We cannot eliminate all pathogens around us or within us. That is merely an illusion held by people who keep trying to detoxify their bodies over and over again. It is natural that we live surrounded by pathogens, but our task is to take care of ourselves so that our organism is like a fortress and the enemy cannot penetrate us. Prevention is therefore the most important thing. We should know our bodies, know what does us good and what does not, and above all listen to them if they give us clear signals that some of our behaviour is already beyond their tolerable limit. We should look at the quality of our diet – what we eat, in what form and how often. We should moderate our emotions, which are an important factor in maintaining the balance of the organism. They harm us if they are excessive or suppressed. Regular exercise, rest and sufficient sleep are very important. And of course, the most important thing – the quality of relationships with other people.

But who today can live entirely in accordance with the rules of a healthy lifestyle according to Chinese medicine? Practically no one. Each of us does something wrong from time to time, and so for almost everyone, Zheng Qi is more or less weakened. And so, influenza is a fairly common and recurring illness.

Take better care of yourself. In winter, protect yourself against the invasion of cold wind by dressing warmly. If you get chilled, have some cinnamon tea immediately, which will open the pores and help expel the cold wind. In winter, eat more warm and hearty meals, such as warm soups, and avoid foods that are too cold, the prototype of which are vegetable salads.

An excellent aid for the "preventive" strengthening of Zheng Qi are medicinal mushrooms. Ideally in a four-combination, which contains the mushrooms Cordyceps, Reishi, Agaricus and Shiitake. Each of the mushrooms strengthens our immunity and vitality in a slightly different way. Cordyceps stimulates the kidneys and lungs, Reishi strengthens our vitality while harmonising the psyche, Agaricus is the greatest stimulant of immunity and Shiitake harmonises the centre and digestion. Overall, they create a synergistic effect that significantly stimulates our ability to defend against the invasion of external pathogens. When taking this mixture, the flu tends to avoid a person, and if it does strike, it usually has significantly milder symptoms and a shorter course.

If we are truly very weakened, it is harder for us to defend against the flu. However, even here, Chinese medicine has certain levers, for example in the form of herbal alcohol tinctures. These tinctures are based on old traditional formulas. The combination of alcohol and herbs gives the tincture a completely different potency, which is so necessary precisely in acute conditions. It is important, however, to hit the stage where the pathogen is located as accurately as possible and to select the given tincture as targetedly as possible. The flu then does not last a week, but usually only 1–2 days.

If the first symptoms of flu appear, it is good to start taking the Coriolus mushroom. In a higher dose, for example, 2 capsules 4 times a day. The immune system is stimulated in a shock-like manner and the illness usually does not break out. It depends, of course, on the strength of our organism and the strength of the specific pathogen. 

If the upper layers of our organism are attacked, if we have chills, are exhausted, are not sweating, our body contracts, general body and head aches begin, and we start sneezing or blowing our nose, then the herbal blend Gui Zhi Tang is a good choice, which will warm us up, open the pores and expel the pathogen. 

In the case of a sore throat during an acute attack, when the temperature starts to rise, Lian Qiao San Gen Tang is a good choice.

If more significant symptoms appear, such as a fever, we start coughing up yellow phlegm, and we are exhausted, we use the herbal blend Chuan Xin Lian Kang Yan. In case of severe joint and muscle pain, we use the blend Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang. If we have feelings of a heavy body and are swollen all over, we add the herbal blend Jiu Wei Qiang Huo Tang.

If there is a cough accompanied by yellow phlegm, the blend She Mu Tang is good, which stops the cough and clears heat and phlegm from the lungs.

If there is a severe runny nose, I recommend the herbal blend Bi Yan Wan, which clears the nasal passages and transforms phlegm. 

For recovery from the flu or in protracted or recurring conditions, the very special herbal blend Xiao Chai Hu Tang is a good choice. A typical symptom is the alternating of chills and fever. I like to give it, for example, for recurring middle ear infections in children. But it is also suitable for fatigue, allergies, chronic inflammation anywhere in the body, and even for hidden pathogens. 

The herbal blend Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin is no longer typical for the flu, but it is good for tonsillitis or chronic, protracted throat problems.

I am not entirely a supporter of this type of vaccination. The problem is that the pathogen in the form of a vaccine, even if weakened, bypasses all defensive layers and reaches directly into the deep layers. If our immune system is in good order, our organism can handle it. But then the question arises, do we even need this vaccination?

If our immunity is not in good order, the pathogen in the form of a vaccine can cause problems in the deep layers and trigger lingering issues. It becomes a so-called "lingering pathogen", which begins to manifest through various recurring symptoms. People usually describe it as feelings like they are coming down with the flu, but in the end, nothing comes of it. They just constantly feel strange, tired, and not like themselves.

Unfortunately, every additional vaccination lowers the state of defensive Zheng Qi and a person becomes more vulnerable. And that is not to mention that the influenza virus is a very "creative organism" and likes to transform, so it will no longer react to the vaccination. The vaccination might have worked for the influenza virus a year or two ago.

Ingredients: 3 slices of fresh ginger the size of a large coin, 5 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 litre of water.

Instructions: Place the ginger and cinnamon into a pot of water. Bring to the boil and let simmer for approximately 10 minutes. Then remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 20 minutes. Only then sweeten with honey. Drink the tea warm.

1. Keep yourself warm, avoid getting cold, and dress appropriately. 
2. Eat mostly warm foods. Breakfast, in particular, must be warm. Yoghurt straight from the fridge is really not suitable. Soups are ideal, preferably in the form of long-simmered beef bone broths.
3. Avoid excessive amounts of raw vegetables and fruit. Vegetables and fruit are fine, but if possible, heat-treated.
4. If you get cold, have a cinnamon or ginger tea immediately. It will warm you up and help expel the cold pathogen from your body.
5. Antibiotics do not help with the flu. They also significantly cool the body, so in addition to digestive problems, they can cause recurrences of various acute conditions, such as bladder infections.
6. If you do fall ill, do not suppress a fever. It is a natural defensive reaction that eliminates pathogens. If you cool it down prematurely, you will prolong the illness and weaken the body. But everything in moderation – long-term high temperatures do need to be cooled.
7. If you fall ill, get plenty of rest!! The body needs a lot of energy to fight the pathogen. If you exert yourself while ill, both mentally and physically, you are draining energy away from where the body needs it.