Acupuncture and the Immune System: Strengthen Your Natural Defences
By Judith Dufour-Savard and Claire Thomas
Article written in collaboration with Claire Thomas, perinatal web writer
Here we are, back-to-school season is well under way. The weather is starting to cool and the leaves are falling — it’s a good time to strengthen your immune system as the seasons change.
Did you know that acupuncture can work preventively to strengthen the immune system before symptoms appear, and support the body so it can better resist external aggressors?
In this article, I’ll explain how the immune system works and how acupuncture can help modulate stress, regulate vital energy and reduce inflammation in the immune system. I’ll also share other avenues to explore alongside acupuncture because, as I like to remind you, Chinese medicine is holistic.
Shall we plan a little session to start the fall on the right foot?
What is the immune system?
The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues and organs that work together to protect the body.
The key players: white blood cells and cytokines
Among the cells, we find, among others, white blood cells, whose role is to destroy pathogens such as bacteria or cells.
A little anecdote: in traditional Chinese medicine, we don’t talk about the immune system as such, or even about viruses or bacteria, because TCM views human physiology symbolically. It associates the elements and the environment with the functioning of the tissues and organs they “govern.” That said, this doesn’t make it any less effective — far from it!
Acupuncture and the regulation of immune cells
Scientific research has shown that acupuncture can play an important role in supporting the immune system.
A study published in 2015 revealed that acupuncture influences the immune system by modulating the activity of immune cells and the production of cytokines, while activating the autonomic nervous system to promote an anti-inflammatory response (Liang F. et al., Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015).
In concrete terms, this translates into an effect on “natural killer” cells, the essential white blood cells that identify and destroy virus-infected cells.
Another, more recent study confirmed that acupuncture also stimulates the production of cytokines, the regulatory proteins that adjust the intensity and duration of the immune response (Lee S, Kim SN, Front Immunol, 2022).
Acupuncture therefore acts both on the cells that actively attack infections and on those that regulate the immune response. This dual action makes it possible to effectively eliminate infected cells while protecting healthy tissue from excessive inflammation.
How does acupuncture support the immune system?
With acupuncture, we can effectively strengthen the immune system by rebalancing the body’s energy flow. How? By reinforcing the external protective barrier, calming the nervous system to reduce stress, reducing the inflammatory response and stimulating the production of white blood cells.
Stress reduction and immune support
Stress is part of our lives. Most adults, and even children, have known, know or will know this feeling. To learn more about the types of stress and the difference between stress and anxiety, see my article. How stress affects the immune system depends on the type of stress and how long it lasts.
Let’s take the example of stress and its effects on our immunity. When faced with acute stress — a one-time situation where we feel under pressure — our brain tells the adrenal glands to release cortisol, which temporarily stimulates our immune system. This reaction is beneficial and protective.
Chronic stress, however, affects our body in a very different way. The loss of a loved one, excessive work demands, losing a job or illness… all these events can create constant tension that continually weakens our immune system.
Why? Because cortisol levels stay permanently high in our blood, which exhausts our natural defences. The result: viruses, bacteria and other germs meet less resistance when trying to settle in.
Beyond this increased vulnerability to external pathogens, chronic stress can also promote the onset of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, reactivate latent viruses (herpes or shingles, for example) and worsen existing allergies.
Acupuncture is an effective way to relieve stress, by influencing the endocrine system, which produces hormones, as well as the nervous system.
Acupuncture strengthens the external protective barrier (or Wei Qi)
According to traditional Chinese medicine, Wei Qi is a protective energy field that emanates from the body and defends us against external aggressors: viruses, bacteria, emotional stress, climate changes and electromagnetic disturbances.
Acupuncture strengthens this protective barrier by stimulating specific points that activate the circulation of energy and blood. The stronger and better nourished our Wei Qi, the more resilient and healthy we become.
Improved circulation and lymph flow
Acupuncture promotes the circulation of body fluids — blood, lymph and interstitial fluids — which play a crucial role in transporting immune cells throughout the body.
By stimulating precise points, acupuncture regulates the flow of these fluids and optimizes the elimination of toxins. It can also modify the osmotic capacity of cell membranes, making fluid exchanges between tissues easier.
From the point of view of Chinese medicine, freely circulating Qi supports the distribution of nutrients and immune agents throughout the body, ensuring that our tissues and natural defences function properly.
Acupuncture works in perfect synergy with all the other approaches to strengthening the immune system: naturopathy, physical activity, a balanced diet… These methods complement and reinforce one another to support your vitality.
Lifestyle in traditional Chinese medicine to strengthen the immune system
In traditional Chinese medicine, lifestyle plays a fundamental role in maintaining our vitality. One of the basic principles is to live in harmony with our environment and natural cycles. In practice, this means favouring seasonal fruits and vegetables, as well as hot drinks that help digestion and the body’s absorption of nutrients.
Just as in Western medicine, restorative sleep and good stress management are essential. I often tell my patients that one acupuncture treatment a week will bring them relief, but that to extend and amplify the benefits, several complementary tools are available to them: yoga, meditation, qigong, cardiac coherence… These practices work in synergy with acupuncture to calm the nervous system and improve the circulation of Qi throughout the body.
When should you see an acupuncturist to strengthen your immunity?
Prevention: the best times
1. Change-of-season treatments
Ideally, come in at every seasonal transition. These treatments help your body adapt to the energetic changes specific to each season, preventing fatigue, low moods and seasonal illnesses. Each session is personalized according to the season and your individual needs. By attuning yourself to the outside climate, you live more in harmony with natural cycles.
2. Fall and winter: the crucial period
If I had to recommend one season in particular, it would be fall and winter. During this period, our immune system is under greater demand: the body spends a lot of energy fighting the cold, and indoor spaces are less ventilated (doors and windows closed), which leaves viruses and bacteria suspended in the air for longer. It is therefore essential that our immune barrier be at its strongest during these months.
3. Before a stressful period
As mentioned earlier, stress weakens our immunity. If you’re anticipating a demanding period — exams, travel abroad, the end of the fiscal year — come in preventively to strengthen your defences before your body is put to the test.
How acupuncture can reduce the duration and intensity of infectious symptoms
Whether you’re dealing with a cold that keeps you in bed for a few days or a flu that can drag on for several weeks, acupuncture offers concrete, effective support to treat a cold naturally without resorting to medication.
It quickly reduces unpleasant upper respiratory symptoms: headaches, congestion or runny nose, sore throat, body aches… To relieve a persistent cough, specific points are stimulated to soothe inflammation of the airways and make it easier to clear mucus.
An acupuncture treatment reduces both the duration of the illness and the intensity of the symptoms, all without side effects.
Take care of your immunity now
As you can see, acupuncture offers a complete, natural approach to strengthening your immune system, whether preventively or to relieve symptoms that have already set in. By stimulating your natural defences, regulating stress and harmonizing your vital energy, it helps you move through the seasons with greater resilience.
Why wait until you’re sick? Fall is the ideal time to book an appointment and prepare your body for the challenges of winter. Whether you’d like a change-of-season treatment, better stress management or simply stronger defences before a demanding period, I’ll be delighted to support you at my acupuncture practice in Rosemont (Montreal).
Book an appointment now or contact me to discuss your specific needs. Together, let’s give you every chance of a healthy season!
About the author
Acupuncture
Judith supports women through the different stages of their lives, from menstruation to menopause, including fertility, pregnancy and the postnatal period. Her empathetic, sensitive approach draws on the richness of traditional Chinese medicine.
Book an appointment with Judith See her profile → @mon_acupunctrice acupuncturejudith.ca