I just watched Contagion on the airplane from LA to Hawaii, being a germaphobe and molecular biology geek...I loved it !!! Basically a new killer strain of flu with DNA sequences from Bats and Pigs jumps into a human host (Gweneth Paltrow) at a casino in Hong Kong and in classic Pandemic form, spreads throughout the world leading to quarantine and chaos !! An anti big pharma blogger, (Jude Law) documents his self treatment and subsequent recovery with Forsythia and the media,big pharma, wall street and the government attempt to disprove him while millions die waiting on a vaccine. So what does this have to do with Chinese vet med ? Well you can listen to the show and find out www.drivingradioshow.com 

Forsythia Fruit aka Lian Qiao is used to treat the early stages of flu, fever, sore throat, headache and skin infections.  You may have seen the showy yellow flowers bursting off of woody branches in the early spring. The fruit/seed shell is harvested in its unripe green stage and is processed into a powder.  Its energy is cool and taste is bitter and slightly pungent so it can clear heat and release toxins. the seed covering is light so it helps bring toxins to the exterior. Its action is in the Lung, Heart and Gallbladder channels.

In the classical formula, Yin Qiao San (Honeysuckle - Forsythia Powder), Forsythia is combined with Honeysuckle flower and Mentha/Wild Peppermint (Bo -He) and Burdock seed/cockleburrs (Niu Bang Zi) to boost the immune system and open the sinuses to  treat the early stages of flu. You can find this at most health food stores and should keep it on hand during flu season for yourself and your animals. I routinely take this before I travel or am around little kids. I recommend this formula for young horses starting their show career or going away for training for the first time. Its like sending your kid off to kindergarden. They are stressed, have a naive immune system and are exposed to lots of germs ! The same holds true for sending your dog to doggie day care or boarding your dog or cat over the holidays.  This is in no way a substitute for Flu and Rhino vaccines. You should always follow your veterinarian's recommendations for vaccinations. I recommend intranasal Flu and Rhino for a better antibody response and it is less painful for the horse...not always for the vet :)

Epimedium = Yin Ying Huo aka ( Horny goat weed/rowdy lamb herb/Bishop's Hat/Fairy wings) is a herbaceous flowing plant common in Southern China. Legend has it, the origin of the common name is because a goat herder noticed increase sexual activity in his herd after they grazed on the plant. It has been used extensively in Asia as an aphrodisiac and is called the" herbal viagra". The compound icariin has been isolated from epidmedium which has shown to increase blood pressure, increase levels of nitric oxide and increase testosterone levels. Icariin also has antioxidant properties and increases osteoblast activity so future therapeutic uses may include treatments for osteoporosis.

It is a common ingredient in Chinese herbal formulas for Kidney yin and kidney yang deficiencies ie, infertility, lower back pain, arthritis and geriatric conditions.

Epimedium is also a popular garden plant used for ground cover in shady damp areas. It has young leaves are tinted in copper and red and it flowers profusely in spring.

insert is from the book "Chinese Herbal Medicine" by Daniel P. Reid