Treating Viral Respiratory Infection with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs

As back-to-school begins and flu season approaches, it is time to come up with a game plan for the seasonal viral infections often associated with autumn and winter. In particular, as the popularity of Covid vaccine boosters has waned in the face of the pandemic-fatigued public, we must be even more vigilant preparing for the challenges bring forth by the “ tripledemic “ ( Covid, RSV/respiratory syncytial virus, flu ). Just this week, Covid hospitalizations climbed 22% and the CDC predicts further increases as new variants spread.

Viral Prevention: Fix it BEFORE it’s broke

Traditional Chinese Medicine has a long and successful record treating infectious diseases. Acupuncture has been used as a disease prevention tool for thousands of years. To explain, the energetic pathways in the body creates the flow of Life Energy/Chi that is responsible for overall health. In essence, the more Chi you have, the healthier you are. Disruption of this energy flow can cause disease. By applying Acupuncture to certain points in the body, it helps to improve the Chi flow; thereby improving your health. Acupuncture stimulates the body’s immune response and strengthens your body to improve your resistance to infection. Studies have shown the effectiveness of Acupuncture in improving the body’s immune function by increasing white blood cell and T-cell numbers with results lasting up to a month after treatment.

In addition to Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine offers classic remedies to combat any exterior pathogen ( viral, bacterial, microbial ) attempting to attack the body. For example, Jade Screen is an excellent Chinese herbal blend which protects the body’s resistance to adverse external influences by closing the sweat pores in the skin which is considered the entry portal of “ evil Chi “ ( viral particles ). Medicinal mushroom formulas such as Reishi and Cordyceps are also great deterrents to fend off the evil Chi.

Viral Intervention: Fix it WHEN it’s broke

One of the most interesting and baffling developments I have seen in my twenty years of being a Chinese Medicine clinician ( as opposed to how Chinese Medicine is practiced in Asia ) is how patients cancel their appointments when they are sick. They always say I need to cancel because I’m sick. But this is exactly the time they need to come in and get help. Acupuncture and Cupping therapy are excellent tools to give symptomatic relief for fever, sore throat, sneezing, cough, nasal congestion and body aches. In addition, a host of anti-viral and anti-inflammatory Chinese herbs can be used to uproot the infectious agent so that the viral pathogen does not lay dormant in latency. How often have you seen cases where the patient gets better only to relapse and suffer another bout of the same infection? This happens because the root of the problem was never properly addressed. You keep pulling the weeds but inevitably they always grow back. This is the real strength and value of Chinese Medicine, its ability to treat the underlying concern in order to restore health.

Chinese Medicine protocols for treating viral respiratory infection

For this upcoming flu season, if you and your family are seeking a holistic option utilizing natural medicine; Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Formulations must be considered as a frontline solution