Self-management for respiratory and immune health around epidemic disease

Status Quo
The purpose of the government recommendations is to reduce the rate of spread of covid19 to enable the continued function of our health system. For those asking what is the appropriate personal response in this situation, some of the answers are provided in the recommendations. Spend time with your family and reduce your exposure to stress (it compromises immune function). If your family stresses you out, manage yourself with exercise (cardio- star jumps, skipping, cycling etc) and meditation.

Understand Holistic Philosophy
Chinese Medical philosophy describes how the correct function of a system (us) relies on the correct function of its constituent parts. As they generate, and are generated by, each other.

TCM view of Respiratory / Immune Function
As today we’re considering a disease of the respiratory system, that is the ideal starting point for our discussion. The respiratory system in Chinese Medicine functions to:

1- take the oxygen from the air and distribute it throughout our selves,

2- control the distribution of fluid to the airways and skin,

3- circulate the defensive energy (Wei Qi) (like resistance to disease/immune functionality & appropriate response)

If the respiratory system fails in its 1st function, according to the Chinese medicine progression of disease systems, we can expect to experience cough, fatigue, shortness of breath. If it fails in its 2nd function we may experience dry throat, low grade fever & sweats. If it fails in its 3rd function we are more vulnerable to contracting disease and less likely to be able to fight it effectively.

In TCM Respiratory function is related to digestion and urination
Back to the constituent parts. The power for our respiratory function (The Lung function in TCM) is generated by the correct function of our digestive system (Spleen & Stomach), and our respiratory system generates the power for the correct function of our urinary system (In TCM Kidney and Bladder). Therefore, according to holistic philosophy, existing nausea, bloating, constipation, diarrhoea and phlegm conditions need to be addressed according to TCM cause, as do existing urinary and blood pressure issues.

So what constitutes an appropriate personal response?
Stay Calm

Wash Hands

Focus on the Good Stuff (food, laughter, games, books, sunshine, garden)

Exercise/Breathe

Identify your weaknesses and supplement your diet with herbal formulas from Chinese Medicine appropriately to maximise your defensive energy and improve your response.

Call Heathmont Chinese Medicine 03 97299333 for free telephone consultation with Justin.

Some of the Formulas being employed at HCM in the current climate

Existing digestive issues- Huo Xiang Zheng Qi or Xiao Chai Hu -modified for the individual application

Huo Xiang Zheng Qi Wan

Xiao Chai Hu Wan

No existing issues- Yu Ping Feng for optimising defensive Lung qi function (Wei Qi)

https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/yu-fing-feng-san/ should also add low dose of Gan Mao Ling to improve resistance to toxic heat attack. https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/gan-mao-ling/

Existing respiratory issues- Bu Fei Tang, or, Yu Ping Feng can be modified for the individual application or combined with Huo Xiang Zheng Qi

All are for symptom relief which promotes the function of the Wei Qi.

Existing urinary or auto-immune issues- Shen Qi wan, Zuo Gui wan, You Gui wan or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan may be chosen from and modified appropriately for the individual application. https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/liu-wei-di-huang-wan/

The best course of action is to call or email and let me help you choose accurately.

Philosophical & historical considerations
This appreciation of how our “immune system” is really a part of our normal respiratory function that relies on correct digestive function and produces (among other things) correct urinary function, has been demonstrated within Chinese Medical texts for millennia.

Physicians have used and reused these theories and formulas clinically, as they developed treatments through trial and error, as Traditional Chinese medicine redeveloped over an extended time period.

tested and retested clinically and developed and treatments proven or miss-proven and redeveloped all that while.
It is the understanding of how our bodies function according to an holistic philosophy which unites all of the parts of us. There is simply no way to design a randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study to “prove” the value of these philosophies and treatment methodologies as by definition, the exact best treatment differs from person to person (you know, because we’re different?). There is though, a couple of thousand years of recorded clinical trial, including a few epidemics, which should not be ignored.
Due to this philosophy, it is inaccurate to say these formulas are “good for immune function”, they are much more complete in their scope of action than the treatment of only the immune system. These formulas selectively strengthen the digestive function, resolve phlegm, expel cold, tonify the qi, strengthen the lungs function, sedate cough, clear toxic heat, drain damp and tonify the kidneys function, and they are most effectively created for individuals on a case by case basis.

Patent formulas exist for lots of the symptoms of early stage infection, links are above for some of the un-modified versions of the recommended formulas based on the Chinese governments approach in Wuhan and greater China.

The consensus approach is to strengthen our lung system and attack epidemic toxicity concurrently.

Some other formulas for this are:

Toxic heat causing sore throat: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/watermelon-frost-lozenges/

Wind heat attack causing sore throat early viral or bacterial infection: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/yin-qiao-wan/

Phlegm affecting voice, to strengthen voice: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/pei-pa-lo-cough-mixture/

Early hayfever symptoms (wind heat): https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/bi-min-gan-yan/

For home treatment to boost energy of lung via digestive system: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/moxa-sticks/
https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/smokeless-moxa-sticks/

For inflammation, phlegm and toxic heat affecting GIT: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/huang-lian-jie-du-wan/

For toxic heat affecting the upper body, eyes/ears/throat/sinus: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/huang-lien-shang-ching-pian/

For phlegm congestion in the throat/lungs: https://www.heathmontchinesemedicine.com.au/product/er-chen-wan/