Acupuncture for Cold and Flu Prevention

Written by The Blue Heron Clinic

The health benefits of Traditional Chinese Medicine can't be underestimated when it comes to the arrival of Cold and Flu season which often catches people unawares resulting in symptoms such as sore throat, coughing, irritated and runny nose. Infections from the common cold or flu bug not only result in people feeling unwell but also have an impact on work and family life (missed days at work, less time with family and possibly infecting other family members). So, is there a sure fire way to prevent the common cold or fight off the flu?

Sadly, the answer is no... but that does not mean we should sit back and do nothing before the winter months set in and flu season is upon us! The use of Acupuncture to strengthen and repair the immune system has been growing in popularity for decades due to it's proven record of effectiveness, safety and synergistic long lasting health benefits which can strengthen the body and mind.

What is the Common Cold?

The common cold (also known as nasopharyngitis, acute viral rhinopharyngitis, acute coryza, or a cold) is a viral infection of the upper respiratory area of the body, caused primarily by rhinoviruses and coronaviruses.

Symptoms of a cold include a cough, runny nose (clear or yellow discharge) and potentially a fever. There is no known cure for the common cold, but the major symptoms may resolve in 7 to 10 days – however some cold symptoms may last for several weeks depending on your immune system and constitution.

The common cold is the most frequent infectious disease in humans[3] with the average adult contracting two to four infections a year and the average child contracting between 6 and 12.

Collectively, colds, influenza, and other upper respiratory tract infections with similar symptoms are included in the diagnosis of influenza-like (flu-like) diseases.

Common Cold and TCM Theory: Invasion of Wind 

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cold and flu symptoms can usually be attributed to the "invasiion of wind" into the exterior Acupuncture Meridians where the Wei Chi (Defensive energies or Immune system) circulates to protect the body from disease.  This pathogenic wind  can manifest itself in several types with varing symptoms depending on the constitutional strength and immune system health of the person affected.

Pathogenic Wind Types:

Wind - Wind is Yang in nature and tends to negatively affect the interior of the body (Blood and Yin). Wind can also be a vehicle through which external climactic factors can affect the body. Wind has a rapid onset resulting in rapid changes such as chills, fever and migrating pain. Other symptoms include convulsions, tremors, stiffness and numbness usually on the top part of the body and affecting the skin first before penetrating to the deeper levels (if not expelled with acupuncture).

Wind Cold – Symptoms of wind cold include aversion to cold, sneezing, cough, runny nose with watery mucus and fever with no desire for fluids (especially cold fluids).

Wind Damp – Symptoms of wind damp include aversion to cold, fever, swollen glands in the neck, nausea, body aches, swollen joints, muscle ache and a feeling of heaviness of the body.

Wind Heat – Symptoms include aversion to cold, fever, sneezing, cough and runny nose with slightly yellow mucus. A person may also experience sweating, dry itchy throat, sore throat and swollen tonsils while feeling a sense of thirst.

Wind Dryness – Symptoms of fever, aversion to cold, light sweating, dry skin around the nose mouth and throat, sore throat, and dry tongue with a desire for fluids.

Acupoints used to beat the Flu

The effective use of acupuncture treatment to expell wind (cold or flu virus) from the body has many benefits incliding:

• Reducing sick time
• Alleviating cold and flu symptoms
• Missing less days from work
• Strengthening the immune system

Strengthening Your Immune System

The use of Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine as a natural method of enhancing immume function to prevent cold and flu symptoms is common in acupuncture clinics all over the world.  According to TCM theory, much of our health and wellness depends on our core energies and constitution e.g. how the Yin and Yang aspects of your bodymind function and interact together.  Acupuncture treatment can bring balance to your body and mind therefore strengthening your core energies (Yin and Yang) which in turn has a beneficial effect on your immune system.