By Par Scott
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a form of medicine that is based on more than 3,500 years of Chinese medical practice. TCM includes various forms of herbal formulas, acupuncture, cupping therapy, and more.
As an acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist I would say there is help in Chinese medicine for increasing immune response in the body, and in blunting the impact of viral illness when it is going on. However, and unfortunately, there is nothing within TCM (herb, treatment, otherwise) that is going to “bullet-proof” you to a viral illness.
The best approach is to take safety precautions to minimize exposure to the virus, and simultaneously take active steps to strengthen your immune system. I tend to see this as a matter of percentages. The following are some fairly basic guidelines that are simple, straightforward, and readily available.
1) Work to prevent infection through social distancing, keeping ourselves and our spaces clean. There are many good resources regarding these ideas online, from both State and Federal government agencies.
2) Attempt to relax and maintain a reserve of energy during the day. Exhaustion, and mental and physical strain are generally bad for the immune system. While exercise is important, avoid intense training during this time. Traditional Chinese medicine sees the skin and surface of the body as a vector for invasion by environmental factors which deplete our internal resources and make us ill.
Sweating a lot, especially in a cold or windy environment, overexerting oneself, etc., can leave us depleted and unable to generate a strong reaction when we are invaded by something from the outside. Meditation, breathing exercises, yoga and moderate exercise of all sorts should be used to improve and maintain your health..
3) Keep a moderate diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Adding warm and “pungent” or somewhat spicy flavors can be helpful in bringing our energy to the surface of the body. Having a system that is heavy with greasy, thick foods can impede the flow of internal resources. Chinese culture tends to use rice porridge (jook in Cantonese, or zhou in Mandarin) as a food to support and sustain the body in illness, and support the defense.
In Ayurveda they see kitchari (rice and vegetable porridge) in a similar way. Usually fresh ginger is added to bolster the digestion. Other useful spices and herbs are cardamom, nutmeg, and cinnamon. You can also use curry powders, as these usually contain good mixes of aromatic spices with good anti-oxidant qualities. Drink fluids and maintain good hydration.
4) Maintain good sleep hygiene. Sleep is a great restorative, and when we are stressed it tends to suffer. Avoid screen exposure for a few hours before bed, and try to get to bed at a reasonable hour. By the same token, try to get natural light early in the day. If possible 2-3 hours visual exposure to sunlight (through a window is fine) earlier in the day helps our internal clocks stay on track, even on a cloudy day.
Late night eating and light exposure tend to dysregulate our bodies and have a negative impact, especially on our immune function. Moderate exercise during the day can also help ensure a good night’s sleep.
5) Keep abreast of information and follow public health directions. If you are in a high risk category (older, hypertensive, diabetic etc), there may be some modifications to lifestyle and medications that could be useful. Keep in touch with your healthcare provider and follow their recommendations. That said, try to avoid saturating your mind with negative stories from the news. Try to live with caution but not fear.
Chinese herbal medicine can be a useful treatment for a wide variety of conditions, but using it effectively is a complex process that requires knowledge and experience. To my knowledge, there is no specific single herb that will help with this pandemic, or general immunity, because that’s not how Chinese medicine generally works.
Chinese medicine is a medicine of context, and prescribing one thing for everyone is just not responsible. Generally speaking you should focus on maintaining your overall health and wellness as your best defense, and avoid high risk situations.
