When I began writing this article, I wanted to address the upcoming season and its abundance of bringing disease along with it. I live in Perth, Australia in which the season is autumn but heading into winter (between April and May).The characteristics of the season now still has some summer heat whilst the autumn has also brought the cold. This is why the temperature in Perth varies quite often. When the winter comes in Perth, it is usually cold, windy and is abundant in rain. Going into winter, yang energy is getting weaker whilst the yin energy is getting stronger- it is during this time that Yang transforms to yin. It is because of this that during this season many people catch the flu, colds and viruses.
Many people in winter can catch the flu many times, as they have not completely recovered which may affect their health and job. Because having a flu, cold or virus can be spread very easily, it may effect a whole family or office. Having a cold for a very long time can cause many problems such as; pneumonia, asthma, kidney infection, urinary bladder infection and glandular fever. Catching either the flu, cold or virus can cause other illnesses to get worse for example having sinus infection, asthma, bronchitis and arthritis. This is why it is very necessary why I want to share my knowledge of how Chinese medicine and acupuncture greatly improve the immune system and how it can prevent illness.
Chinese medicine considers Autumn to be a very good season to improve health, balance and strengthen the body and boost the immune system before winter comes along. A very famous ancient Chinese medicine books called ‘’Nei Jing’’ mentions that ‘treat the body, before it gets sick’. I think the topic of this article is not only suitable for Perth but also suitable for other places in Australia and throughout the world when it is autumn and winter.
Why acupuncture and Chinese medicine can boost your immune system
1.Prevention is part of traditional chinese medicine ideology. It is believed that as soon as Chinese medicine treatment starts so does prevention. About 2000 years ago, an old chinese medicine practitioner realised how important it is to educate people and to teach people the principles of how to prevent disease rather than treating the problem at hand.
2.The bodies balance between ying and yang is important to keep the body balanced as well as keeping the immune system functioning properly. What does it mean to have a balance between ying and yang? This is the bodies organs are not working too much or too little, the qi and blood not being too cold or too hot, the circulation not flowing too fast or too slow and vital energy being at its best. The ancient chinese medicine book ‘Nei Jing’ mentions ‘if ying and yang are balanced, vital energy is stronger and external evil won’t attack the body’. If your vital energy is good, it is not easy for you to get sick and if you do fall sick you will recover much quicker.
In the last few years in the world, there have been many diseases such as bird flu, swine flu and glandular fever which affected many people in certain areas. However, some people did not fall sick, that makes us think why some people do not get sick? This is due to the difference in people’s immune systems and their ability to fight disease. Your health is in your hands.
3. Lung, kidneys and liver being balanced and functioning well is very important for the immune system.
The lung: Traditional Chinese Medicine has a special understanding for lung function, the lung is located in the upper chest dominating the breast area and is the only internal organ which has contact with the external environment. The lung is the first line of defense because a) the lung dominates the skin in which there are pores which open and close. Many diseases penetrate the body through these pores. b) Lungs are connected to the nose and throat, thus germs or pathogens coming in through the nose, mouth and throat get delivered to the lung. c) Chinese medicine believes that the lung is a delicate organ and is very easy to be attacked from pathogens such as wind cold and heat. When lungs are attacked the body usually has the following symptoms: Cough, sneezing, sore throat, blocked nose, body feels cold and hot, short of breath or lack of energy. If your lung function is not optimally or your ying and yang are not balanced, you immune system is much lower and you may be very easily get the symptoms mentioned above. Balancing the lung function will hep prevent illness during winter.
The kidneys: The kidney are located in the lower back. Traditional chinese medicine considers that the kidneys store the original vital energy and essence from your parents. As our other organs need support from kidney energy it is thus considered the source of our immune system. If your qi (energy) is low, it is easy for you to get sick and takes you longer to recover. When people have low original vital energy it will cause the following systems: lower back pain, knee pain, ankle pain, puffy and swollen ankles, lack of energy, poor memory, low libido, impotence, hot flushes and more frequent urination during the night.
The Liver: The liver is also an important organ which is associated with the immune system. Because the liver dominates emotions, if people are very stressed or depressed for a long time it will effect liver function and will also bring the immune system down. Thus it is easy for them to catch a cold or flu. This is why people associate people who are more busy, stressed and depressed get sick more often. this is why it is important that we strengthen liver function. If you liver is weak it will have the following symptoms: stiff neck and shoulders, head ache and migraines, insomnia, vivd dreams, sleep talk, depression, very emotional, hand or body trembling, PMS and period pain. Some may experience thyroid problem and menopause.
If you have any of the above symptoms and are also prone to catching a cold, flu or virus and your body feels generally weaker, this indicates that your immune system is already low. So you could use Chinese medicine and acupuncture to boost your immune system.
4.What do we do with Chinese medicine and acupuncture to boost your immune system? Our traditional Chinese medicine practitioner will check your body by pulse and tongue analysis to find out which organs are imbalanced. We will then choose certain acupuncture channels, points or chinese herbs specifically for you. During acupuncture we will use these channels and points to bring your body into balance which will help in boosting your immune system. Acupuncture will also help improve circulation, metabolism and digestive system. All of these effects by using traditional chinese medicine and acupuncture will help to boost your immune system.
What can you do to improve your immune system and prevent disease?
Your lifestyle and diet also effects you immune system the following points will help to improve your immune system.
1. In winter, outdoor exercise is very important. However, when doing exercise it is best to avoid the wind, rain and snowing conditions. After exercise our pores are open, that is why it is important to wear a jumper to protect you from catching a cold. Also drinking warm water to restore your fluid is essential.
2. It is important that you have enough sleep and keep your general energy well.
3. In winter because it is very cold, your body needs even more heat energy, eating a more nutritional breakfast and lunch will help. But for dinner do not eat too much, eat less meat and less deep-fried foods. Otherwise this may cause indigestion and your body will store more toxins and thus it will be easier to get a flu or cold.
4. If you work very hard and are very stressed, it is important to find time for relaxation to reduce your emotional stress.
5. Make sure you have a bowl movement everyday. Urination should be clear or mild yellow, not very dark.
6. In winter I suggest some food you should eat (please read our article about winter food diet therapy).
7. Avoid eating or drinking frozen food or drink in order to keep your circulation warm in the winter and keep your yang energy well, especially women who have their period or people who suffer arthritis.
8. If your body has a special condition, it is best to see your experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioner or your health care professional for advice before winter comes.
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