Traditional Chinese Medicine can be an effective tool in the battle against sickness. Whether it is that time of year where everyone seems to get sick and you want to take a preventative approach, or you suffer from a poor immune system and you seem to catch every bug that comes along, or are currently suffering from a full-blown cold, acupuncture can help strengthen your immune system and get you back in control of your health.
People often ask me if Chinese medicine and Acupuncture can help with colds or the flu, so this Acupuncture Calgary post is going to address this question. In Chinese Medicine, there are several factors that contribute to someone becoming sick with the cold or flu. The main cause has to do with your level of immunity to disease-causing factors, known as your ‘Wei Qi’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine. If your immunity is weaker than the pathogen (bacteria or virus), then you will become sick. Your body is always working to keep you healthy, which is why it’s important to eat right, get enough sleep, and practise good hygiene.
You may have noticed that many of your friends and family became sick over Christmas holidays and in early January. This makes a lot of sense from a Chinese Medicine perspective as people tend to be in a state of overdrive with all the eating, drinking, and shopping. The sudden increase in energy expenditure can take away from the energy needed to maintain our immunity. And when you top that off with the increased social interaction (especially with people who may already be sick or fighting something off themselves) and a decrease in sleep, and it’s no wonder that when we finally stop and relax, we are often hit with a cold or the flu.
If you were unable to maintain your immunity these last couple months or feel like you might be fighting something off currently, don’t worry: it’s not too late for you. Chinese Medicine is great for recovering from the imbalance in energy levels and boosting your immunity back up to help prepare you for the next potential pathogen. Acupuncture can be used to rebalance your energy levels and tonify the lungs to help fight off those pesky invaders, and acupuncture is good for boosting your immune system in general. And, if you are already sick, herbal formulas combined with a temporary change in diet and lifestyle can help you to recover faster.
The best time to see a Chinese medicine practitioner for a potential illness is:
- As soon as you start experiencing symptoms, whether that be a decrease in energy that doesn’t seem to be rebounding or a sore throat and congestion, to get on top of the problem right away.
- If you are already in full blown sick mode (coughing, sneezing, headache, body aches, chills and fever), you can still come in for acupuncture to eliminate those symptoms and get back on the path to health quicker.
I hope that helps answer any questions you have about TCM and Acupuncture and how they help with fighting off the flu or a cold. If you still have questions, feel free to contact us at info@healthybynaturecalgary.ca, or book a free meet-and-greet with one of our expert TCM Doctors here.