true that sports teams can claim better immunity and suffer from fewer illnesses when in close quarters while taking Ginseng. But if their disease was actually serious, Ginseng, or Astragalus would do very little for them. Also, the strong tonics are not recommended for children.
Sometimes, even when adults begin consuming Ginseng on an extended basis, they begin to manifest signs of hyperactivity, ranging from insomnia to irritability to hot flashes. So if you are low in energy and catch colds often, it is good to boost your immunity with a herbal tonic from time to time. Your immunity will thank you for it. But once you are sick, the treatment is different and you should stop the tonification process and switch to one that clears. I prefer to use Canadian Ginseng that is at least 4 years old. It is a very good tonic and milder in nature than its other cousins such as the Korean Ginseng that is processed with other herbs. Some prefer the Siberian Ginseng which is not really Ginseng at all, but it does posess some marvellous tonifying properties. To boost your immunity, aside from using Qi tonics it is also just as important that you maintain a healthy diet and a good supplementation regiment when your system lacks certain key nutrients. One of the more common vitamins that we are generally deficient of especially during the winter months is Vitamin D.
Two famous Chinese herbal medicines that are easily found in most Chinese shops and are attributed to nourishing the body Qi to prevent a cold are Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang or Yu Ping Feng San. Yu Ping Feng San is indicated for someone who is prone to getting sick often, this also includes some susceptibility to allergens. Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang is used more often for fatigue and has herbs that can benefit the lung and the digestion. If you write out the names and provide it to any Chinese herbal shop, they would know exactly what it is. Of course, you may buy Ginseng or Astragalus from your local nutrition shop. Regularly rinsing your nose with saltwater is not recommended and can lead to a dry nasal cavity. Ask any child and they will tell you that nasal mucus is salty and wet. This is a natural defence and it is unwise to disturb it. Generally poor diet leads to an excess of mucus production, and it would be wiser to eat healthier than rinsing the nose as a consequence. Also, germs enter the bloodstream and the lungs easier through a dry nose.
When visiting the Chinese Herbal store, you will be inundated with a variety of Chinese herbal formulas. For H1N1, you are covered as long as you have the single herb Ban Lan Gen and the formula Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Tang. If you can get your hands on Yin Qiao San or Sang Ju Yin, than that is great. If you are suspecting H1N1, the above specified Chinese Herbal Medicines with bed rest and soup is definitely the correct approach. I have had great experiences treating patients and family with the above protocols. They are based on both scientific and empirical evidence and are unsurpassed in effectiveness. The key is remembering not only what to do but also what not to do.

General Guidelines for age specific dosages are:
1/4 to 1/3 the adult dose for children ages 1-3 between 20-30 lbs.
1/2 to 2/3 the adult dose for children 3-6
2/3 the adult dose for children 6-12
Full adult dose for ages 12 and up

For example: if one package of Ban Lan Gen extract/granule stipulates 10 grams per day for adults, it would be 3 grams for a one and a half year old, about 5 grams for a three year old, 5-8 grams for a 5 year old, and maybe a full dose for a 10 year old. Adults and children above 12 are fine drinking 10-20 grams per day. A 180 lbs man would easily be able to drink 3 packages of 10grams each.
The key is to purchase these herbs and try them beforehand so that you are ready and comfortable when it comes down to using them.

Professionals and students of Chinese Medicine please continue to page 2.

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