Fall is coming soon, and with it are plenty of challenges for your immune system. Here in Washington, DC, the weather will start to cool soon and the wind will pick up, which makes it more likely for any of us to catch a cold.
If you have kids, then they’ll be back at school and bringing home all sorts of things from their classmates. Fall also means that cold and flu season is around the corner so it’s a good time to think about strengthening your immune system. Luckily, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has plenty of tools to help!
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Acupuncture Boosts Your Immune System to Fight off Infections
Acupuncture is one of the best ways that TCM can help your immune system. It works by harmonizing the functions of your body. If you have a hyper-active immune system, like people with an auto-immune disease, then acupuncture can help moderate those inflammatory reactions. Conversely, if you have decreased immune function then acupuncture can help strengthen your immune system to fight off infections — like the common cold or flu. Acupuncture is also very helpful in treating Long COVID or other post viral syndromes.
Chinese Herbs for a Cold
Aside from acupuncture, Chinese herbs are also a very effective tool in helping your immune system get stronger and treat illness. According to TCM theory, your Qi or energy is what helps your body repel pathogens and keeps you from getting sick. In fact, there is a particular type of Qi called Wei Qi that acts as your first line of defense. In this context, you can consider Qi to be another word for your immune system’s strength. The stronger your body’s Qi, the stronger you can repel infections, and the stronger your immune system will be. Chinese herbs are great because they can help your immune system (and Qi) in a variety of ways. There are herbs to help prevent colds, herbs to take if you think you’re getting sick, and herbs to help you recover faster from colds.
Prescriptions for acupuncture or herbs depend on the person and the specific symptoms. Talk to us at your next appointment if you have any questions!
Ready to Boost Your Immune System?
If you are looking for extra immune support ahead of cold and flu season, then give acupuncture and herbal medicine a try. Your acupuncturist will use your tongue, pulse, medical history, and current symptoms to create a completely customized treatment plan that is just for you — because you deserve to feel and sleep better. To get started, head to our booking page and schedule your first appointment. If you’d like us to check your insurance benefits, we’d be happy to take care of that for you. Many insurance plans cover acupuncture as an adjunct therapy for mental health. Our acupuncture clinic in Washington, DC is in-network with CareFirst/BlueCross and Aetna.
About the Author
I find working as an acupuncturist to be truly inspiring, and am excited to come to work each day. I consider myself to be an integrative practitioner, and while I focus on Chinese medicine, I also incorporate Western medical concepts to best serve my patients.
