​When Wuhan, the city in China that was first struck with COVID-19  pandemic, had to be put under a lockdown,  the Chinese Government announced a major change in strategy - all infected patients were  also to be treated with Chinse traditional medicine.

The TCM doctors  worked on creating protocols and herbal formulas to fight the disease in various phases of development, and this is how they did it:

• Prevention phase - strengthening of immune system

          - No symptoms
          - Base herbal formula: Yu Ping Feng San
          - Acupuncture: moxa on ST-36, CV-6, CV-12

• Early  phase

          -  Symptoms: early onset of low grade fever, aversion to cold, chills, headache, ticklish throat, soreness of muscles and limbs,
              soreness of muscles and limbs
            - Base formula: Ge Gen Tang or Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang
            - If there is also sore and dry throat, dry cough - Base formula: Yin Qiao San
            - Acupuncture: Moxa on LI-4, LV-3, ST-36 and CV-8

• Pneumonia phase

            - Symptoms vary and  herbal formulas prescribed  for pneumonia are specific to  symptoms and differential diagnosis
              according  to TCM principles

• Recovery phase - healing and strengthening of the lungs

            -Symptoms: Absence of fever, dry cough, chest stuffiness, shortness of breath, shortness of breath upon exertion, dry mouth,
             weakness
           - Base formula: Sha Shen Ma Dong Tang
          - Acupuncture: Moxa on GV-14, BL-17, BL-13, ST-13, LU-6
Inclusion of TCM in China  in the treatment against COVID-19 has produced very good results and was documented in the hospital records.
 American herbalists and acupuncturists can make a great difference in Prevention, Early and Recovery phase. 
The herbal formulas and individual herbs indicated for each phase are available in the US, although, perhaps as a testament of their efficacy, it's become harder and harder to find them since COVID-19 pandemic started. 
Great Road Acupuncture and Herbs has limited amount in stock. Find out more here.

Source: How Covid-19 is Treated in China with TCM - John Chen elouts.org

If you ever had acupuncture, chances are that your acupuncturist needled this point, which is also called "longevity point". 
Often, when needle is inserted at ST-36, the feeling you may experience is one  of  dull ache and heaviness.
It is a very powerful point that can have effect on your immune system, digestion and even mood.  

Location
This point is located on the lateral side on the front of the lower leg, about hand-width below the knee crease.
How to Apply Acupressure

• The middle finger is the strongest and best suited to apply acupressure
• Hold the point steadily with direct pressure and at 90 degrees angle from the surface of the skin for 15-30 seconds
• Apply and release finger gradually because it allows the tissue to respond and promote healing
• After repeated acupressure applications, you may feel pulse at the point, which is a good sign - it means that the circulation has increased

Function
ST-36 is the 36th point on the Stomach meridian.  Traditionally it is used for:

• GI conditions: nausea, epigastric pain, vomiting, belching, hiccup, distention and pain in the abdomen, poor appetite, difficult ingestion, diarrhea, flatulency 
• Low energy, fatigue, diminished immunity
• Dizziness, hypertension, palpitations
• Depression, manic behavior
• Febrile diseases, fever,  frontal headaches, chest pain
• Breast pain, breast abscess
• Knee pain, thigh pain, lumbar pain

Research Findings 

Acupuncture stimulation of ST-36  has effect on vagus nerve. Vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that innervates viscera, especially digestive organs, which may explain why this point is used  for digestive issues. 

ST-36 is an Anti-Inflammatory point!
Another important function of vagus nerve is regulation of pathologic inflammatory reactions, thus acting as a bridge between neural and immune system.  Chronic inflammation is at the root of many health conditions: diabetes, digestive issues, fatigue, depression.. No wonder it is called  "longevity point"!

Acupuncture works great for chronic pain, anxiety and sleep problems.   Adding these exercises will build on your previous  acupuncture treatments, and further enhance the healing.

The exercises I chose are gentle, short and can be easily  done in your home. However,  don't do anything that you feel is causing you pain, discomfort or is against your doctors orders.

For  chronic pain, limited flexibility,  difficulty walking

• Seated exercises

             - Suitable for older adults or  for those who have limited flexibility 
             - Improve ankle, thigh, hip strength and promote good circulation

• Standing Exercises

             - Suitable for older adults 
             - Improve  balance and strength in lower extremities, reduce low back pain
Low back pain

• 7 simple exercises for lumbar pain

            - Suitable for those who have moderate to good flexibility

• Coccyx (tailbone) pain
• Sacroiliac pain

            - Suitable for those who have moderate to good flexibility

Anxiety, insomnia, neck, shoulder , posture, lung circulation

• Qigong - standing exercises
• Qigong - seating exercises

​

    

Certain foods can be used to fight respiratory diseases and can have "mucokinetic" (mucus-moving) effect, similar to the commonly used decongestants and expectorants. 

Like it Hot!
The best mucokinetic foods are hot and spicy.  The effectiveness of these ancient remedies have been confirmed by research.

• Mustard, horseradish
• Garlic
• Hot chili peppers

The hot stuff in these foods stimulates nerve receptors in in the mouth, throat and stomach, which in turn activates the vagus nerve controlling secretion-producing glands. These glands release waves of  fluids that make the eyes water and the nose run, but they also release watery fluids inside the bronchial passages of the lungs, thus breaking up congestion and flushing away irritants.

If you can tolerate it and if  you do not have a health condition for which eating hot spicy food is contraindicated, here are few tips to clear up stuffy nose and lung congestion from Dr. Irwin Ziment, lung specialist from UCLA:

• Sprinkle ten to twenty drops of Tabasco sauce in a glass of water and drink it or gargle with it
• Chew on a chili pepper
  
• Add a whole peeled garlic cloves to your soup; zap garlic in a microwave first to preserve alliin, the primary therapeutic substance
  

Antiviral Effect
Some foods have proven antiviral effect.

• Ginger 

            - Destroys influenza virus

• Shiitake mushrooms

             - Substance called lentinan in shiitake mushrooms fights influenza viruses

• Onions

            - Substance quercetin, concentrated in onions, has antiviral and antibacterial activity.

• Yogurt

            - Has antiviral and antibacterial properties
            - Enhances immune system

• Garlic

           - Garlic extract is found to kill nearly 100 percent of both a human rhinovirus that causes colds  parainfluenza 3, a flu      
             respiratory virus
          - Commonly called "Russian penicillin" for its widespread use in Russia and throughout  Eastern Europe
          - Add whole peeled garlic cloves to soup. 


See also: Keeping Your Immune System Strong - What to Eat


Source:  Food Your Miracle Medicine by Jean Carper
​

            -

Chinese Herbal Medicine has a two thousand  long history.  People of ancient times suffered from numerous infectious and febrile diseases with the same symptoms that we see today in colds, flu, pneumonia, bronchitis, malaria and many other.  Over centuries the Chinese doctors discovered and developed extensive herbal pharmacopeia  that they used to create herbal remedies to treat these diseases.

So it is no surprise that today with the COVID-19 pandemic,  Western and Traditional Chinese  Medicine (TCM) doctors in China  work together to  cure patients from this disease.

These herbal supplements they use in China are also available to us here. 

​Great Road Acupuncture and Herbs LLC  provides herbal and dietary consultations  online (email, skype, facebook,  whatsup video chats or phone conversations). Herbal prescriptions are not included in the consultation fee.
​
The prescription orders can be picked up in the office or mailed to your address.
​
 CONTACT US  for  more information or  SCHEDULE HERBAL CONSULTATION.

"Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food."
                                                                                                                      - Hippocrates
 What we eat can have a great influence on our immune system.
 Based on research studies,  these foods have a  strong immune-boosting  effect:

•  Yogurt 

                - Can kill and disable bacteria 
                - Simulates production of gamma interferon, boosts activity of natural killer (NK) cells
                - Revs up production of antibodies

• Shiitake mushrooms

                - Contain antiviral substance called lentinan that exhibits strong  immunostimulating activity
                - Stimulate macrophages (important in fighting cancer cells and microbes)

• Fruits and vegetables 

                 - Boost immune defenses against bacterial and viral infections and cancer:
                    spinach, kale, broccoli, cabbage, broccoli sprouts, carrots, blueberries,  strawberries, raspberries, onions..

• Garlic

                  - Has a strong anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-cancer  effect
                  - You can eat raw garlic or  a cold-pressed garlic extract
                  - When you feel sore throat coming on, eat some garlic or onion to scare off the cold or flu.

• Food rich in zinc

                    - Stimulate production of T-cells that fight off infections
                  -  Oysters (raw and smoked), crabmeat, pot roast, calf's liver, turkey (dark meat), pumpkin and squash seeds
                  -  You can take also zinc supplements
                  
Foods that can weaken immune system:

•  Sugar
• Fat (wrong type of fat)

             - Fish oil which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids has a beneficial effect on immune system
              - Vegetable polyunsaturated fats (omega-6 fatty acids)  such as in corn, sunflwer and safflower seed oils
                can inhibit formation of lymphocytes 

   

             
            

At this time Great Road Acupuncture and Herbs will be operating with normal business hours.
 
   In order to continue spread wellness and health  we ask you that:
 
1) If you feel sick, have fever, a cough, please contact us to reschedule your appointment.
 
2) If you had a direct contact with someone who has been in a high infected zone, please contact us to reschedule your appointment.
 
3) During your regular appointments, you are welcome to ask any questions regarding self-care and how to keep your immune system strong. 

4) You can schedule Herbal Consultation appointment. Chinese herbal formulas have been used for centuries to fight off malaria and other  febrile infectious diseases and are currently used with success as a supportive measure in China to fight  COVID-19.