Welcome to the Wellness One-oh-Ones, a digital encyclopedia for all your wellness needs. This series is geared to tackle those everyday questions you secretly ask yourself in wonderment when you hear about a new trend. Instead of pretending to know what people are talking about, come hang with us as we uncover the latest and greatest in the wellness industry. Check back every other Wednesday to pick up your refill — no doctor’s signature required. 

It’s safe to say we’re all a little on alert when it comes to our immunity right now, right? But no matter how much we do to build up our immunity, sometimes we get sick nonetheless, and right now, the prospect of falling ill is just too stressful to endure. That’s why I was so interested when I spoke to Dr. Shari Auth of WTHN and she spoke of Yin Chiao, a traditional herbal blend used to remedy illness right when it strikes. Learn more about the blend for yourself below and shop WTHN’s formulation, Kick It.

Tell Me About the Blend?

Kick It is a highly effective blend of naturally anti-viral herbs that kicks your respiratory and immune systems into high gear when you need it. Kick It boosts the body’s natural defenses and supports your lungs, throat + sinuses, as well as relieves minor body aches.  It provides relief as well as a shorter duration of feeling under the weather.
All WTHN herbs are 100% organic and come in an easy-to-swallow tablet form so they can easily sync with your routine. Kick It is great to keep in your medicine cabinet so you have it ready on hand and can start taking it as soon as you start to feel under the weather. Don’t let nature run its course, do something about it! 

Why so many ingredients? Is there an entourage effect?

Kick It is based on a time-tested Chinese herbal blend called Yin Chiao. Yin Chiao is the Traditional Chinese Medicine equivalent of chicken noodle soup for a cold. It may not be as delicious but it’s way more effective. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbs in a blend are more potent than solo herbs—together they target a variety of symptoms. Plus, specific herbs can sometimes magnify a therapeutic action in another herb, while others just help your body process the blend. Some things are just better together.

What are some of the hero ingredients and why?

Every herb in the formula has a different job to do, Honeysuckle and Forsythia are the “hero” herbs and are clinically shown to have anti-viral properties that fight the virus so you can feel better faster. Isatis root also has anti-viral properties and works wonders for cooling and soothing the throat. Balloon Flower root is excellent for respiratory health. A study in Phytomedicine showed that it is an expectorant that helps to clear mucus associated with respiratory inflammation and infection from the lungs and bronchial pathways. Magnolia to clear and open the sinuses helping you breathe easy. Angelica Dahurica increases circulation to ease aches and pain. One of my favorite herbs in Kick It is Codonopsis root. I find when I get sick I’m often run down. Codonopsis is less about fighting the virus and more about supporting its host. It helps to restore my energy and immunity so I can get better faster. It’s also great for digestion which often goes awry when I get sick.

So how do I use it?

When it comes to your health (and herbs) we always say that the best defense is a good offense, so taking Kick It proactively is definitely recommended. This is the perfect herb blend to have in your medicine cabinet for when you feel that first tickle in your throat. Kick It will help support your lungs, nose and throat proactively, and literally “kick” unwellness to the curb + avoid or cut down on sick days. 

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