Last winter, I saw many patients with upper respiratory infections. In some instances, their condition had progressed from an acute viral infection to a chronic infection on which repeated courses of the usual prescription medications had no effect.
By the time the patients came to see me, they had developed a sore throat, aches and pains in the joints and muscles, fatigue and a dry cough. Initially, they did not think much of the symptoms, believing they would go away. However, they started coughing violently and experiencing other symptoms such as congestion of the nose, ear and chest; headaches; extreme tiredness; and aches and pains of the joints spreading through the entire body.
Clearly these patients’ immune systems had been weakened and compromised. In TCM, the first defence mechanism is Wei Qi energy – or protective energy – which circulates on the surface of the body. If the Wei Qi is strong, a pathogen attacking the body will not penetrate into deeper levels. Conversely, if the Wei Qi is weak and loses its defensive mechanisms, the pathogen will penetrate the deeper levels, resulting in chronic dis-ease.

In this case, acupuncture alone is one of the top ways to boost the immune system. Certain acupuncture points are stimulated regularly to strengthen Wei Qi, and thus strengthen the immune system. TCM regards infection as pathogenic cold, or heat attack to the human body. With an acute condition, the practitioner works on strengthening the Wei Qi so the energy can expel the pathogen from the system. In a chronic condition an organ such as the lung or stomach has been injured, making it necessary to repair that damage in addition to boosting the immune system.

In China, before winter and summer, people have regular acupuncture treatments once or twice a week to regulate and boost their Wei Qi – the immune system – to guard against influenza. One month before summer people also start drinking cooling herbs such as honeysuckle, Mai Dong, Xia Gu Cao, Ban Lan Geng to cool their blood. (Recall that TCM regards infection as heat attack). These herbs also have some anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties. Warming herbs such as astragalus, ginger and condonosis are used before winter, with the immune-boosting acupuncture treatment incorporating tonifying and warming techniques to strengthen the lung, spleen and kidney.

For thousands of years, the Chinese have lived according to the principles of Tao which tell us to live as closely as possible to nature and constantly balance our yin and yang. During summer, Chinese people use cool herbs, have acupuncture treatments to drain heat from the body, and eat cooling vegetables such as cucumber, squash, bok choy and tofu. When the cold weather arrives, they take warm herbs, use acupuncture and moxibustion to warm the body, drink tonic soups and eat warm food. In dry and windy autumn, acupuncture expels the wind from the body and they drink lots of fluids to nourish organs and meridians. Spring is a time of cleansing when Chinese people drink cleansing herbs and fast for a few days to rid their body of toxins.

To boost our immunity naturally, it is essential to live a balanced life, to respect our health, and eat and drink according to the nature of the season. If, for example, you eat fish and chips and drink coffee and alcohol during summer, you most assuredly will get sick for these foods and beverages are very hot in nature.
To guard against illness, visit a qualified acupuncturist before each season turns. Proteins are our building blocks, crucial for immune strength, so include adequate high-quality protein in your diet: fish, chicken, tofu, legumes, nuts and seeds.

If you do get sick, see a qualified naturopath who will prescribe a suitable herbal formula. Self-treatment is not recommended as the condition may become more serious. As an example: a simple sore throat can develop into bronchitis or even pneumonia without proper treatment.

Garlic has been used as an antibacterial agent for thousands of years. Mixed with ginger, cayenne pepper, lemon juice and honey, it makes a superb medicinal drink that is most effective for colds and flu. Echinacea and vitamin C are both excellent immune boosters. Ensure you purchase a high-grade, high-potency echinacea root. In my clinic, I use pH adjusted vitamin C which offers four times greater intracellular absorption than other forms.
Fresh air, adequate rest, regular exercise, high quality diet, positive mental attitude, happiness, and good relationships are all essential to build optimum immune health. When you look after your body, it will look after itself.

This article was first published in the magazine “Nature and Health”

Contact us now for professional guidance.