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Calm the Chills is a famous Chinese herbal formula used to treat colds that, in addition to a fever and sore throat, also cause body aches and chills. Mentha and schizonepeta, two of the main ingredients, are Chinese herbs that are frequently combined in formulas for treatment of several ''surface'' disorders, including skin eruptions, sinus infections, headaches, common cold, and influenza. Mentha and schizonepeta are of the Labiatae family of plants, commonly called the mint family, and both are categorized as surface-relieving agents in the modern Chinese Materia Medica guides.

While there have been limited studies on the individual herbs, their use in traditional style formulas is extensive. Many hundreds of thousands of people in China use this formula whenever they catch a cold.

Ingredients: Cyperus root, Cnidium, Notopterygium, Siler root, Schizonepeta ariel & flower, Angelica Du Huo, Mentha, Green Tea, Licorice root

Ingredients in Detail:

Cyperus root: Cyperus unblocks stagnant liver energy, helping the smooth flow of energy and blood throughout the body. Cyperus relieves pain. It regulates the liver and spleen, assists the regulation of menses and relieves pain. This herb was widely used to the Native American Indians for the Northwest. The Indian word translates into �nutgrass.� The Indians of the Peruvian Amazon, like the Chinese, often use cyperus root for gynecological problems.

Cnidium: Cnidium (Ligusticum) (Chuan Xiong) (Chinese Lovage) is one of the primary blood-vitalizing herbs used in Chinese herbalism. Blood-vitalizing herbs improve circulation. Cnidium has very positive effects on the heart and liver functions. It is also very widely used in treating menstrual disorders because it is so effective at promoting blood flow and relieving pain associated with blood and energy stagnation. It is also a good blood tonic. It has recently been recognized as being beneficial to the heart muscle and circulatory system. It significantly improves myocardial circulation and is being used clinically in China to treat and prevent heart disease. Cnidium is also widely used to relieve the pain associated with rhematism and arthritis and in formulas that are used for colds, flu, sinus congestion and various skin disorders.

Notopterygium: Notopterygium is a root herb that releases the exterior and disperses cold for exterior colds patterns such as chills, fever, headache, and body aches and pains. It is most commonly used when dampness in the body causes joint pain, a general feeling of heaviness, sleepiness, or when there is pain the occipital region. It also is an herb that directs tonic herbs in a formula to the areas where they are needed.

Siler root: Siler, also known as Ledebouriella, is helpful in relieving headaches, chills and body aches due to externally contracted wind-cold conditions. It reduces dampness and alleviates pain. It also has an anti-microbial effect and has been shown to inhibit influenza viruses. It has even been used in ancient times as an effective antidote to arsenic poisoning. The Chinese name for Siler is Fang Feng, which translates to �guard against wind�.

Schizonepeta ariel & flower: This herb can be used in any type of common cold. It induces the body to sweat, opening the pores and driving out the cause of this illness. It also has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

Angelica Du Huo: is a very famous herb used to promote blood and energy (chi) circulation. Because it is so effective, yet so gentle and safe, it is combined with other herbs for conditions caused by blockage of energy creating pain. Angelica puescentis, Du Huo is especially effective in traditional formulas used for headache relief, and for formulas which relieve pain of the joints in the lower back and legs. This is an excellent herb for pain relief. It can be used for both acute and chronic conditions.

Mentha: Mentha, or mint herb, calms the emotions and addresses gynecological problems by soothing the liver and eliminating constraint brought about by stress.It also has an affinity for the lungs. It is an important ingredient in formulas for colds with headache and sore throat.Mint is an herb belonging to the labiatae family, specifically mentha haplocalyx Briq. It consists of a squarish stem and elliptical, scaled leaves. Both the leaves and stem are covered with tiny white hairs. The plant has an aromatic odor and an acrid taste. Both the leaves and stem are used in herbal preparations, as is mint oil. Mint oil contains dozens of chemicals, acids and compounds, including leucine, menthol and aspartic acid. Together, these substances are responsible for many of mint�s healing properties. Studies have shown that mint can inhibit bacteria such as staphylococcus aureus, staphylococcus albus and streptococcus, and viruses such as herpes simplex and vaccinia. Other research shows that it facilitates the flow of mucus in the trachea, and can improve the absorption rates of salicylic acid (the main ingredient in aspirin). In traditional Chinese medicine, mint is considered to have pungent, aromatic and cool properties. It is associated with the Lung and Liver meridians, and is used to expel wind heat, clear the head and eyes, clear up rashes, and remove liver qi stagnation. Taken orally, mint is used to treat diarrhea and painful menstruation, promote perspiration and dissipate body heat. It is also taken as a means of stimulating the nervous system. In addition, the German Commission E has approved the internal use of mint oil for a variety of conditions, including flatulence, gastrointestinal and gallbladder disorders, and catarrhs of the upper respiratory tract, and external use for myalgia and neuralgia.

Green Tea: Green Tea is one of the World's most complete antioxidants. Scientific research has shown that Green Tea protects against the ravages of poor diet, pollution, and free radicals. Green Tea contains caffeine, a stimulant that revs up metabolism, as well as theobromine, a compound similar to caffeine. Green Tea has something that coffee doesn't however: it is very rich in vitamin C and flavinoids -- potent antioxidants. These protective nutrients help reduce the risk of illnesses such as heart disease and cancer, especially colon cancer. It also encourages weight loss due to its thermogenic effect.

Licorice root: Licorice root has more detoxifying agents that any other substance in the world. It has the ability to rid the body of more than 600 toxins without any detrimental side effects. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, nourish the adrenal glands, and even to build muscle. It is a harmonizing herb, helping the diverse ingredients in various herbal formulas. It increases vital energy and is used to strengthen digestive and metabolic functions. It also aids the assimilation of nutrients.

Licorice root, in the amounts of 1-5%, is added to many herbal formulas to enhance and harmonize the actions of all the other herbs in the formula. It is amazing that such a small amount can bring such profound results. This is the great strength of Traditional Chinese Medicine that the sum of all the whole herbal formula is worth more than the isolated parts.