Why a Balanced Immune System is the Key to Total Body Wellness
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Health is not a matter of luck. It is something you create.
The immune system is a regulatory function meaning that it is in a state of “dynamic balance” this is something that is observed in the Daoist principles of Chinese and East Asian Medicine. Using the metaphor of Qi or life energy flow helps to look at health as vital energy.
Wei Qi is the defensive Qi that surrounds us and protects us from illness that are referred to as “evil” pathogens.
For the most part we don’t notice our immune system at work unless we get a runny nose , a rash or a fever. A well balanced system just works, this is know as homeostasis.
When a person has a balanced immune system, they may not notice any “symptoms” because the immune system is able to recognize immediately pathogens surrounding them and escort them out or “kill them”. Their body can sense when there is something off and respond rapidly to auto-regulate.
Getting sick is really our immune system responding to an attack and it just happens that we are the battlefield where the attack is taking place.
In Asian culture, the practice of cultivating health and longevity, this involves practices that strengthen the mind body connection. There are principles that support the development of optimal health and wellness. The 8 principles in East Asian medicine are. food, exercise, meditation/mindfulness, acupuncture, herbs, bodywork, cosmology (season and planetary influences) and Feng Shui (the art and science of placement).
How to work with the genetics you were born with so you can take charge of your health destiny.
You are born with a constitution (genetic predisposition) that has strengths and weaknesses and as you develop nutrition, activities, behaviors environmental factors influence your health and wellbeing.
Scientific research shows that environmental factors play a role in our immune system in the form of epigenetics. Environmental chemicals, nutrition, emotional and stress challenge the immune system and your body chemistry can turn on certain genes that later can become chronic diseases.
A balanced immune system does not mean you won’t get “sick” The symptoms we call sick such as, a runny nose, sneezing, fever, cough, sweating, vomiting and diarrhea are the body’s way of getting rid of a virus or bacteria.
This means making sure to get proper nutrition, exercise, sleep as well as cultivate mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
The idea of “boosting” is really more like making sure that the immune system is supported so that your body will do what it does best balance and heal, and will have energy when it encounters a pathogen or virus.
Start now even if it is a baby step!
Hydrate with water and avoid sugary drinks, caffeine and alcohol
Foods that are plant based and anti-inflammatory
Food that is nutrient dense so that the body can absorb and metabolize easily
get regular exercise, this helps with circulation and mood
sunshine and vitamin D
probiotics to balance your gut flora
getting restorative sleep
relieving stress, acupuncture can immediately shift the brain chemistry to rest and digest
keeping a healthy weight, relieve strain on joints, the heart, lungs and kidneys
mindfulness practice of meditation to help calm the brain
