“My daughter gets one cold after another.” “I just can’t get rid of this cold I’ve had for six months.” “I got pneumonia twice last winter.” Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose, fatigue—everyone knows these are the first signs of a cold. Although usually mild with symptoms lasting one to two weeks, it is a leading cause of doctor visits and missed days of work and school. In the course of a year, people in the U.S. suffer one billion colds. Flu has a fever of 101 to 106 degrees with 200,000 people hospitalized and 36,000 dying per year. It is also very contagious.
Nothing is more important to your health than a well-functioning immune system. Such ailments and diseases as the common cold, infections, asthma, food allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer are all related to immune system function. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been dealing with the immune system disorders for thousands of years. Acupuncture as well as herbal and nutritional therapies strengthen the body’s natural defense mechanisms.
One study showed acupuncture improving white blood cell counts and mobility by 168% within three hours after treatment. Treatment also relieved symptoms of asthma, allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, colds and infections.
A five week study at the University of Houston showed acupuncture increased the activity of the natural killer cells. A study at the Department of Physiology at the University of Madrid in Spain on how acupuncture treated immune function in women with anxiety. The results showed that the most favorable effects of acupuncture on the immune functions appear 72 hours after treatment and brought immune parameters to values closer to those of healthy controls. A study in Japan showed that acupuncture could modulate allergy and immune response by improving cytokines. Other studies showed acupuncture to improve T-lymphocyte function.
It can be challenging to have a weak immune system. We are bombarded with chemicals and stress that our species has not adapted to and it’s wearing out our immune systems. While many conditions aren’t curable, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been effectively treating them for thousands of years. Acupuncture does improve digestive health, reduce stress and provide energy because it significantly contributes to physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing.