Yew tree in spring in Olten
And because they fly so intensively in spring, we at Complemedis always make sure that we have sufficient stocks of herbs that you, dear TCM specialists, like to prescribe in this season.
Let's take Yu Ping Feng San as an example:
Seasonally, demand increases considerably in spring: this formula is prescribed three times more often in allergy season than at other times of the year.
Yu Ping Feng San seals the airways, so to speak. But there are of course other ways to treat allergies:
We've shown them before, but are happy to do so again, as many new newsletter subscribers have joined us. Here is the link again: Hay fever
The article was written by our great teacher at the time, François Ramakers. Not all the remedies mentioned in the text are still available today. Strict criteria meant that Hirschhorn, for example, is no longer available, but you still have enough remedies at your disposal to be able to treat it sensibly.
West TCM is also worth considering. You received a newsletter about this on 21 February 2025, here is the link again in case you missed it.
We also have supporting tea blends available for free sale:
These four plants are useful in spring. We make three teas from them.
Eibisch – Althaea officinalis (Foto Gabriela Burkhard)
Marshmallow belongs to the mallow family = Malvaceae. The Flora Helvetica calls it true marshmallow, cultivated, wild, originates from Asia. We need the root here. It contains mucilage, writes Wichtl in the standard work 'Teedrogen und Phytopharmaka'. The root that cures coughs in five days, writes Pliny (0023 - 0079) of Como in his 37-volume work Naturalis historia. Dry irritable cough and gastritis are indications.
Our specialists Gabriela Burkhard and Petra Kamb report: In winter when the mucous membranes are dry (due to dry room air and/or dry, cold winter air or after feverish illnesses), in summer in hot, dry weather, all year round to relieve stomach acidity and to support a robust gastric mucosa.
Sufficient moisturisation of the mucous membranes is necessary for good protection against infection and to interrupt recurring irritations. In the works of Peter Holmes, Florian Ploberger and Jeremy Ross, 3 pioneers of western medicinal herbs based on Chinese medicine, marshmallow root is described as sweet and slightly bitter, cool in thermals, targeting the lungs, stomach, intestines, bladder and kidneys.
Marshmallow roots are not boiled because of the polysaccharides (= mucilage), but instead are prepared cold. To do this, leave 1 tablespoon of the peeled root parts with 2dL of cold water for 2-8 hours and drink the sweetish juice. Add the extracted root parts to a daily tea or discard.
The two components elderflower and nettle leaves are a tried and tested accompaniment during the hay fever season.
Dioscorides (1st century AD) wrote of elderflowers that they 'dry out, drive out water, remove phlegm and bile' and Tabernaemontanus (1522-1590) reports: 'expels all harmful fluids through sweat'. Sweat cures and gargles also contain elderflower. Recently, an ingredient has been found that hinders the implantation of Helicobacter in the stomach lining.
Peter Holmes: Makes you sweat, opens the surface, dispels wind-heat, reduces fever, expectorates, dries dampness, clears the head and reduces irritability. For wind-heat penetrating from outside, infections of the upper respiratory tract with sore throat, chills, fever, irritability. For damp heat in the head area (lung wind-heat), thick purulent nasal secretions, red, swollen throat. And also for cold and dampness in the head area with nasal and sinus obstruction. For tonsillitis, laryngitis. In wind with dampness with joint and muscle pain. For eruptive diseases such as chickenpox, measles, rheumatic fever and hay fever. In damp, hot lungs with cough and white or yellow sputum, asthma, acute and chronic bronchitis and pneumonia. For congestion of fluids in the liver with oedema, tiredness and nausea, for heart failure, for damp heat in the kidney and bladder area with frequent urination, urinary tract infections. In case of fire toxins with pus, boils, abscesses, ulcerations, especially in the head area, mouth, throat. For Shaoyin diseases with Empty-Heat, for skin symptoms such as spots and chilblains. Peter Holmes does not want to stop enumerating.
Gabriela Burkhard lectures in her lectures:
Elderflower, a fine-tasting, flowery tea, the ideal supplement in the acute hay fever season to ALLERGO 3, the formula of various mother tinctures that act like an antihistamine against the symptoms of severe sneezing, itchy, runny nose, irritated eyes and a hot head. The combination with nettle leaves intensifies this effect.
Brennnesseln spriessen im Frühling
Peter Holmes, the pioneer who was the first to qualify western plants according to TCM criteria, also gives a detailed account of nettle leaves:
Nourishes deficiencies of Xue (blood), menstruation returns, promotes lactation and benefits the hair. Deficiency of blood and body fluids is remedied, liver-blood deficiency with weakness, exhaustion, dizziness and amenorrhoea, chronic degenerative diseases, connective tissue weakness. Spleen-Qi deficiency with diarrhoea, flatulence and fatigue, gastric mucosal atrophy and ulcers. Lungs full of damp phlegm with shortness of breath, thin white sputum, chronic bronchitis, asthma, hay fever. Dries dampness and discharges in damp cold with white discharge and urethritis, but also cloudy urine in damp heat and frequent urge to urinate. Mouth and throat ulcers, menstrual intermenstrual bleeding, burns, wounds, bites, stings. Cleanses toxins and stops poisoning. Stimulates liver and kidney in liver and kidney qi stagnation with constipation, tense abdomen, jaundice, skin rashes, cystitis, gout, arthritis, rheumatism, eczema, urticaria, tumours and carcinomas. Removes fluid accumulation in the ankles, swollen eyes in the morning, ascites and haemorrhoids, kidney and gallstones, lumbar back pain.
In the recipes CLARO 3 and URO 3 (Compleducation - spring package) Gabriela Burkhard and Petra Kamb describe Urtica urens - stinging nettle as follows:
Flavour: slightly bitter (seeds), pungent, slightly astringent
Temperature: cool - slightly warm
Tropism: bladder, kidney, liver, lungs, spleen.
Effect:
Indications:
Oedema, ascites, diabetes, bi-syndromes (rheumatism), mucus in the digestive tract and bronchial tubes, sinus problems, allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis, eczema, sun allergy, acne, contact dermatitis.
In veterinary medicine: increases laying performance in chickens, cares for hair coats, revitalises horses, increases milk production, alleviates skin diseases.
Wichtl notes: "Both the diuretic and antiphlogistic effects of nettle leaves have been investigated in many pharmacological models.
Gabriela Burkhard, pharmacist and Western TCM therapist reports:
This diuretic tea has always been drunk for detoxification and cleansing, for example during a spring cure. The small stinging nettle is chosen because, in contrast to the large stinging nettle and the birch leaf, it has a less cooling effect. It also supports haematopoiesis.
In combination with corn stigma, we obtain a balanced cleansing and purification of tissue, joints and hollow organs and a vitalisation. For a spring cure lasting 14-30 days, I recommend taking the mother tincture mixtures CLARO 1-3 alternately 3 times a day, 40 drops together with 1 litre of the detox mixture.
Maisgriffel = Maisbart
We use nettle leaves and corn stigmas for this clarifying tea. The detox tea is a good companion as a spring cure and is used after infectious diseases (flu, Covid...), also to reduce the risk of post-infectious complaints and to minimise relapses.
Corn stigmas have a heat-clearing and moisture-draining effect, and the tea is also drunk for urinary tract infections caused by damp heat. Peter Holmes also mentions prostatitis and cholecystitis and even gallstones as indications. Wichtl reports: As a diuretic (high potassium content), also as a slimming agent, for cystitis, rheumatism and gout.
Gabriela Burkhard's description and experiences:
Flavour: slightly sweet, slightly bitter
Temperature: slightly cool
Tropism: bladder, gall bladder, spleen
Effect:
I like to use corn stigma not only because of its gentle diuretic effect (high potassium content), but also because it relieves the interstitial tissue very well and does so without cooling down. As a single herb or together with nettle leaves, it is a very good accompaniment to a spring cure. The slightly sweet flavour also contributes to a high level of compliance.
All three teas are available at www.compleweb.ch in the 'Raw Drug Formulas' section and in the shop at www.complemedis.ch. They are available over the counter and can also be offered for resale in medical practices.
Your Complemedis team in spring
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