Building Your Immune System
Building Your Immune System is the first in my series on applying the wisdom of Chinese Medicine to enhance your health. Traditional Chinese Medicine teaches us that there is a holistic balance between all the different organ systems is vital for health.
Over the next 6 weeks, I want to share with you Practical and Actionable health tips. Try them out, and pick at least one habit to continue and build into your lifestyle.
Let’s start with an assessment of your immune system.
Immune System Health Assessment:
Are you susceptible to the cold that’s going around?
Do you have frequent allergic reactions?
Have you noticed that it takes a longer time for wounds to heal?
Do you have chronic phlegm or sore throats?
Do you get cold sores frequently?
Do you feel tired and fatigued throughout the day?
Are you under constant stress at work or at home?
Are you often restless and unable to concentrate?
Do you crave sugar, and often eat more than 2 servings a day of sugar?
Do you experience recurring diarrhea, even though your diet has not changed?
How did you score?
If you answered YES to 3 of these questions, then your risk is MILD
If you answered YES to 4 to 7 of these questions, then your risk is MODERATE
If you answered YES to 8 or more of the questions, then your risk is SEVERE
What is your reaction to this Health Assessment?
As we have been watching the news recently, some countries around the world are calling in the National Guard to help. This made me think of our Immune system. It’s sort of like the national guard that comes to our aid when we are in trouble.
However, with our modern day lifestyle:
- Of increased stress
- Poor nutrition
- Lack of exercise
- Toxic environment
Our Immune system is ALWAYS on high alert
Just like the National Guard, if the coronavirus continues for months, they are going to be exhausted and burnt out.
Our immune system is susceptible to this exhaustion.
Once exhausted, there are 2 possible scenarios:
Immune system can get confused, and lose the ability to distinguish between friend or foe. It can start attacking itself.
This is called Autoimmune condition
Arthritis, Lupus, Asthma
Or the Immune system sort of Gives up, becomes too weak to respond to invading substances like virus/bacteria
Vulnerable to infections, GET SICK
Vulnerable to chronic diseases, Like Cancer
How does TCM view Immunity:
A holistic balance between all the different organ systems is vital for health
Qi (which translates to Vital Energy) is an important energy source in the body that is used to build us up, and defend us.
Spleen & Stomach System (Digestive System)
Responsible for absorbing vital nutrients from the foods we eat
The immune system resides in our GI tract
Lung System
Governs Defensive Qi – Protects us from external Pathogens
Kidney System
Source energy or the Essence Energy to fuel metabolic activities
Vitality
Liver System
Helps us detoxify
Manages the flow of energy
In order for the Immune system to function optimally, all these organ systems must work together.
3 Practical Health Tips to Boost your Immune System

Try at least one of these tips to build your immune system. Add Astragalus Herb to your health regime. Add some powerful ANTIOXIDANTS to your diet by eating multi-coloured foods and eliminate the dampness for your home.
The next part of my series APPLYING the WISDOM of Chinese Medicine to enhance your Health is Part 2: Supporting Mental Health – Applying the Wisdom of Chinese Medicine
In health,
Dr. Jeffrey Lee
Naturopathic Physician & Registered Acupuncturist
Check out my Stress Youtube Series here.
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