Immunity

By Juliette Aiyana, LAc

When I pick up my grandchildren from daycare, I also pick up all kinds of germs. How can I boost my immune system?

Many parents, caregivers, and teachers face the same dilemma. Respiratory illnesses like flu, bronchitis, colds, and sinus infections, commonly spread among schoolchildren and then pass to the adults who care for them.

To enhance immunity and prevent illness, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioners recommend strengthening the defensive qi, the life force that protects the body against invasive pathogens that can make you sick. They do this through a combination of acupuncture, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle adjustments. Start by consulting a trained practitioner and Chinese herbalist, who can tailor a plan to your specific pattern of energetic disharmony.

To cultivate defensive qi, you need to nurture and preserve the energetic health of your organ systems. According to TCM, the spleen organ system plays an especially important role in preventing illness because it transforms energy derived from food and drink into three substances: qi, blood, and body fluids, and then transports those substances to other organs so they can do their jobs. The spleen raises qi up to the lungs, which then circulate the defensive qi. Weak spleen qi makes for weak lung qi. Acupuncturists use points on the spleen, stomach, lung, and urinary bladder meridians to strengthen the qi. While Chinese herbalists treat each patient individually, the formulas they use generally combine several herbs, one of which is astragalus root. This herb helps boost immunity by strengthening the spleen and lungs. You can boil astragalus root and drink the tea two times a day; take a tincture; or drink a mixture of warm water and a concentrated powder of the herb (12 to 24 grams of astragalus divided into doses taken two times a day).

To strengthen spleen qi through diet, avoid eating too many raw fruits and vegetables or drinking their juices. The spleen hates cold and dampness. Instead, eat steamed or sautéed vegetables, soups, and whole grains. Avoid refined white grains and sugar as well as fried or oily foods. Limit your intake of cow’s milk (cheese and ice cream, too) and raw or cold foods. Drink beverages served at room temperature, warm, or hot. Consume food and alcohol in moderation. Avoid eating while you are upset or anxious, because strong emotions can damage the qi. Do not skip meals. Food gives us energy needed to make the qi that protects the body from germs.

Also, anxiety can weaken spleen qi. Find time to relax: Go for a walk in the park, take long baths, or meditate. Take breaks at work. Create and use a support system of friends and family members to help you through stressful times.

When you integrate these techniques into your life, you will strengthen your qi and your immune system. Then you can pick up your grandchildren without the fear of getting sick. Juliette Aiyana, LAc, has been a natural health practitioner since 1992. In 2001, she founded Aiyana Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs in New York City (www.amazinghealing.com).

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