5 Ways to Boost Your Immune System Using Traditional Chinese Medicine

Author: Emily Feng, Acupuncturist

 

Your Immune System, COVID-19, and Chinese Medicine

When the COVID-19 pandemic first emerged, we all looked for ways to boost our immune system. Fear gripped us all, and we spoke of "fighting" the virus. But have we truly considered what we are fighting against?

Have we paused to reflect on this question? When I pondered this myself, I concluded that we are essentially battling ourselves and nature. In Chinese medicine, there is a concept known as the unity of man and nature, which suggests that we should "follow" the changes of nature and make corresponding adjustments to achieve balance with our surroundings.

Opposing forces against nature create resistance, resulting in immense pressure on us. Any action undertaken with resistance puts us in a state of tension, fear, worry, and self-doubt, which can lead to depression, anxiety, negative thoughts, and isolation. These emotions affect our mental state and manifest physically as a feeling of being closed off.

A study conducted by physicians from the Stanford Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Stanford University School of Medicine in California in 1992 explored the influence of emotions on muscle tone. The researchers found that different negative emotions can cause tension and tightness in different muscle groups, making individuals more susceptible to strains and injuries (Pelletier KR, 1992).

When our muscles are chronically tense, blood circulation in the affected area is impaired. To understand this phenomenon, let's first examine the function of blood.

 

The role of blood in health and immune systems

Blood is crucial in delivering oxygen and nutrients to all body parts for normal cellular functioning. It also transports waste products such as carbon dioxide to the lungs, kidneys, and digestive system for elimination. Moreover, blood fights infections and carries hormones throughout the body. In fact, 90% of our body's repair and hormonal balance rely on the smooth circulation of blood (IQWiG, 2019).

According to Chinese medicine, stagnation of qi (energy) and blood can lead to the formation of blood stasis or blood clots in arteries. Blood stasis can produce phlegm and dampness, which can be understood as inflammation of cells and tissues, as well as the accumulation of waste fluids after inflammation. If these fluids are not properly eliminated, they can continue to trigger inflammatory reactions in the body, setting off a vicious cycle and subjecting the body to chronic stress, which in turn can negatively impact our immunity.

 

Building up your immunity

This brings us to the central focus of our discussion: how to build up our immunity and foster a healthy defensive system.

First and foremost, it is crucial to nourish the heart, which is considered the monarch of the body and one of the most vital organs in Chinese Medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the heart is associated with the element of fire.

Here are the top 5 ways TCM can boost your immune system:

• Let go of fear and observe your emotions: Fear in the context of the five elements pertains to water, which can overwhelm fire (as the heart is associated with fire). The emotion of fear can directly impact the heart. The next time you experience fear, try to be aware of any discomfort or tension in specific body parts. You may notice that it tends to be in the lower hips or groin area or just above the diaphragm, where the heart is located.
• Reflect on your work and rest time - In Chinese medicine, we have an energy clock that shows us that each organ’s vital energy rests or works at certain times of the day. 5 am - 7 am is the large intestine (detoxification), and between 11 am-1 pm is the heart. Therefore, noon is suitable for a lunch break and a short nap, ensuring the heart is well-rested and nourished. The heart controls the blood. It pumps blood to the various organs and limbs of the body. At night, between 11-1 pm is liver, the liver detoxifies, nourishes and stores blood. We should be asleep by this time for the body to detox and restore blood to feedback to the heart.
• Diet - A general rule according to the TCM energy clock is that we eat breakfast in-between 7 am-9 am. This is the time when the stomach energy is at its best. For people who are non breakfast eaters, it is also good to have some runny food in the system to fuel the body for the day. Eat hot or warm foods in the mornings, as this is when Yang energy is rising. Never over-eat. Try and eat to 70-80% so there is space for the stomach to exercise and digest the food. During lunch, it is best to take a few deep breaths first to relax (from all the morning work), to bring awareness and intention back to the body, and then to eat lunch in a calming manner. 90% of digestion occurs in the mouth through chewing, so ensuring that we put awareness into chewing our food properly is a crucial part of digestion and absorption of nutrients in the body (GESA, 2010). Generally, “red” food can nourish the heart and blood.
• Exercise - In TCM, different types of exercise are recommended to vary from person to person. People with yin deficiency and blood deficiency body types are not suitable for strenuous exercise and excessive sweating. You can do more gentle exercises, such as yoga and Tai Chi. On the other hand, people who are hyperactive with lots of fire energy can perform moderate to high-intensity exercise to burn off the extra fire energy that they carry in the body. It is all, in the end, about balance.
• Staying true to ourselves and always coming back home to “you” at the end of the day. We live in a chaotic time. With the rise of social media, we can access all the information we need within seconds. But sometimes, we are information bombed. What I mean by this is that we listen and take on so many different people’s energy, information, thoughts and opinions throughout the day.

By the end of the day, we’ve taken on so much of what is not ours without realising. It is good to have a cleansing or clearing ritual, drop everything we’ve carried on and come home to ourselves and our heart space.

Some techniques include Yin yoga, journaling, breathing exercises, mantras, meditations, walking in nature, hot bath and much more! Choose what works for you, that relaxes and unwinds you.

As an experienced acupuncturist at Ormiston Family Chiropractic, I can help you support your immune system, manage stress, and promote overall wellness.

Take a proactive step towards building a strong defensive system by incorporating acupuncture into your healthcare routine. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and safeguard your health!

 

COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges for us all.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest condolences to those who have lost loved ones or continue to be impacted by the pandemic in various ways. My heart goes out to you, and I understand the pain and difficulties many have faced and continue to endure. It's important to remember that we are all in this together and must support each other through these trying times.

References

• Pelletier KR. Mind-Body Health: Research, Clinical, and Policy Applications. American Journal of Health Promotion. 1992;6(5):345-358. doi:10.4278/0890-1171-6.5.345
• InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. What does blood do? [Updated 2019 Aug 29]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279392/
• Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA); Information about the Digestive System. Third edition 2010. https://www.gesa.org.au/files/editor_upload/File/Consumer%20Brochures/2014/ Digestive%20System.pdf (accessed Oct 2022).