CC BY
7How to boost your immune system with Chinese Medicine
Kejun Wang
Nothing is more important to your health than a well-functioning immune system. A properly functioning immune system is equipped to deal with common illnesses, such as the common cold or influenza. It may also help prevent more serious illnesses like catching the swine flu H1N1 virus or cancer. There are people who have been suffering from a lower immune system and tend to fall sick. In this article, I will share some Chinese Medicine wellbeing ways with you of how to increase your immune system and avoid getting sick.
1 Acupuncture and Moxibustion
The Chinese have found many acupoints for several millennia. We can stimulate some acupoints to improve our immune system by acupressure, acupuncture and moxibustion. Acupuncture is one powerful tool to regulate the immune system. In China, people know how energetic they feel after having an acupuncture treatment, and they will use acupuncture as part of a plan for maintaining perfect health. It is reported that acupuncture can help to enhance white blood cell activities and functions. Tuina has been shown to be emotionally and physically healing. Tuina can help heal damaged muscle, stimulate circulation, clear waste products via the lymphatic system, boost the activity of the immune system, reduce pain and tension, and induce a calming effect. Massage may also enhance well-being by stimulating the release of endorphins (natural painkillers and mood elevators) and reducing levels of certain stress hormones.
Acupuncture and moxibustion are considered a form of treatment or therapy. However, acupuncture and moxibustion may be most successful when they are applied as an early intervention for symptoms or conditions. Ancient TCM doctors had rich experiences of acupuncture and moxibustion to keep fitness and prevent disease. Acupuncture and moxibustion should be manipulated by a professional Chinese doctor. Tuina(Chinese Massage) should also be manipulated by a professional Chinese doctor. But sometimes you can do some Tuina by yourself.
2 Choose immune-boosting foods
With an abundance of fresh, seasonal foods. Try to eat cooked, seasonal fruits and vegetables. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), eating cold, raw fruits and vegetables in the cold, damp winter months can create dampness in the body's digestive system, particularly the stomach and spleen. So, instead, think about homemade casseroles, soups and stews to nourish the body's natural energy and create warmth from within.
According to the theories of Chinese medicine, we can have a Health preservation diet to improve our immune system. Chinese dietary study holds that herbs and food share the same source, the same theory and the same way of use. More than 100 herbs are used as food, such as Rhizoma Diossoreae (Shanyao), Fructus Lycii (Gouqizi), Arillus Longan (Guiyuanrou) and Semen Euryales (Qianshi) and so on. So we can have some more to improve our immune system in the diet.
3 Using immune boosting herbs
Boosting your immune system with Chinese herbs is also helpful, but
herbal supplements are not an overnight quick fix. Chinese herbal formulas should be taken for at least one month for a powerful, long lasting effect. Adaptogenic herbs such as ginseng, ganoderma, (also known as reishi mushrooms), cordyceps, astragalus and eleuthero are all herbs at the top of the "boost the immune system" list. As effective as astragalus is by itself, Chinese herbal formulas actually achieve a much stronger effect than single herbs. An herbal formula is not only more powerful than a single herb, but can cover a wider range of symptoms. Chi Spleen Tonic (Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang) is a formula that has been used in Chinese medicine for hundreds of years. Astragalus is the chief herb in this formula.
4. Traditional Chinese Exercise
Science has proven that regular exercise—at least 30 minutes most days of the week— increases immune function. Doing Traditional Chinese Exercise Exercise gets the blood moving quicker through the body, which also moves antibodies through the body faster than normal. This exposes potential threats to the immune system much faster, allowing the antibodies to remove them before the bacteria or viruses can become an illness.
Tai Ji Quan: Tai Ji Quan is an internalChinese martial art practiced for both its defense training and its health benefits. When you practice Tai Ji Quan, blood flows to the limbs and circulation is improved. Also, the flux of Qi around the body has been proven to strengthen the immune system against disease.A study indicates that Tai Chi practiced three times per week may boost people resistence to viruses by 50%. This study was regarding the shingles virus in particular but the researchers believe Tai Chi may have a powerful effect in raising resistence to other types of infection as well.
The Five-animal Exercise: It consists of five groups of actions imitating the movement of the tiger, deer, bear, ape and bird. It is a bionic exercise. Regular practice of the Five-animal Exercise can limber up the joints in the waist and limbs, strengthen the waist, and nourish the viscera, thus achieving the purpose of improving the immune system.
Qigong: Qi Gong is an ancient breathing exercise for internal strengthening. Qigong teaches inner strength, increases flexibility, and boosts our immune system. Practicing Qigong reduces stress, stores up energy, increases body awareness, and improves balance and coordination.
Chinese Medicine considers that the immune system (named "Zheng Qi" in Traditional Chinese Medicine) is strongly associated with the function of the internal organs. If these organs are well-balanced they will support the immune system (Zheng Qi) and strengthen its function, which will prevent you from being easily affected by external pathogenic factors. "The Yellow Emperor's Internal Canon of Medicine" said: Keep healthy, do not be evil.
Three New Lignan Glycosides from the Root Barks of Sambucus williamsii
Hance
Bing-You Yang, Hua Han , Liu Yang, Hai Jiang, Qiu-Hong Wang and Hai-Xue Kuang *
Key Laboratory of Chinese Materia Medica, Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
Abstract: Three new lignanglycosides,named williamsoside E (1), williamsoside F (2) and williamsoside G (3) were isolated from the root barks of Sambucus williamsii Hance. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D, 2D-NMR and HRESIMS) and chemical studies.
Keywords: Sambucus williamsii Hance; root barks; lignan glycosides
Introduction
Sambucus williamsii Hance is a deciduous shrubs or small tree wildly distributing in China[1] andhas been used for centuries for treatment of inflammation[2] and bone fractures and joint diseases[3].The chemical composition of S. williamsii has been extensively studied. The triterpenoids, flavonoids, lignans and the iridoids were reported[4,5].In our present work,we investigatedthe 50% ethanol eluate fraction from a macroporous resin of the root barks of S. williamsii. Our extraction and separation method can greatly enrich fractions in lignan compounds so trace lignans can be isolated. In this paper, we present the isolation and structural
