🌿 Folk Prescriptions

Influenza, short for epidemic influenza, is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by influenza viruses and transmitted via droplets. Its incubation period is generally 1–3 days. Onset is abrupt, primarily presenting high fever, chills, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, etc., while respiratory symptoms may be mild initially. After 2–3 days, systemic symptoms gradually subside, but nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat, dry cough, and mild gastrointestinal discomfort such as nosebleeds, loss of appetite, nausea, constipation, or diarrhea may appear in some patients.
Although it is already early spring now, sudden warmth followed by cold weather still demands vigilance and prevention of influenza.
Traditional Chinese Medicine regards influenza as "seasonal common cold," typically classified into three patterns: wind-cold, wind-heat, and summer-dampness.
Wind-Cold Pattern
Main symptoms include severe chills, no sweating, headache, body aches, nasal obstruction, cough, clear white phlegm, thin white moist tongue coating, and floating-tight pulse (easily felt upon light touch, with a taut sensation).
For this pattern, use pungent-warm exterior-releasing methods. Commonly used formula: Jingfang Baidu San:
Formula: 15 grams each of Schizonepeta, Saposhnikovia, Ligusticum, Angelica, Bupleurum, Peucedanum, Chuanxiong, Citrus Aurantium, Poria, Platycodon, and 5 grams of Glycyrrhiza.
Adjustments: Dosages may vary based on individual constitution and condition. If chills are severe, add Ephedra and Cinnamon twig to enhance diaphoresis.
Wind-Heat Pattern
Main symptoms include moderate fever, slight aversion to cold, minimal sweating, head distension, sticky yellow phlegm, yellow turbid nasal discharge, thin yellow tongue coating with red edges and tip, and floating-rapid pulse (fast pulse easily felt with light touch).
This pattern requires pungent-cool exterior-releasing treatment. Commonly used formula: Yin Qiao San:
Formula: 15 grams each of Honeysuckle, Forsythia, 6 grams each of Platycodon, Mentha, Glycyrrhiza, and Arctium, 10 grams each of Bamboo leaf, Schizonepeta, and Fermented Soybean.
Adjustments: Add Bombyx mori and Scrophularia if sore throat; remove Schizonepeta and Fermented Soybean, add Imperata root and Cephalotaxus charcoal if nosebleed; add Apricot seed if cough.
Summer-Dampness Pattern
Main symptoms include fever, little sweating, body aches, heavy-headedness, eye pain, sticky mouth, chest tightness, nausea, short red urine, thin greasy yellow tongue coating, and soft-rapid pulse (rapid but sluggish pulse).
For this pattern, clear summer-heat, remove dampness, and release the exterior. Commonly used formula: Xiangru Yin:
Formula: 9 grams each of Honeysuckle, Forsythia, and Lablab, 6 grams each of Mosla and Magnolia bark.
Adjustments: Add Coptis and Artemisia if heat is prominent; add Job's tears and Agastache for heavy body sensation. Add Atractylodes, Cardamom, Pinellia, and Tangerine peel if vomiting or nausea.
All three formulas should be decocted with water (if inconvenient, ready-made pills are available). Simmer gently—do not over-boil. Drink warm after preparation. After drinking, cover up and avoid wind to induce sweating, or eat hot congee or rice gruel to enhance medicinal effects. After sweating, avoid wind and stay warm to prevent recurrence.
Additionally, during flu-prone seasons, prevention is crucial. Readers may choose the following formulas based on season:
Winter and early spring (wind-cold prevalent): 10 grams each of Polygonatum, Perilla, and Schizonepeta, 3 grams of Glycyrrhiza. Decoct and drink once daily for three consecutive days.
Summer (summer-dampness dominant): 5 grams each of Mosla and Patchouli, 2 grams of Mentha. Boil and drink as tea.
During widespread flu outbreaks: 10 grams of Polygonatum, 12 grams of Isatis root, 3 grams of raw Glycyrrhiza. Decoct and take once daily.