Low immunity and the gut: A TCM perspective

photo by cottonbro

What is the link between gut health and low immunity?

If you’re suffering from frequent colds, flu’s, sinusitis or any recurring infection then it's time to address the underlying cause-your gut health. The immune system or wei qi that comprises your body’s defense is directly affected by the health and function of the digestive system, most commonly known as the Spleen and Stomach axis. Our modern understanding of the gut has validated what natural medicine has known for years-that the microbiome of the gut directly supports and regulates immunity. Most of your immune cells are circulating through the digestive tract, so if due to stress or poor diet there’s inflammation or dysfunction in the gut, then your immunity can easily be compromised.

So how do you improve gut health, and thereby immunity?

1. Eat in a way that supports healthy gut function. 

   This means as best you can eating local, organic and seasonal produce and wholefoods. Reducing processed foods, ultra processed foods, sugar, refined flours, gluten, and dairy. Secondly your food should be for the most part cooked and warm-this enables your body to digest your food more easily and so you can absorb what you need from the food in a much more efficient way. 

2. Find ways to regulate stress and find ease and calm within the body.

   The parasympathetic nervous system is known as the ‘rest and digest’ system and it is critical to maintain a balance between this and the sympathetic nervous system ‘fight or flight.’ Simply put if you’re body and nervous system are in a chronic state of stress, most of your body’s systems are spending their energy trying to keep you safe from acute danger-not actively repair, digest and promote overall immunity
   
   
   

3. Exercise

   Find a way of moving your body that feels good for you and is sustainable. It does not have to be intense or vigorous. Moderate intensity, walking, swimming, riding a bike, pilates, yoga, weights are all beneficial.

4. Spend time outdoors.

   Get outside, enjoy the sunshine, the fresh air and environment nature provides. It offers relief from stress, lifts your mood and just makes you feel better and calmer. Exposure to natural environments also has positive benefits for your gut microbiome

5. More being, less thinking.
   Overthinking takes a lot of energy-so much so that excessive thinking, which can manifest as rumination or worry can be detrimental to gut health. Hence the expression ‘I’m worried sick.’ Finding ways to regulate worry-attending counseling, taking up a daily journal, meditating or exercising in order to spend less energy and time on continued thinking. 

6. Add herbs to your diet.
   Herbs like ginger or gan jiang, ginseng or ren shen, astragalus or huang qi as they are known in TCM are all herbs that were traditionally been used to support energy levels and immune health in the body. You can add them into your diet with soups or stews for the added health benefit. 
   
   
   While this is a simple overview of how to restore gut and immune health, there’s no one way for everybody. If there’s one thing I’ve learned working with thousands of clients is that we’re all different.
   
   If you’re struggling with poor immunity and are looking for support to get you back to feeling energetic, healthy and well then I’m here for you.
   Not only do I offer classical herbal formulas and acupuncture treatment in Torquay tailored to your individual needs but I can find a plan and lifestyle changes that help you get back to your best sooner rather than later.
   
   If you’d like to chat about what’s going on with your immunity you can call me on 0476 009 826 or find me through the booking link.