Two Surprisingly Simple Ways to Boost Your Immune System

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. & Salvador Cefalu, M.S., L.Ac.

While Autumn is the most important time of year to support your Lungs, your Lung health is essential to support your immune system year round. Here are two less common tips to strengthen your Lungs and support your immune system during Autumn and beyond.

Tip#1: Hydrate

Autumn is the season of the Metal element, which relates to the Lungs, the Large Intestine (or colon) and skin. Your skin is your body’s largest detoxification organ (byway of sweating) and therefore your most important defense against external pathogenic factors, or anything in the environment that can compromise your immunity.

Your skin is also an extension of your Lungs and what Chinese Medicine refers to as Lung Yin. Lung Yin is comprised of substance and fluids so if your Lung Yin is dry, your skin will be dry too. 

Just as the skin detoxifies your body through sweating, the Large Intestine also supports detoxification through elimination of waste. 

The Lungs, Large Intestine and skin are associated with the Metal element and the Fall season and each requires proper hydration to work efficiently.

If your colon is dry, you may experience constipation with dry, hard stools and if your Lungs are too dry you may experience dry cough, lips and mouth as well as dry skin.

Simply drinking adequate amounts of water helps hydrate these organs, but it’s also important to eat hydrating foods such as soups and stews as well as to steam and boil rather than fry or bake foods (which increase dryness) to support hydration even more.

Since most of the filtered water we drink nowadays is stripped of the minerals that help maintain proper fluid balance in the body, you may need to add some naturally processed salt to your drinking water to help your body retain fluids, especially if you notice your body feels and looks dry. 

If you’re concerned about salt because of high blood pressure, be sure to use naturally processed salt such as Himalayan pink salt or Celtic sea salt. Pink Himalayan salt is higher in potassium and lower in sodium than Celtic salt and may actually help lower blood pressure and reduce palpitations and heart arrhythmias. 

Managing proper hydration is the first step to keeping your immune system functioning optimally by supporting the production of your defensive Qi, known as Wei Qi. 

Wei Qi circulates along your skin’s surface at night to protect you from environmental factors that can challenge your immune system. At night, your Wei Qi withdraws internally to help your have a good night’s sleep.

Tip#2: Diffuse Immune Boosting Essential Oils

Essential oils provide potent support for immune and metabolic functions. They strengthen the Lung Qi to effectively combat fatigue, low immunity and asthma. 

Evergreen essential oils, including Pine, Black Spruce, Cypress and Balsam Fir, are important immune boosting oils. 

These oils can be used in an essential oil diffuser to strengthen your immune system and prevent colds and flus during the Fall season. 

If you have pets, be especially cautious with diffusing any essential oils, especially those like Pine which can be toxic to dogs.

If you tend to get sick during this season, you can consider using Eucalyptus oils to clear congestion in your lungs especially during the acute stage of an infection. 

Eucalyptus Radiata is a good all purpose ear, nose and throat oil and very good for viruses and can be combined with Eucalyptus Citriodora or Eucalyptus Globulus to combat infections. Diffusing essential oils, particularly those extracted from evergreens, can help strengthen your Lungs and clear your home and office to protect you from colds, flus and other viruses.

Summary

Hydrating your Lungs and supporting your body’s immune function is imperative during the Fall season to protect yourself from the plethora of colds and flus that tend to arise during this time of year. By incorporating essential oils and proper hydration, you’ll effectively support your health as we approach the colder Winter season.

*Here are some dietary tips to provide you with additional support for your Lungs & immune system.

Please note: These health tips are for educational purposes only. Please consult your medical professional for health advice specific for your individual needs.

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3 Foods to Strengthen Your Lungs

by Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac.

Your lungs play an important role in your immune system. As part of the respiratory system, and they provide a connection between your external and internal worlds through the breath. Inhalation draws in fresh oxygen and Qi, or energy, while exhalation helps you let go of toxins. 

The Lungs' natural movement is to disperse and descend Qi.

The Lungs disperse, or spread, the body fluids as well as the Wei Qi, the defensive Qi that runs on the surface of the skin to protect you during the day and travels into the body to help you sleep at night. This ensures that Wei Qi is equally distributed under the skin and to the muscles to warm and moisten the skin, allowing for a normal amount of sweating, and to protect the body from external pathogens that can cause colds, flus and skin problems (see more about this in a previous article).

As the uppermost organ, the Lungs also descend Qi to communicate with the Kidneys, which are said to 'grasp' the Qi of the Lungs. This allows for deep breathing. 

The Lungs also direct body fluids downward to Kidneys and Bladder. Dysfunction in the communication between the Lungs and Kidneys can result in wheezing and asthma or accumulation of fluids either from the failure of the Lungs to descend the Qi or weakness in the Kidneys that prevent the grasping of the Lung Qi.

The Lungs also have an important relationship with the Large Intestine. The descension of Lung Qi stimulates peristalsis to support detoxification through the colon.

While breathing exercises and regular movement practices like Yoga and Qi Gong certainly help to support your Lung Qi, there are also some key foods that can strengthen your Lungs and support your immune system overall.

Since the pathological factor that most commonly affects your Lungs is dryness (which is also the predominant factor during the Fall season) it’s important to stay hydrated and integrate three groups of foods that support the Lungs: fruits, nuts and root vegetables.

#1 Fruit

According to Chinese Medicine, all fruits support the Lungs.

Compact fruits such as pears, apples, Asian pears, and persimmons are most beneficial to nourish your Lungs. These fruits moisten Lung Yin to stop a dry cough and increase hydration during the dry season.

Eating apple-pear stew (cut one apple, one pear and simmer slowly on low heat - no water needed!) can help to moisten a dry cough. And drinking a little pear juice before going to bed can help you fall asleep since the Lungs must be nourished to anchor the Wei Qi, or defensive Qi, of the body, to help you fall asleep.

Though fruits are great hydrating foods, they should be consumed in moderation as their sweet nature can create phlegm and congest the Lungs. Citrus in particular, especially in the form of juice, is overly concentrated in sugar and can cause phlegm or mucus to develop, weakening your Lung Qi.

#2 Nuts

Like fruits, all nuts have an affinity with the Lungs. The nuts that help support Lung Qi in particular are pine nuts and sweet almonds. Walnuts help strengthen the Kidneys to grasp the Qi of the Lungs. Walnuts therefore are considered an important food for conditions like asthma with shortness of breath.

The only caution is to eat nuts in moderation and to avoid them if you have skin problems as nuts can generally hyper activate your Wei Qi, or defensive Qi, and lead to allergies, acne and skin irritation.

The damp or fungal nature of nuts also warrant caution. Roasting nuts reduces shelf life by causing the oils to more quickly turn rancid. It’s therefore best to purchase raw nuts and toast or soak them yourself to make them easier to digest. Walnuts and almonds are especially nice to eat when soaked overnight.

#3 Root Vegetables & Tubers

Root vegetables not only support your Lungs’ ability to descend Qi, but they also help fortify your digestive system by fortifying your Spleen and Stomach.

Root vegetables that are high in beta carotene, the precursor to Vitamin A (an important vitamin for immune health as well as the health of your hair, skin and nails) are especially beneficial to strengthen the Lungs. These include carrots, beets and sweet potatoes.

Tubers, including parsnips, rutabaga and daikon also help the Lungs descend Qi to support peristalsis. Rutabaga and daikon are also known for their ability to break up stagnation and clear fire toxins through the colon. In addition, turnips help to break up phlegm and are great to strengthen the Lungs and help clear a cough with mucous.

Conclusion

While these foods can generally support the health of your Lungs, this list is certainly not exhaustive and not all of the foods here may be beneficial to everyone. Nutrition is highly personalized, so if you want more specific recommendations, you can work with us or a trusted practitioner.

Remember that Nutrition = Food + Digestion so it’s important to remember that food is only beneficial when it’s properly digested so it’s always essential to support your digestive system to support healthy nutrition.

If you’re interested in learning about Classical Chinese nutrition in greater depth, you can learn more and join the waitlist for my upcoming program.

Setareh Moafi, Ph.D., L.Ac. is co-owner and Director of A Center for Natural Healing in Santa Clara, California. The Silicon Valley-based health and wellness clinic specializes in Classical Chinese Medicine and Traditional Japanese Acupuncture with a clinic and studio where Dr. Moafi offers clinical services and transformational workshops that blend the ancient practices of Classical Chinese Medicine and Yoga. More information at www.setarehmoafi.com and www.acenterfornaturalhealing.com.

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Yin Yoga Integration to Slow Down

If you've been striving but not getting the results you want in any aspect of your life, it's more than likely that your overactive, or Yang, qualities are inhibiting your Yin, or your ability to receive.

And if the world feels overstimulating and you just can't seem to find a sense of calm, this Yin Yoga practice is for you.

In this Yin Yoga practice, I'll guide you through a short Yin Yoga sequence to help release the Kidney, Liver and Bladder meridians.

According to Chinese Medicine, tension along the Bladder Sinew Meridian can lead to an overactive nervous system that can inhibit rest, relaxation, sleep, and digestion.

Through gentle, long held seated Yin Yoga postures that focus on releasing the Yang channels along the sides and back of your body, you'll begin to relax your nervous system, slow down internally and feel a greater sense of calm and ease.

Through this Yin Yoga Integration class, you’ll learn how less effort and a more clear intention can allow more of what you want in your life.

Your life has purpose and meaning.

Sometimes doing less will help you find what that is.

P.S. Doing a lot? You'll also want to read this to learn why it's important to let go in order to receive.

Trust the process: Yoga Integration to Strengthen Your Kidneys & Calm Your Heart

My father has a sense of faith unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Though he's not at all religious, he's really embodies what it means to be spiritual.

I’ve learned over time that my father's Water type personality makes it easier for him to trust the process as he navigates the ups and downs of life.

According to Chinese Medicine, Water energy is associated with the Kidneys, which hold your essential energy, or Jing, your life purpose and the important virtues of trust and faith.

Faith and trust provide you with the perspective to let go of control and allow the process to unfold, but also have the willpower to know when to take action.

When the Kidneys are compromised through stress and overwork, not only can adrenal exhaustion (aka feeling wired & tired) result, but your faith and willpower can also be compromised. Strengthening your Kidneys and the Water energy is also important to temper the Fire of the Heart to calm your anxiety and help you regain a sense of hope.

In this Yoga Integration practice, you’ll learn Yoga & Qi Gong exercises to help strengthen your Kidney energy so you can trust the process and stay motivated, even in the most uncertain times.

Yin Yoga Integration to Shift Your Perspective

According to Classical Chinese Medicine, in order to change your view of the world, you need to open the sensory portals, including your eyes, ears, nose and throat.

In this yoga practice, you’ll learn how to release the Gallbladder meridian and open your sensory organs so you can hear, smell and see more clearly and begin to experience the world - and your life - with a fresh perspective.

Because when you can shift your perspective, you can adapt to any circumstances and begin to experience endless possibilities.

Yin Yoga Integration to Harness Your Anger & Be a Force for Change

You've probably been experiencing a spectrum of emotions, including pain, anger and sadness lately during the eruption of fierce racial injustices in the US. And when these emotions surface, it can be hard to know what to do with them, let alone how and where to direct them.

But when properly managed, anger is the most powerful emotion that can fuel change.

According to Chinese Medicine, the Liver system smoothes the flow of all emotions, and stagnation in the Liver can lead to frustration and outbursts of anger. Since the Liver controls the tendons and the smooth flow of Qi throughout your body, it's imperative to work with movement to manage your emotions and optimize your health.

Freedom of movement allows you to see all sides of an issue so you can see the world beyond your conditioned lens; and this allows you to make clear decisions that ultimately drive change.

This Yoga Integration practice focuses on unbinding your Liver & Gallbladder Qi so you can be more decisive and harness your anger so you can be an effective force for change both in the world and in any aspect of your life.

Yin Yoga Integration to Reduce Worry

In times of uncertainty, it's easy to worry about what's next.

Unlike its cousin anxiety, which arises out of fear of not knowing what will happen, worry is more creative.

Worry is the fear that something bad is going to happen and that by thinking ahead you can somehow protect yourself from future pain.

Worry often arises when there's an accumulation of the pathogenic factor known as dampness according to Chinese Medicine. Dampness can accumulate through a poor diet as well as through excessive thinking and overstimulation — all of which may (legitimately) be more familiar to you lately.

Dampness weakens the function of your Spleen and Stomach, the primary organs of digestion that need extra support during times of change and uncertainty. When these organs are compromised you can experience weight gain, poor digestion, overthinking, worry, and even obsession.

And while saying "don't worry" to someone who's worried is probably the worst thing you can do, there are some tools that can help balance this pattern.

In this Yoga Integration practice, you’ll learn tools and practices that’ll help you transform your worry & overwhelm to optimism & ease.

Yin Yoga Integration to Strengthen Your Lungs & Find Greater Acceptance

While you can't control what happens during a pandemic, you can certainly control how you protect yourself right now. And taking care of your Lung health is essential. 

According to Chinese Medicine, your Lungs circulate Wei Qi, or defensive Qi, the barrier that protects you from any pathogenic factor physically and emotionally.

Staying calm and supporting your Wei Qi to function optimally will ultimately provide protection against anything that can enter your body from outside, including colds, flus and viruses.

In this Yoga Integration practice, you’ll learn simple exercises to strengthen your Lungs to build your immunity and your confidence.

Though it takes more than just exercise to strengthen your Lungs, there's a lot you can do in just 20 minutes to boost your Lung Qi. And since the Lungs also help you let go so you can find acceptance, in this yoga practice you'll also learn tips to support your Lung health and find greater acceptance regardless of what happens in the world around you.

Yin Yoga Integration to Help You Breathe Deeply

Did you know that one of the most essential things you can do to shift from surviving to thriving is to remember to take deep breaths? 

Studies have shown that regular deep breathing can alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression, and improve heart function, mood and memory. 

The deeper you breathe, the more calm your nervous system, the better your digestion and the more present you can be to deal with all of life's challenges.

But what if it feels too hard to take a deep breath?

According to Chinese Medicine, the Lungs have an important relationship with the Liver. If your Liver is too toxic or you're under a lot of stress, your Liver can insult your Lungs, resulting in chest tightness, diaphragmatic constriction and shortness of breath. 

In this Yoga Integration practice, you'll learn exercises to help you relax your Liver Qi and open your Lungs so you can let go of stress and anxiety, and finally breathe deeply.