Can Acupuncture Fight The Flu?

Once again, flu season is upon us. According to The World Health Organization, acupuncture is effective in preventing cold and flu as well as shortening the duration of a flu/cold if it is contracted.

But why? 

Germs are everywhere. Viruses are everywhere. But most of us are not perpetually sick from them. The reason is because our bodies successfully fight the bacteria and viruses in order to keep us well. Problem occur when the body’s systems become too weak to kill the invading ailments.  

Your body can be weakened by all sorts of factors; bad nutrition, lack of the nutrients, stress, smoking, sleep deprivation … the list can go on, and on. But, let’s look at stress. Every time you get stressed (in a traffic jam, over a project, at work, when your boss looks over your shoulder, when the kids are fighting, etc) your body produces hormones and chemicals that, in ages past, were used for a fight/flight response. In our culture, many people are constantly producing these chemicals, as our stressors are endless and constant. Sometimes, even what we use to de-stress causes production of these chemicals (TV, video games, etc).

As these chemicals are produced, some of the body’s elimination mechanisms are redirected from the fight against viruses and bacteria to deal with elimination of the stress chemicals. We produce so many of these chemicals that many are actually not eliminated and are taken to various points in the body’s muscle tissue for storage.

Your body is similar to your house, in many ways. You put books on a shelf, dirty clothes in a laundry basket, and underwear in a drawer. You have a place to hold the wine, a drawer for the silverware, and a fridge for the food. Your body also has storage spots where chemicals from various types of stress are placed if they’re not taken out with the trash (sweat, urine, fecal matter).

When those storage spots get full, they become ‘toxic’.  Blood flow is slowed in the area, and toxin traffic jams begin. All of this weakens our body’s natural ability to fight invasions such as cold and flu viruses. 

That’s where acupuncture/acupressure comes in. These practices assist the body in clearing out the traffic jams. As the toxic build-up of a spot is lessened or eliminated,through needles or pressure, the body’s energy flows (circulatory, nervous, and lymphatic systems) are stronger, and thus the person’s resistance to bacteria and virus is restored and strengthened. 

Acupuncture/pressure is primarily about prevention. But it can also be used as treatment. As with any herbal remedy or pharmaceutical drug, the sooner you begin treatment of an ailment, the better. When you take a medication “at the first sign” of symptoms, you’ll get through it faster because you get it while it’s small. Likewise, if you get an acupuncture appointment when you first start to feel symptoms or feel run down, it will be more beneficial. 

To get more information about acupuncture, the Iowa City/Coralville community doesn't have to go too far. Now through November 15th, Health On Point Acupuncture will be offering discounts on herbal remedies, neti pot and at home care items for flu season.  People can learn first-hand from Rachel about more ways you can strengthen your immune system naturally to prevent cold/flu and ways to fight cold/flu naturally if you do contract it.