Immune Boosting Tips for Cold + Flu prevention

The wisdom of Chinese medicine says, 

“You go with nature, you will thrive, you go against nature and you will suffer.” 

The ancient Chinese understood nature and by its extension the natural world as cyclical. They recognized that cycles are repeated in hours, days, months and years and that cyclic influences have a great deal to do with our daily health and state of being.

2020 is the year of the Rat; the very first sign from the 12-animal cycle of Chinese astrology. This year will be a year of new beginnings and renewal for everybody, according to the Chinese Zodiac.

With the latest global health concern Coronavirus impacting the lungs and upper respiratory system, it is crucial to apply the wisdom of Chinese medicine and the lessons the year of the rat has to teach us.

Immune System, Energy Medicine and Combating Viruses

According to Chinese medicine, if the immune system is strong, then a person who is exposed to a virus may not get sick at all. If the immune system is basically strong, but still has slight vulnerability, then the person exposed to a virus may get the virus, but they will get a very mild case of the virus. We’ve seen this described with some of the cases of the Coronavirus, with a large percentage of people experiencing symptoms which are not life threatening.
The problem occurs when the virus is not able to be expelled at the Wei level (surface level). When the virus penetrates into deeper levels, the balance between the warriors and peacekeepers is distorted and the warriors are sensing that the body is under attack. Too many warrior immune cells are being produced, creating a lot of inflammation within the lungs, which can lead to a cascade of other health concerns. 

Maintaining Health in 2020

The following strategies, along with a BodyIntuitive session, help to support the body in maintaining a strong immune system and a healthy body to avoid disease.

1. Avoid processed foods.

The health of the immune system starts in the digestive system. We need to eat well! A clean diet and high-quality organic food are a must. Don’t eat out too much because you don’t know exactly what you’re getting in restaurants. Home cooked food is best. Whole foods are best. We’re talking about foods that come from the ground. Fish, meat, eggs, fruits and vegetables.

2. Limit Toxins.

It is important to pay attention to ALL lifestyle factors. This includes controlling our intake of toxins, (smoking, drinking, and drugs), having a good source of clean water, keeping the body well hydrated and making sure that we are keeping our lung qi strong by breathing pure air and by breathing deeply.

Taking care of our lungs

We really need to take care of our lungs and upper respiratory system throughout 2020 and here’s a few ways we can do that.

1. Practice deep breathing.

Concentrating on breathing exercises as well as things like yoga and chi kung will help to support the health of the lungs. The function of the lungs is to regulate the qi that we absorb from the natural world. The lung Meridian also rules the skin and the sweat glands, which are important detoxification organs.

2. Support your immune system with energy treatments.

The immune system is particularly responsive to working with energy-based techniques, such as BodyIntuitive. The immune system point combo includes specific points on the kidney, lung and stomach meridians that have a strong synergistic effect on the body. These points touch the three important organ systems that make up the Zheng qi, which are very helpful in preventing colds and flus. 

3. Support your immune system through herbal remedies.

The Chinese are trying a lot of innovative things including a combination of Western medicine and Chinese medicine, amongst other things, with successful results. Some of the herbs we recommend include:

• Adaptogenic herbs are immune system boosting herbs, such as Schizandra drops Goji berries, and American ginseng.

• Mushrooms really work well with the immune system, including ganoderma and Reishi mushrooms.

• Powerhouse Chinese herbal combinations including Yin Qiao and Ganmiao Pian, which have been around for thousands of years and are extremely safe and effective.

Please keep your immune system happy over the next few months and throught this Metal Rat year in order to keep healthy.