Queen Anne Natural Health

Ways to Increase Immune Function and Protect Oneself during Flu Season

There many things we can do to help support our body’s natural immune function. Certainly getting enough rest, fluids, and quality fresh food is essential. Acupuncture is also a good option, since one of the proven effects of this therapy is increased immunity, even when this isn't the focus of treatment. Regular acupuncture helps bring our bodies back into balance, and a body in balance has the ability to fight foreign contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. In Chinese Medicine terms “expel uninvited guests” such as wind cold, wind heat, wind damp, etc.

Aside from acupuncture, many Chinese herbs, including mushrooms, have been proven to increase immune function in several ways. There are herbs that are simply antibacterial and antiviral, helping our bodies to stave off infection when we come in contact with these agents. There are also herbs which increase the number of Killer T and Natural Killer white blood cells which attack microbes preventing us from getting sick, and helping us to recover from illness.

One of the key immune enhancing herbs in Chinese Medicine is Huang Qi, or Astragalus. The root of this plant tonifies the qi and blood of the entire body, especially the Spleen and increases the Wei, or Protective Qi. There are several classic herbal formulas that contain Huang Qi which can be used to prevent illness. There are also formulas, which when taken at the early stages of illness help the body recover quickly and decrease the severity of an illness. These formulas are important to have on hand in order to provide a quick means of protection. That way if you find yourself around people sick people, or if you will be traveling on airplanes, or simply have a tendency towards decreased immune function, you can give your body as much support as possible to keep from getting sick.

Medicinal Mushrooms are Immune Enhancing Chinese Herbs

Medicinal mushrooms have been a part of the Chinese Materia Medica for several thousand years. These mushrooms, including reishi, oyster, maitake, shitake, and many more, have a strong effect on increasing immune function.  For instance, Ling Zhi, or the reishi mushroom, has been studied for its immune enhancing effect, and has been found to increase T cell function. Classically, it is said that Ling Zhi tonifies Lung qi, transforms phlegm, and stops cough and wheeze. Additionally, it has been found to have a carcinostatic effect, meaning that it stops the growth of cancer cells. Nutritionally, mushrooms provide fiber while being low in fat and contain several groups of vitamins, particularly thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, biotin, ascorbic acid and Vitamin D.

Eating raw mushrooms is not advised, since some are toxic uncooked, and most do not break down enough in our digestive systems to offer much benefit this way. Mushrooms should always be cooked when used as food. A stronger concentrated extract (either capsule or liquid) will give you the most benefit for immunity.

Fungi Perfecti is a locally based producer of medicinal mushrooms and is considered the best source of organic, high quality mushroom extracts by most experts, including Bastyr University and Dr. Andrew Weil. Fungi Perfecti has a number of extract combinations that address a number of immune issues. A popular, general immune tonic is their Stamets 7 formula.

Fungi Perfecti

Childhood Ear Infections

Several years ago Jake Fratkin, OMD (Oriental Medicine Doctor), made waves throughout the pediatric community by declaring on a radio show that the cause of ear infections was antibiotics. Since that time, several studies have been done which indicate that he was right. The likelihood of a recurrent ear infection during the first six weeks after taking antibiotics is significant. Not only is a child more likely to get another ear infection within six weeks if they are given antibiotics, but the recovery time from an infection is the same whether antibiotics are given or not. Even the Washington State Department of Health has issued a statement that most ear infections clear on their own and that overuse of antibiotics leads to drug resistant bacteria. So why are medical doctors still giving antibiotics to children with ear infections? In some cases, they no longer are. More and more doctors and medical institutions are reserving antibiotic administration for extreme cases of infection as a last resort. Here in Seattle, Dr. David Springer of Wallingford Pediatrics received an award from Premera Blue Cross for his use of "evidence-based best practices" in avoiding and limiting antibiotic use for ear infections.

So if antibiotics aren't the answer, what do we do for ear infections? Chinese Herbal Medicine is an excellent choice for the prevention and treatment of ear infections. There are two key formulas which, when administered correctly, can alleviate pain within hours and eliminate the infection within only a couple of days. They are safe, they are effective, and they are easy to administer. Several companies have created liquid extracts of these classic Chinese formulas adding a touch of glycerin or stevia to mask the bitter flavor of the herbs so that they are more palatable to children. Two of the practitioners at Queen Anne Natural Health, Clarissa and Terri, have used them with their own children and have avoided any antibiotic use in these children. In addition to Chinese formulas, these practitioners have used garlic ear drops, which kill microbes and dry fluid when placed directly into the ear canal, and probiotics which help the immune system fight the infection. All three can be combined and your Chinese Medicine practitioner can help you determine the best course of treatment so you can avoid unnecessary, and potential harmful antibiotic overuse in your children.

Protect Your Wind Gate

While the name "wind gate" refers specifically to a point on the Bladder channel of the upper back, we often use this term to talk about the entire back of the neck and upper back. This area is particularly vulnerable to invasion by wind leading to symptoms of colds and flus such as chills, body aches, nasal congestion, and cough. In the Springtime when the weather starts to turn warm we can be too quick to pull off the winter layers. Exposing the back of the neck and upper back to the elements, particularly the wind, we increase the likelihood of falling ill. Protect your "wind gate" by wearing a scarf, a high collar, or a turtle neck, and you will increase your chances of making it through the spring in good health.

Lung 7 - Lieqi "Broken Sequence"

One of the most powerful points on the Lung channel, lieqi, is used to help open the lungs, strengthen the immune system (or wei qi,) relieve sore throat, and stop coughing. It is also the "command point" of the head and neck, aiding circulation to the brain and stimulating memory

Gua Sha Video

The acupuncturist featured in this video was a classmate of mine at Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. It is a little corny, since it was featured in a news segment, but it is very informative about the technique and benefits of the ancient Chinese Medicine treatment.

Gua Sha Video on Fox News

Wind Cold Tea

  

Scallion and Ginger Tea

1 T sliced scallions (cong tou)

3-4 slices fresh ginger root (sheng jiang)

Brown sugar (hong tang) or honey to taste

Place scallions and ginger into pot and sprinkle with brown sugar. Cover with 1 cup water. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer for 10 minutes. Strain the liquid. Drink while warm.

 

Traditionally, this tea is taken at the first sign of a wind-cold pattern. It is used to promote sweating and resolve exterior symptoms such as headache, chills with an aversion to cold, body aches and sinus congestion with clear mucus. It is best to drink this formula after taking a hot bath, just before going to bed, so that you can cover yourself with blankets to induce sweating. Be sure to stay warm and away from cold drafts.

What is so great about Fish Oil?

The main reason that fish and fish oils are so important is because they contain two fatty acids that do not occur naturally in any foods other than fish.

These fatty acids are called EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). Together with ALA (alpha linolenic acid), they are known as omega-3 fatty acids.

They are highest in oily fish such as mackerel, herring, sardine, tuna and salmon.

The average intake of EPA/DHA in the US diet is only 11-20% of the recommended amount.

These two fatty acids from fish oil have been shown in hundreds of studies to be beneficial in a wide spectrum of human health including:

Heart Health

including all types of cardiovascular disease by reducing triglycerides (fat levels) in the blood, reducing VLDL (bad) cholesterol and raising HDL (good) cholesterol, Reducing inflammatory markers, which are now known to be very important in the progression of cardiovascular diseases, and by regulating (smoothing out) the rhythmic beat of the heart.

Arthritis, inflammation and allergy

including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohns disease, seasonal and food allergies, and eczema.

Child Development

both before and after birth. DHA and another fatty acid (arachidonic acid) are essential for the correct development of the fetal brain and mental ability. Neural development and eye function may be adversely affected by inadequate supply. 11% of the weight of the brain is the fatty acid DHA. Supplementing DHA in breast fed or formula fed infants has been shown to increase cognitive function including vocabulary and comprehension in 18 month olds.

Mental alertness, cognitive function and mood

due to the fact that EPA and DHA are the building blocks of neural cells. Those suffering from depression have significantly lower levels of DHA and other omega-3 fatty acids. Populations with higher consumption of fish have lower rates of depression than those with lower consumption. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly is more common in people with low blood levels of DHA.

 

 

So eat your wild caught fish!! Wild caught fish have a significantly lower levels of metals and other contaminants than farm raised fish. If wild fish is unavailable, or unappealing to you, take a fish oil supplement daily. Be sure you get your oil from a reputable source to ensure purity and high potency. High quality oils are tested for mercury, other heavy metals and PCBs. Consider a fish oil with the addition of the fat soluable vitamins A, D and E.

 

Since Copper River Salmon is in season right now, I highly recommend splurging and treating yourself to a delicious meal. I made this recipe last night from www.westcoastcooking.com and found it to be outstanding!!

 

Grilled Copper River Salmon with Rhubarb and Ginger Chutney

Very often, West Coast chefs forgo the usual dictums of tradition. Instead of relying on the arsenal of sauces developed over hundreds of years in France and codified a century ago by August Escoffier, we make up our own sauces as the seasons and our own caprice dictate. This can be silly and unfortunate at times, but it can also be revelatory. In one of my fits of regional loyalty, I decided to forgo lemons on my menu because lemons did not grow within a hundred miles of where I lived. To get a tangy counterpoint to rich salmon, I reached instead for the rhubarb growing in my own backyard.  Rhubarb, which is in season at the same time as the coveted Copper River kings has a refreshing astringent quality that compliments this rich seafood beautifully. It has become something of a tradition, at least n kitchens upon which I have had some influence to serve rhubarb with Copper River Salmon. (Serves 4) For the Rhubarb and Ginger Chutney: 2 stalks rhubarb, chopped, (about 2 cups) 1/2 cup crystallized ginger, chopped 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup raspberry vinegar 1 teaspoon salt For the Salmon: 4 filets of Copper River Salmon, or other king salmon, skin removed 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons light olive oil or corn oil 1.) To make the chutney, stir the rhubarb, crystallized ginger, raspberry vinegar and salt in a non-reactive (stainless steel or enameled) saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring until sugar is dissolved and mixture is beginning to boil. Cover, reduce heat to low, and cook 6 to 8 minutes, or until rhubarb is very tender and beginning to disintegrate. Chutney may be served at once or kept, covered and refrigerated, for several days. 2.) To grill the salmon, wipe the grill with a cloth dipped in olive oil, or spray it with an oil mister. Position the grill 4 inches above a bed of the glowing coals and wipe it with an oily cloth.  Sprinkle the filets with salt and pepper and rub with oil.   3.) Place the filets, skinned-side up onto the rack and allow them to broil for 5 minutes.  If the oil ignites, cool the flames with a little water splashed from a cup or streamed from a squirt gun.  With a long spatula, turn the filets once and allow them to broil for 5 minutes more. Transfer to a warm platter or serving plates.

 

Allergy Season is Upon Us

People who suffer from allergies know that hayfever season has arrived. If your nose has gotten stuffy or runny, and your eyes are feeling itchy and watery, you are likely having an over-reaction to the pollen that is in the air. Allergies are a response by the body's immune system to antigens found in the environment. The body responds too well, causing all that congestion and itching. There are two main types of allergies, Seasonal and Perennial. Seasonal allergies, also called hayfever, tend to occur in Spring and early Summer, and are a reaction mainly to pollen and grasses. Perennial allergies occur all year and are typically a reaction to animal dander, house dust or dust mites, fungus, smoke or perfume. Both cause much suffering.

The Cause of Allergies

In Chinese Medicine, the reason for both types of allergies is a deficiency of the body's Wei Qi, also called Defensive Qi. This Qi is like a protective layer at the surface of the body that prevents things from getting into the body, whether it be bacteria, viruses, or allergens. In order to treat allergies with Chinese Medicine we must build up the body's own protective Qi as well as treat the symptoms that allergy sufferers know so well.

When to Treat Allergies

For Seasonal allergies, the best time to treat the underlying deficiency is at the end of the season of suffering, typically August, September and October. If you are suffering from a stuffy nose and watery eyes right now, see your acupuncturist to get temporary relief of those symptoms, and then even though you may be feeling free of symptoms, continue with treatment in the fall in order to prevent those allergies from returning next year. For Perennial allergies, treatment can take place at anytime.

Herbs to Treat Allergies

In addition to acupuncture, there are a number of Chinese Herbal formulas which allergy sufferers can rely on. Most likely, your practitioner will give you one formula for the symptoms you are experiencing now, and then change that formula to treat the root of the problem once those symptoms subside. If you have been experiencing allergies for many years, it can take more than one treatment season to be allergy free. Your practitioner may advise you to take that Wei Qi building formula for a few seasons in a row in order to be rid of allergies forever.

Sinus Rinsing for Relief from Nasal Congestion

The Neti Pot or a modern Sinus Rinse can also be helpful to clear nasal congestion. Used every day these tools open the nasal passages by clearing out bacteria and allergens, and calming inflamation of nasal tissues.  Using the Neti Pot takes practice but once mastered, allergy sufferers swear by it. It involves irrigating the nostrils with a salt water mixture using a small pot with a spout, not unlike a watering can. It has a long history of use in Asia, although modern plastic squirt bottles may be easier to use and can be bought for pennies at drug stores.

Cough syrup

The herbal cough syrup Loquat & Fritillary Jelly is a safe, effective way to soothe the sore, raw throat of an exterior invasion. The syrup contains both honey and molasses that create a moisturizing coating to ease that painful throat while infusing the body with several herbs to treat the wind infection.

Your acupuncturist might suggest this inexpensive herbal remedy in addition to an internal formula when you have a sore, scratchy throat or a cough.

Don't forget that herbal supplements should always be taken under the advice of a trained herbalist or Chinese Medicine practitioner.