Back in my days as a young, impressionable child, my mother would present me with herbal medication any time I was stuck with a cold. It was not until recently that I began to ask: what exactly was in the medicine I was taking?
The medicine I’m referring to is a common Chinese herbal supplement called gan mao ling (感冒靈). Translating literally to “common cold effective,” gan mao ling is used extensively as a cold treatment in China. It can also be purchased in the US, either online or in any Chinese herbal medicine store. The directions state to take 3-6 tablets three times daily at the first signs of a cold.
The ingredients are a variety of herbs and roots. Most of them aren’t seen in western medicine; however, there are some you may have heard of, such as Chrysanthemum flower and Japanese honeysuckle. Even though their chemical makeup is very different, all of the herbs used in gan mao ling work to reduce inflammation, treat headache and fever, and treat upper respiratory tract infections.
Image Source: Plush Studios
Despite its strong presence in alternative medicine, the exact method by which gan mao ling treats illnesses is not fully understood, which is one reason why people may not trust its effects. There are also concerns with the presence of chemical contaminants (pharmaceutical drugs or heavy metals) in the medicine. Though it usually depends on which brand you’re looking at, multiple Chinese herbal medications have been confirmed as contaminated with substances ranging from ibuprofen to lead. These contaminants can cause adverse side effects, such as restlessness, lightheadedness, insomnia, or in severe cases, liver damage. However, the type and severity of these side effects depend on what contaminants are present.
Keeping this in mind, there are pros and cons to this alternative medicine. It seems to relieve symptoms for plenty of people, which is no small benefit. Chinese herbal medicine has also been around for hundreds of years, so if its pervasiveness is any indication, it’s effective. But is the risk of contaminants, as well as the overall lack of knowledge pertaining to the ingredients, worth it?
As always, be sure to consult a professional before trying any alternative medicine, but then try and beat your cold and get back to a healthy lifestyle!
Featured Image Source: Medicines in a Chinese pharmacy in Seattle by Vladimir Menkov
