Rated Acupoints
Acupuncture Treatment For Flu (Influenza)
Influenza commonly known as “the flu” is an infectious disease caused by an influenza virus. Symptoms range from mild to severe. The most common symptoms include: a high fever, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pains, headache, coughing and feeling tired. These symptoms typically begin two days after exposure to the virus and at the most they last less than a week. The cough, however could last for more than two weeks. In children, there may be nausea and vomiting, but these symptoms are not common in adults.1
RESEARCH
Acupuncture is known to accelerate the flu healing process by boosting the body’s natural defenses or the human immune system. Acupuncture also alleviates flu symptoms – often immediately – but requires herbal and dietary support to achieve fast and lasting results. Herbal formulas aim to destroy both viruses and bacteria, alleviate flu symptoms, and send the pathogen out of the body while strengthening our immune system. Typically, 1 or 2 acupuncture treatments and a week’s course of herbal medicine are required for the flu. However, if the symptoms are recognized and treated early, it is possible to remove a cold in one day or two just with acupuncture treatment and herbs. In addition, it is recommended to receive regular acupuncture treatments during the flu season or the changing seasons, as a form of preventive medicine since prevention is the key. If you catch colds easily, know that studies have shown that acupuncture increases white blood cell count resulting in a boost to your immune system. Finally, if you feel just the slightest indication of a cold invasion such as slight body aches or a scratchy throat, or if everyone around you is coming down with something, get acupuncture and chinese herbs immediately.2
The common flu has many forms in traditional chinese medicine. The most common forms fall under the categories of what it is called “wind cold” and “wind heat.” Wind indicates a type of “disturbance in the system coming from the outside world, i.e. a virus. The main symptoms for the wind-cold type are congestion, sneezing, chills, mild-fever, no sweating, headache, body aches and clear nasal discharge. Because it manifests as cold, the treatments focus on warming the body’s yang in order to remove the cold out of the system. The main point “acu-point” or acupuncture point is GV-14. It is just below the spinous process of the lowest vertebrae in the neck, at the level of the shoulders. You can easily rub your palms together until they are warm and hold them over this point GV-14, or scrub the point for 5 minutes while allowing hot water to run over it while you are in the shower. This way your body’s yang will increase. LI-20, is another point that can help relieve symptoms of the flu. It’s located at the bottom and to the side of each nostril–right at the top of your smile line. Using your thumb to rub this point can dilate the capillary around nose and is very useful for relieving congestion and runny nose.3
The main symptoms for the wind-heat type are high fever, sore throat, yellow nasal discharge, headache, cough and body aches. The typically manifestation is heat, and the main treatments focus on clearing heat from the body. GV-14 (above) also doubles as an effective point to clear heat, but instead of warming the point, you usually prick this point to induce minor bleeding, as well as use suction cups to bring blood to the surface of the skin. You also prick, bleed and/or cup BL-13 to help relieve symptoms. This point is 1.5 inches to the side of the 3rd thoracic vertebrae. Please note that anything involving bleeding is best done with proper care or by a qualified professional.4
Footnotes
- Influenza (Seasonal) – who.int – 2018, http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/
- Acupuncture treatment for flu – patriciapilot.com – 2017, http://www.patriciapilot.com/symptoms/flu-chinese-medicine-acupuncture-flu-acupuncture-common-cold-chinese-medicine/
- Simple acupuncture treatments for the flu – empowerhealth.ca – 2017, http://www.empowerhealth.ca/simple-acupuncture-treatments-for-the-common-cold-flu/
- Simple acupuncture treatments for the flu – empowerhealth.ca – 2017, http://www.empowerhealth.ca/simple-acupuncture-treatments-for-the-common-cold-flu/
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