When we think about immune health some of us might consider taking Vitamin C which is great for stimulating white blood cells. Zinc to fight off invading bacteria and viruses. Mushrooms are amazing adaptogens, immune modulators, and improving the overall function of your immune system.

Echinacea, goldenseal, Bee Propolis, and oil of oregano are great to have on hand when we start to feel a cold or flu coming on. Or when we know we’ll be more exposed to bacteria and viruses like during times of travel, visiting someone who’s sick, or being around large groups of people. These are all wonderful ways to improve your overall immune health but what if immunity can be more of a lifestyle and not just a supplement we take.

Through Chinese Medicine we gain a deep understanding of how our immune system is connected to our lifestyle, diet, mental health, and nature. Our Wei Qi is what protects us from external pathogens and it’s dependant on our digestive health, circulation of nutrients through our blood, oxygen and our vital essence. “ Wei” means to defend and protect. Wei Qi circulates through superficial aspects of our body and warms our skin, controls sweat, body temperate (related to fevers), and plays a part in nourishment. The vital function of our Wei Qi is dependant upon “Original Qi”, “Food Qi”, and “Air Qi”.

Original Qi is something we’re born with, hence the use of the word “original”. It’s our vital essence set into action or metabolism through our bodies own functionality, fire, or life force. You can think of it like a battery that supplies us with energy. The more we use it the more it’s drained and needs to be recharged. The battery only has so much energy or life to give and eventually we can no longer use it. There are certain things that will drain our batteries much faster such as: Stress, emotional strain, chronic illness, overworking, and naturally aging. We can avoid the battery drain through stress management practises, mindfulness, and avoiding long working hours. Rest and healthy eating habits like proper nutrition, eating in a calm and relaxed state, and staying on a regular eating schedule can help to sustain and recharge our battery life.

Our Spleen in Chinese Medicine is related to our digestive function of absorbing and assimilating nutrients. Our Spleen Qi or digestive energy functions best when we’re eating at regular times through the day, not rushing through your meal, and feeling relaxed. The spleen is the earth element and like our earths soil it does best with the right amount of moisture, drainage, and diversity. This is the same for our own microbiome and intestinal health. The more diverse our diet is with fruits, vegetables, nuts seeds, whole grains, and legumes the more our intestinal flora will flourish. These foods are filled with fibre, prebiotics, and phytonutrients. A great way to get diversity, ensure good quality, and higher phytonutrient content is by eating local and with the seasons as much as you can. We are onnected to nature and its natural rhythms, just as it goes through cycles and seasons we too follow a similar pattern.

The foods that are produced at particular times of the year contain certain aspects that sync our body cycles to nature. Around the fall there is a bounty of food to fill up our nutrient supply in preparation for the harsher season of winter. Now is time for the root vegetables, squashes, hearty leafy greens, apples, and pears, made into soups and stews mixed with warming spices. Eating this way nurtures our spleen, replenishes our original Qi, and signals our body that it’s time to prepare for colder days ahead. All of these factors mentioned above will ensure we have good “food Qi” to supply nourishment to the rest of our body and replenish our Wei Qi.

Air Qi is of course related to the function of our lungs and oxygen. The lungs play a very important role in our immunity because they’re open to the exterior and activate our Wei Qi dispersing it to the surface of our body. A lot of us are shallow breathing and not activating the full potential of our lungs. When we take deep diaphragmatic breaths this transitions our nervous system into rest and digest mode. We can use our lungs by taking deep breaths into your belly before eating to enter into a state of calm and optimize digestion. Breathing through your nose acts like an air filter and preps the air entering our lungs.

In Chinese Medicine our lungs are connected to the fall season. They’re sensitive to dry climates so it’s helpful to have some type of humidifier during the fall and winter months when we start heating our homes. Pears are in season right now and they’re known to moisten lung dryness and help with dry cough. Try adding them to your apple sauce recipes with some warming spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom.

In the centre of your sternum between the 4 th and 5 th rib is a powerful acupuncture point called Sea of Qi. This is where the Food Qi Mixes with the Air Qi and is transformed by Original Qi into our protective Wei Qi. Tapping this point and taking some deep breaths through the nose will help to move the energy in our chest and promote the dispersement of our Wei Qi to the surface for immunity.

Having some insight into how Chinese Medicine connects us to nature we can see that our immune health is more about moving with change instead of going against it. Embracing the changing of the seasons and listening to your bodies needs. During the fall and winter months our body, mind, and spirit generally crave rest and introspection. When we honour this natural process we move into spring with an abundance of creative force, clarity, and energy.