Simple Herbal Immune Boost
Are you resigned to the fact that you will get multiple colds per year? Maybe it’s always been this way for you and you just expect to get every virus that goes around. Or maybe you have small kiddos in daycare who bring every bug under the sun home to you.
Either way, Chinese herbs may help!
JADE WINDSCREEN
About 600 years ago, Chinese herbalists observed that a simple combination of herbs could help people avoid getting sick. It was especially potent for those people with a weaker immune system who tended to get sick frequently.
They called the formula Yu Ping Feng San or “Jade Windscreen Powder” to communicate the protective effect of the herbs. Chinese herbalist understood the airborne nature of colds and used “wind” terminology to describe viral pathogens, so the term “windscreen” described the formula’s protective effects against airborne pathogens.
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Jade Windscreen Powder is a basic formula with only three ingredients: Huang Qi (Radix Astragali), Fang Feng (Radix Saposhnikoviae), and Bai Zhu (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae). It is so effective that it is still used widely today, and modern research has illuminated the mechanisms behind the formula’s significant immunostimulatory effects.
The active compounds in Jade Windscreen Powder are primarily polysaccharides which have been demonstrated to:
Induce the proliferation and activity of macrophages: Macrophages are a type of “pac man” cell in the body that eats foreign invaders. Higher numbers of more active macrophages means that your immune system is alert and on the prowl for anything that doesn’t belong.
Enhance the proliferation of T- and B-lymphocytes: Lymphocytes are immune cells that target all sorts of pathogens, including viruses.
Elevates levels of 5 different cytokines: Cytokines are the chemicals produced by white blood cells to fight infection. Specifically, Jade Windscreen Powder was shown to increase the levels of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and interferon beta.
IS JADE WINDSCREEN RIGHT FOR YOU?
Even without this modern fancy research, the Chinese herbalists hundreds of years ago identified the strength of this tiny three-herb formula because it delivered tangible results. I have personally witnessed the power of this formula in myself and many patients, and I am grateful to have it as a clinical resource.
That being said, not everyone needs or should use Jade Windscreen. Because it so strongly boosts immune activity, this formula is typically avoided for people for whom stimulating the immune system is inappropriate—for example, people with autoimmune diseases or who are taking immunosuppressant drugs for any reason.
If you’re wondering if Jade Windscreen is appropriate for you, request a consultation from a clinical Chinese herbalist in your area. The herbalist will perform a full health evaluation and determine the most ideal immune support formula for you. While herbal medicine is in general incredibly safe, not every herb is appropriate for every person, and it’s important to get an herbal prescription that is customized for you.
