Jade Windscreen Powder or Yu Ping Feng San is a Chinese Medicine formula one may use when they're well.
Q: Why would you take Chinese herbs when you're well? A: For prevention and to improve general health and wellbeing.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) firmly roots the immune system in the Lung and Spleen. Comparing it to Western Medicine, the Lungs and upper respiratory system often the first line of defence for bacteria and viruses with people presenting with sore throat, cough and runny nose. The spleen has to do with the Lymphatic system and immunity. In Chinese Medicine we also associate digestion and gut function with the Spleen. Connections between Gut function, the nervous system and immunity are now common knowledge in Western Medicine.
Yu Ping Feng San translates to Jade Windscreen Powder and Chinese Herbalists will prescribe this to people in a post-acute phase of the common cold, common flu or when they're healthy.
A person needing this formula may display signs of aversion to drafts or wind and cold, spontaneous sweating and a pale complexion.
Herbalist masters that wrote these Ancient Medical Classics in Chinese Medicine talk about the purpose of this formulabeing to Benefit the Qi, reinforce the exterior and stop sweating. They also mention to cause a screen to prevent wind-attack. Wind attack is TCM language for the common cold. They reported its appropriate where an underlying deficiency is complicated by External wind attack.
They were clear about it affecting the surface layers or exterior, meaning it hasn't deeply affected the whole body or the Lung organs yet. Spontaneous sweating is an important indicator for this formula and should be obvious. This means sweating suddenly or for no reason and not on exertion. Ingredients of Yu Ping Feng San (Jade Windscreen Powder)
Huang Qi - Astragalus
Astragalus is well known in Western Herbal Medicine as an immune tonic. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it tonifies the Spleen & Lung Qi, reinforces the exterior and stops sweating. It supports defensive Qi and consolidates it.
Dr Axe talks about Astragalus here.
Bai Zhu - Atractylodes
Sweet, bitter & warm, Bai Zhu strengthens the Spleen and benefits the Qi. Assists Huang Qi to stop sweating. Its also assists the symptoms of loose stools, tiredness and lethargy.
Fang Feng - Radix Saposhnikoviae
Acrid & warm, it circulates in the exterior to dispel pathogenic wind. With Huang Qi it prevents wind from entering the skin.
So you don't need to take herbs only when you're sick. TCM does have maintenance herbal formulas for times when you're well and want to keep your health and general wellbeing going and Jade Windscreen Powder is a good option. Consulting with a registered practitioner is a good idea because they can take into account your personal medical history and any medications you're taking.
Some Chinese herbal formulas are good to take for prevention during the Winter season if you're prone to recurrent illnesses and the common cold. Once you do contract a cold the prescription will need to change to address the new signs and symptoms and this is best prescribed by a Registered Chinese Herbalist.
You can make contact with me about any questions you may have about Chinese Herbal Medicine by emailing me here: info@familywellnesscentre.com.au
References:
