3 tips you need to know to super charge your immune system

Getting sick can happen anytime. Often it can happen if you are under stress, during change in seasons, around crowds, or if your health is compromised. Therefore, read below to learn our top tips to super charge your immune system.

What can lead to getting sick?

Your immune system is your bodies defense against pathogens and illness. It is like the police, here to protect us from unwanted invaders. It is known that several things can lower our immune system.

A major one is stress.

Stress can cause increases in our cortisol levels which has been found to decrease the functioning of our T-cells, one of our immune cells.

Therefore, stress + cortisol = lowered immune system

In addition to stress, what we eat can also impact our immune function.

Diets high in processed food, especially sugar can have a negative impact on health and immune function. Use food as medicine and have a paleo-whole foods type diet to stay healthy!

But what about acupuncture?

Can acupuncture help super charge the immune system?

A study published by the National Institutes of Health evaluated the efficacy of acupuncture for stimulating or regulating the immune system by comparing the results from several studies that each used different methods of acupuncture. Through the use of electroacupuncture, moxibustion, herbs and acupuncture, the studies concluded acupuncture can be helpful for the immune system.

The combined studies demonstrated that electroacupuncture can increase the number of T cells in the body and that general acupuncture can decrease inflammation, which plays a vital role in the immune system.

That is great news…for your health and immune system!

Immune system 101

Your immune system is what keeps you healthy and helps you ward off pathogens like the flu or a cold. Most of us don’t spend a lot of time worrying about our immune system until we’re sick. Most people seek relief from OTC medications to relieve symptoms but find either their colds are prolonged or they are not getting relief. By turning to acupuncture instead, we can be proactive about supporting our immune systems in a safe and natural way.

Think how nice it would be to decrease frequency and severity of colds and/or prevent them in the first place!

The top 3 tips to super charge your immune system

There are many tools in our tool box that can assist in keeping the immune system strong and healthy, including acupuncture, electroacupuncture, acu-point immune boosting injections, herbs, cupping, and nutrition.

Each of these tools in our tool box has a similar effect on the body. We can regulate immune function, while also treating the underlying causes of the disease. This is done by reducing the symptoms, speeding up the healing, decreasing excess phlegm, decreasing inflammation and boosting the immune-mediated cells in the body that help ward off invasions.

Tip #1: Setting the stage for health, using food as medicine

As we mentioned before, eating a solid diet in anti-inflammatory foods is key for boosting immune system function. Think paleo-whole foods diet that is loaded with anti-oxidants! (and that is low in sugar).

Tip #2: Preventative care.

Staying active and sweating is key for boosting immune health and warding off invaders. Getting acupuncture to boost immune system, especially heading into the cold and flu season. Also, remember to take you daily vitamins such as vitamin C! Anti-oxidants are essential to help your immune system function.

Tip #3: Hygiene

This one might be a no brainer but do what ever you can to decrease exposure. Wash your hands regularly, have HEPA filters in your office and home to clean the air, and clean surfaces regularly.

Did you know?…

Studies show regular acupuncture treatments can actually increase the number of T cells the body produces. T cells destroy harmful bacteria and viruses in the body. Acupuncture needles stimulate the brain into thinking an invader (virus or bacteria) has entered the body. The brain signals the increased release of T cells and white blood cells to fight off the intruder. The amazing part is the increased cellular response lasts for several days after the acupuncture treatment. Thus, receiving regular acupuncture treatments can actually prevent the body from getting sick.

If you suffer from chronic pain or looking to super charge your immune system, please give our office a call today, (425) 686-4498 to schedule your initial consultation to learn how we can help.

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Dr. Ellie Heintze, ND, LAc, is a naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist in Bothell, Washington at her practice Starting Point Acupuncture. She specializes in chronic and complex cases and commonly treats neuropathy, fibromyalgia, migraines, autoimmune, and infertility cases. Dr. Ellie Heintze is also the author of the book, A Starting Point Guide to Going Gluten-Free  and Keep Calm and Zen Out available on Amazon.

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Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4540978/