银翘丸 / Yin Qiao Wan
Treats the following symptoms:
Exterior Heat is from Wu Jutong’s “Analysis of Seasonal Febrile Diseases” in the Qing Dynasty and has a history of nearly two hundred years. The formulation uses the two methods of sweating and clearing Heat. It is called the “method of relieving the Exterior Syndrome with herbs pungent in flavour and cool in nature”. It is an important formulation for the treatment of Wind-Heat Pattern of common cold and influenza characterized by fever, headache, sore throat, dry mouth and cough. Modern pharmacological studies have found that Exterior Heat has antipyretic (reduces fever), analgesic (reduces pain), antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory (reduces swelling and redness) and anti-allergic effects. Therefore, it can also be used to prevent and treat the initial stages of acute febrile diseases, such as acute tonsillitis, respiratory tract infections, pneumonia, measles, mumps, infectious mononucleosis. It can also be used for skin diseases such as rubella and shingles.
Try to avoid oily, greasy, raw, cold sour foods while taking this formulation.
Case:
male, 47-year-old.
Consultation date: 2020/4/25
Main complaint: fever for 1 week and Covid-19 confirmed case
Fatigue, fever worse in morning and night, diarrhoea and mild cough, red tongue with greasy and thick yellow coating.
Treatment:
Exterior Heat 3 tablets 6 times per day
External Damp Enteritis 1 bottle 4 times per day
Isatis Root 1 sachet 3 times per day
After 2 days of treatment, the symptoms were gradually alleviated, fever was reduced, diarrhoea and fatigue were lessened.
8 days later all of the above symptoms disappeared.
After that, the patient took Qi-Yin Enrichment and Tonic Defensive Qi for recovery.
CHRONIC FATIGUE SYNDROME
Typical symptoms:
chronic fatigueDisease description:
In chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis, the most common symptom is increasing severe exhaustion even during activities which are not very strenuous. The causes of the disease are suspected to be infections, immunity defects and hormonal disorders. Stress from work and private life also plays a role.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believes that the occurrence of chronic fatigue is mainly due to Qi Deficiency because of Blockage. It may be caused by external pathogens and disturbed internal organ. Treating chronic fatigue syndrome does not only replenish Qi but also regulates the function of organs and expels the pathogens of the body.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Qi Deficiency and Invasion by Wind Heat
An underlying Qi Deficiency permits Wind-Heat pathogens to invade and lodge more deeply in the body. This may take the form of chronic viral infection with chronic fatigue.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi Deficiency and Damp
When Dampness blocks the Qi, it can cause Qi Deficiency and lead to fatigue, aggravated by physical or mental activity or after eating, lack of concentration, loss of appetite, loose stools, poor muscle tone, heavy limbs.
Recommended formulas to use:
Qi Deficiency and Damp Phlegm
Qi Deficiency with Damp Phlegm blocking the meridians, leading to fatigue and muscular aches.
Recommended formulas to use:
COLDS AND INFLUENZA
Typical symptoms:
cold and flu, cough, fatigue, fever, headache, loss of energy, muscle ache, sore throat, sweatingDisease description:
The real flu (influenza) is a severe acute illness of the respiratory tract, caused by influenza viruses, which are constantly changing. Less dangerous are colds or “flu-like infections” caused by other pathogens. While influenza begins with a sudden feeling of illness – with fever (high, often above 40°C), sore throat and dry cough, accompanied by severe muscle, limb, back or headaches – a cold develops slowly and is less severe. Typically, exhaustion and fatigue are much more pronounced in influenza.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Chinese medicine believed that the common cold and influenza are caused by the Invasion of Foreign Evils. The Foreign Evils can only enter the body when its constitution is weak, that is when there is Wei Qi Deficiency. Evil may be a Wind, Cold, Heat, Dampness or Dryness or Fire, so there are many types of syndromes and different treatments.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Exterior Wind-Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
Wind-Heat Cough
Recommended formulas to use:
Exterior Wind-Cold
Recommended formulas to use:
Exterior Wind-Cold Invasion with Qi Deficiency
Recommended formulas to use:
SHINGLES
Typical symptoms:
shinglesDisease description:
Shingles are caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox, varicella-zoster-virus, which lies dormant long after you’ve had chickenpox. The place where there is shingles rash, redness, blisters and pain typically occur. Although shingles can occur anywhere on the body, it most often appears as a single stripe of blisters that wraps around either the left or the right side of the torso.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Shingles have an acute onset, severe herpes and severe burning pain, so the pathogenic factor is Toxic Damp-Heat. Because the rash is usually distributed around the lumbar ribs and around the eyes, which is the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians covered area. So, it is the Damp-Heat that attacks the Liver and Gallbladder Meridians. In the acute phase, Damp-Heat is flourishing and is treated with the principle of purging Toxic Damp-Heat, followed by nourishing Yin and clearing Heat. Acupuncture has the best effect and assists with Chinese herbal medicine.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Damp-Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
Deficiency Heat
Recommended formulas to use:
SORE THROAT
Disease description:
Viruses cause about 90% of sore throats, with bacteria and other causes such as overuse of the voice accounting for the balance. The result is the swelling of the throat, tonsils or larynx, which can give a sensation of a scratchy or painful throat. Having a sore throat makes it A sore throat results in difficultly in swallowing, hoarseness and even bad breath due to infection. Depending on where the pathogens settle, they can cause many more symptoms such as swollen, painful lymph nodes on the throat which might have palpations. A fever, headaches, tiredness, burning nose, sneezing, sniffling can also be the result of the infected throat. Allergies, irritants from the environment, heartburn or chronic illnesses can also be the cause of a sore throat.
Explanation according to the Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Acute sore throat is mostly caused by external Wind and Heat or external Heat and Toxic Heat. Chronic sore throat is mostly caused by Deficiencies of Lung or Kidney Yin or recurrent attacks of Heat. The Heat consumes fluid and Yin, combined with the False Fire, which leads to the occurrence of chronic sore throat.
Possible syndromes causing these problems:
Wind-Heat
Acute sore throat, difficulty swallowing, redness of the throat, fever, headache, restlessness, glands in the neck may be swollen, together with flu or cold symptoms.
Recommended formulas to use:
Toxic Heat
Acute sore throat, difficulty in swallowing, throat and tonsils are swollen and red with pus, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, fever, thirst, constipation, bad breath.
Recommended formulas to use:
Kidney Yin Deficiency
Chronic sore throat, dull, sore throat worse in the evenings, possible swollen tonsils, dry, hoarse, malar flush, fatigue, five-palm heat.