Guo An Tang TCM Clinic

TCM Tips:4 Simple Ways to Prevent Influenza

In recent days, influenza has made its seasonal appearance. This acute respiratory infection caused by the flu virus has overwhelmed pediatric and emergency clinics across major cities. A glance at the waiting areas reveals anxious parents comforting their tired or crying children as they endure long waits, underscoring the need for proactive care through Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches to boost immunity and prevent illness.

Parents stroke their child’s cheeks repeatedly, wishing they could take the illness upon themselves. They pace back and forth at the clinic doors, hoping this would somehow bring their child’s turn faster.

When one child falls ill, the entire family is drawn into caregiving. Instead of spending so much time, energy, and money on treating illnesses, why not invest a little more effort into prevention?

Think of the body as a fortress and the flu virus as an invading enemy. Once the fortress is breached, fever emerges as the main symptom, often accompanied by chills, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, sore throat, nasal congestion, and a runny nose.

As noted in The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Canon (Huangdi Neijing):
“When vital energy (正气, zhèng qì) is preserved within, no external pathogen (邪气, xié qì) can invade.” To protect your fortress from being breached, it’s essential to strengthen your body and boost its natural defenses. This helps fend off external threats and lowers the risk of falling ill.

To prevent children from catching the flu, besides the usual methods like vaccinations, maintaining good hygiene, ventilating indoor spaces, and frequent handwashing, here are 4 practical and effective tips based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM):

TCM Tips : 1. Eat Light, Avoid Greasy Foods

Children’s spleen and stomach functions (pi wei yun hua, 脾胃运化) are delicate, making a balanced diet crucial. Serve light, easily digestible meals in smaller portions throughout the day. Minimize deep-fried, sugary foods, and sugary drinks that many kids adore. Greasy foods hinder digestion, and sugary snacks generate internal dampness and heat (shi re, 湿热), burdening the digestive system.

As Jing Yue Quan Shu states:
“The spleen and stomach are the foundation of postnatal health. A strong spleen and stomach lead to a strong body, while their weakness invites illnesses.”

When the spleen (pi, 脾)—associated with the earth element—becomes weak, it diminishes the body’s vital energy (zheng qi), leaving it susceptible to pathogenic invasions (xie qi). Prioritizing spleen health not only supports digestion but also builds immunity.

TCM Tips :2. Adjust Clothing as Needed

In TCM, improper clothing can disturb the balance of yin and yang (阴阳失调), leading to illness. Dressing too lightly invites cold pathogens (han xie, 寒邪), while dressing too warmly can cause sweating, which opens the pores and allows pathogens to invade.

A good guideline is to keep the back warm and feet comfortable, as TCM views the back as a pathway for yang energy (yang qi, 阳气) and the feet as the foundation of health.

Tip: Avoid judging by cold hands or feet alone. Instead, focus on whether your child’s back and abdomen feel warm.

TCM Tips : 3. Encourage Outdoor Activity

Movement generates yang energy (dong neng sheng yang, 动能生阳). Moderate outdoor activities enhance qi and blood circulation (qi xue yun xing, 气血运行), fortifying the body’s defenses. On sunny days, let children enjoy fresh air and sunlight, which boosts their wei qi (卫气)—the defensive energy responsible for warding off external pathogens.

Caution: Avoid overly crowded places where viruses may spread, and ensure that children change damp clothes promptly after physical activity to prevent the invasion of cold and damp pathogens (han shi xie, 寒湿邪).

TCM Tips : 4. Embrace TCM Preventive Remedies

TCM emphasizes “treating before disease arises” (zhi wei bing, 治未病). Preventive care involves harmonizing the body with nature and fortifying internal energy to resist illness. Here are two simple and effective recipes rooted in TCM principles:

Herbal Tea: Ginseng-Perilla Aroma Tea

  • Ingredients: 3g ginseng (dang shen, 党参), 3g perilla leaves (zi su ye, 紫苏叶), and 3g patchouli (huo xiang, 藿香).
  • Method: Place the herbs in a cup, add 100-150ml of hot water, and steep for 5-10 minutes.
  • Dosage: Adults can drink 3 cups daily; children should limit it to 1 cup daily.
  • Benefits: Strengthens qi, supports digestion, and alleviates symptoms of fatigue and susceptibility to colds.

Dessert: Yellow Scutellaria Stewed Pear

  • Ingredients: 15g yellow scutellaria (huang qin, 黄芩), 2 pears (preferably yellow-skinned varieties like Ya Pear or Snow Pear, with skin intact but core removed).
  • Method: Combine ingredients in a pot with water, then simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Frequency: Serve up to 3 times weekly.
This dessert nourishes yin (yang yin, 养阴), clears heat (qing re, 清热), and moistens the lungs (run fei, 润肺), making it particularly suitable for children prone to dryness or cough during flu season.

By integrating these TCM principles into daily routines, you can help fortify your child’s defenses against influenza. After all, a healthy family begins with prevention. Stay vigilant, stay proactive, and keep your loved ones safe!

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