Cold and flu season is upon us. For protection from nasty flu viruses many of us opt to receive a flu shot. The protection the vaccination offers varies from year to year and depends on how well it is matched to circulating viruses. To improve on the effectiveness of the flu shot or just to boost the immune health one can add acupuncture to the flu and cold prevention routine.
Recent research from Hubei University of Chinese Medicine has shown that electroacupuncture at the St36 acupoint was able to regulate and enhance helper T cells count. These cells are active in the immune system defence against microbes, including viruses.
Other immune enhancing chemicals also stayed elevated following acupuncture treatment. In general acupuncture treatments last approximately 30-40 min. During this time thin needles will be placed in various locations of the Healthy Body and kept for 20 minutes. Low electric current might be applied to some of the points. The acupuncture needles, unlike the needles used to give injections, are very fine and treatments are not painful but rather relaxing.
This winter season try to boost your immune system with acupuncture. Depending on a person’s health between 3-4 treatments are recommended. They can be scheduled weekly, biweekly or monthly. Prevention treatments are the key to avoid sickness. However, when symptoms arise, early acupuncture treatments including cupping, needling and/or moxibustion can be very beneficial.
