One in five people in America are allergic to ragweed pollen, pet dander or foods, according to WebMD.com. Although allergies are often blamed on the allergen itself, such as the pollen, dust or dander inhaled or exposed to, it is actually the immune system that is to blame. In essence, your body mistakes the innocuous allergens as a threat to the body and attacks them.

Every year, over 1 billion Americans come down with the cold, according to the CDC. Common colds are caused by viruses and spread from person to person in many ways. It is virtually impossible to steer clear of germs, no matter how many times we wash our hands. However, an important aspect on whether we contract a virus we are exposed to depend significantly on our immune systems. Essentially, how healthy we are determines if we can “fight off” that cold or reduce our symptoms from allergies.

Strengthening Your Immune System to Fight Colds and Allergies

Most traditional therapies for colds and allergies simply suppress symptoms and do not focus on preventative measures. It is easy to understand since most people never even think about these ailments until they are experiencing symptoms and seek relief. Once the ailment has subsided, we then forget about it until the next occurrence.

It makes more sense, however, to strengthen our immune systems, so that we can better defend against colds and allergies. There are many ways to boost your immune system, such as eating higher quality foods and exercising regularly. While we recommend practicing proper nutrition and exercise, at Epic Healthcare & Physical Medicine, we also believe there is more you can do.

Acupuncture Helps Strengthen the Immune System

Acupuncture is proven to be an effective method for strengthening the immune system, while balancing and integrating organ functions, so that they work together efficiently. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes over 43 conditions effectively treated with acupuncture.

Acupuncture goes back thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) encompasses what is known as wei qi, the energy that circulates beneath our skin and helps regulate the body, specifically sweating and immunity. Dependent on lung function, it controls our skin pores and keeps pores closed, thereby preventing diseases from entering the body. We have all heard that if we sweat in cold conditions, we could catch a cold. This makes more sense when you consider that our pores would ne open if we sweat and susceptible to disease.

Scientific research also shows that acupuncture increases white blood cells, which helps moderate our immune systems, which then allows our immune systems to work better, fighting off colds and allergies.

Help Strengthen Your Immune System

Call Epic Healthcare & Physical Medicine today and schedule a consultation to find out how acupuncture can help strengthen your immune system.