The lungs in Chinese medicine are very closely associated with the immune system, as they are related to the protective qi (wei qi). This protective qi circulates around the skin, nose, and mouth, defending the body from external attacks by viruses, colds and pathogens. These external attacks are often led by ‘wind’ in Chinese medicine.

If the protective qi is not working well, you will get colds and flu or hay-fever symptoms. An important part of building protective qi is to avoid too much sweating, which allows qi to leak from the body. But if your protective qi is weak and you are feeling sick, then eat fresh ginger to encourage warmth and sweating to release flu. Dry ginger between colds is used to build the protective qi.

Easy herbs to include in diet and very effective to boost immunity/ build protective qi-

Mushrooms are immune modulators; they can help an overactive or deficient immune system.

In combination with garlic, they are very potent medicinal food and a delicious way to fortify your immune system/help you strengthen your natural defenses.

Mushrooms- Shitake and maitake, scallions, garlic, cilantro, and ginger.

Simple ways to protect yourself against seasonal illnesses.

Wear a scarf, wash hands, eat warm foods and stay hydrated

Autumn can be a windy dry season here in California. In Chinese medicine the term wind is used to define a change in the environment like the weather.

Autumn and Spring are the seasons that signify the most change, and it is particularly then that disease will surface. Furthermore, wind is but an expression of a change in pressure thus, in Autumn one of the main pathogenic environmental factors we negotiate with is wind. Actual wind blowing in the air but also the changes in temperature and pressure. There are many strategies to deal with wind- mainly making sure one has enough qi- that it is flowing through the body, uninterrupted, with sufficient energy to warm. Cold, wind, and dryness attack the surface of the body, especially vulnerable areas, like the head and neck. Notice that most common cold symptoms affect these areas.

When the qi is disrupted there is pain, such as an achy sore head/neck/back before or during ‘common cold.’ When the qi is blocked, we use sweet warm, herbs to warm and move the qi in the exterior of the body. Indeed, in this season, we naturally gravitate to warmer and layered clothing, and sweeter, spicy foods, think “pumpkin spice”. When we strategize to strengthen and protect ourselves against environmental factors such as wind, we can prevent illness and treat it early.

Simple decisions such as grabbing a scarf can save us a headache, literally. The neck is the “wind gate,” where all the Yang meets in the body keeping this area protected, warm and unexposed, aids the body in regulating its own qi. One of the best strategies to prevent illness is to have regular acupuncture treatments and take herbs preventatively. Additionally, treating illness at the earliest stage, when you are first aware, even if you “just feel run down.”