Boosting Immunity During the Fall Season

"Fall is the season of harvest, a time to pull inward and gather together on all levels, a time to store up fuel, food and warm clothing, a time to study and plan for the approaching stillness of winter." --Paul Pitchford

Autumn is a time of cooler weather, increasing darkness and more time inside.  The humidity of summer is replaced by dry, cool air and colds and flus become more abundant.  My family has already been hit with one bad cold this season...I blame daycare...but really it has been a wake up call for me, that building immunity during the fall, will set the stage for the entire winter.

Fall is ruled by the METAL element, of which one of it's organs are the LUNGS, which also includes the skin.  The skin is important because it is our protective layer and one way in which illness can enter the body.  In Chinese Medicine it is called the Wei (pronounced 'way') Chi.  If our Wei Chi is strong then we have strong immunity and can protect ourselves from illness.  It can also protect us on an emotional level from being vulnerable to sadness and grief- which are the emotions of the Metal Element.

There are many ways to strengthen the immunity.  Chinese herbal medicine and Acupuncture are two powerful ways to stay healthy all winter long.  Certain acupuncture points such as Stomach 36 act to build the Wei Chi and are especially powerful when treated with Moxabustion (a heating technique).  You can also use Acupressure to stimulate this point and enhance your immunity.  Below is a diagram of it's location.  It is below the knee just along the tibia bone.

However once you already feel cold or flu symptoms coming on.  A better point to fight the infection with is Large Intestine 4.  It is located in the pad of the hand between the thumb and index finger.  This point can be quite strong when stimulated and is a great one to massage for colds, headaches, and sinus infections. 

Also quite powerful is the use of herbal teas to take on a regular basis to prevent and also to treat illness.  I recently came across a great chinese herbal tea call Autumn Defender Tea.  This tea assists in strengthening and keeping the lungs moist.  This is a great tea to drink daily during the fall to help keep the body's defenses strong.  We will be carrying this tea at Good Chi Acupuncture for purchase and to enjoy before or after your acupuncture treatments.  Here are the ingredients and their actions:

Sang Ye- White Mulberry Leaf-  Clears Lung Heat, relieves the symptoms of many respiratory illnesses including chest congestion, fever, dry itchy cough, headache, dizziness and sore throat.
Bai He-  Lily Bulb- nourishes and moistens the lungs, relieve coughs, dry throats and clears away heat to treat insomnia and heart palpitations.  Its tonic properties make it a good herb for promoting restful sleep and relieving irritability.
Sha Shen- Glehnia Root- treats bronchitis, chest congestion.  Moistens the exterior, relieving dry itchy skin which is aggravated by the dry and cold weather.
Pi Pa Ye-  Loquat Leaf- one of the most popular cough remedies in Chinese Medicine.  It relieves dry cough and wheezinig.
Zhi Gan Cao-  Honey Fried Licorice Root- sweet and tonifying to the lungs and digestive system.  Also soothing for coughs.
Bo He- Chinese Mint- treats cold, cools fever, headaches, irritability and has anti-congestive properties.

I hope these tips will be helpful in keeping you healthy and vibrant this fall.  Enjoy the harvest and make lots of warm nourishing soups.  And if you happen to get sick, Allyson and I are also here for you with acupuncture & herbs!! 

Be well,
Melissa