Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for Immune Deficiency
The immune system can be compromised by diseases, environmental conditions, exposure to toxic substances, defects in the immune system itself, and psychological or emotional stress. A damaged immune system is unable to effectively fight off infections and can trigger diseases, such as in the case of HIV/AIDS. In cases of immune deficiency, the body’s system can also mistake a person's own cells as "foreign" and attack them. The results are autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, allergies and a form of diabetes.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) treatments for immune deficiency focus on strengthening the immune system, such as promoting the growth of T-cells and antibodies; and reducing the impact of stressors on the immune system. TCM uses acupuncture, Tai Chi/Qigong, massage therapy and/or Chinese herbal medicine to address immune deficiency.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatments for Immune Deficiency
The goal of Chinese medicine is to restore a person's energy balance and to strengthen both mind and body through a combination of physical and mental approaches. These approaches boost the body's immune system directly and provide effective strategies for the individual to reduce his or her own stress; thus reducing the assault on the immune system caused by the production of stress-related bio-chemicals.
- Acupuncture in combination with other therapies can improve physical strength as well as increase a patient's sense of well-being. There is a demonstrated increase in patients' endorphins, serotonin and other brain chemicals after acupuncture treatment. Acupuncture also modulates the immune system; one study showed positive measurable effects 72 hours after treatment that persisted for a month.
- Tai Chi/Qigong exercise is a combination of low-impact gentle movement, meditation and deep breathing. Qigong can increase the body's production of antibodies, improves flexibility and balance, and has a calming effect. Tai Chi has also been shown to enhance the immune system in a study that observed participants the resistance to VZV, the virus responsible for Chicken Pox and Shingles.
- Massage therapy is an effective way to de-stress, both calming the receiver and increasing relaxation responses in the body. Research indicates that improvements in quality of life have measurable effects on patients' emotional and psychological well-being, improving immune function.
- Chinese Herbal Medicine, usually taken as teas or in powdered form, can increase inhibitory activity against viral infections, as well as reduce nausea and increase calmness. A wide variety of TCM formulas have shown measurable increases in T- and B-cell activity. Studies have also shown that many herbal formulas have some efficacy against the HIV-1 protease, the aspartic-type protease that is required for viral infectivity.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Immune Deficiency
How effective an herbal remedy will be depends on its composition, dosage and potential interactions with other herbal or pharmaceutical treatments.
Some recent research has focused on a few of these:
- Ginseng, traditionally used as a tonic to invigorate and restore balance, has beneficial effects in studies focused on immune deficiency.
- Ganoderma lucidum(Reishi or Ling Zhi) increases some immune cell levels.
- Indirubin, a derivative of the indigo plant, has been used in a TCM formula (Dang Gui Long Hui Wan) to treat autoimmune diseases as well as myelocytic leukemia; it enhances the ratio of certain immune cells.
- Cordyceps sinensis has shown been shown to stimulate some immune cells.
- Scutellaria baicalensis georgi(skullcap) has antiviral, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
- Rhemannia glutinosa (Chinese Foxglove, Sheng Di Huang) contains more than 70 compounds and trace elements and has demonstrated effects on the immune system, cardiovascular system, endocrine system and central nervous system.
Any substance with the potential to heal also carries the potential for harm. Some studies have shown serious interaction effects, caused gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea or dizziness. Children and adults can be affected differently as well. It is advisable to always consult a licensed Acupuncturist with Chinese Herbal Medicine training before consuming herbal formulas.
Immune Deficiency Disorders
Humans have two types of immunity: innate and acquired. Innate immunity is the package of defenses present at birth. Acquired immunity is the result of various exposures, such as colds and childhood diseases, that a person experiences.
An immune deficiency can be temporary or life-long, caused by:
- Genetic or hereditary defects (primary immunodeficiency diseases)
- Side effects of medical treatments or drugs (blood transfusions, surgery, chemotherapy)
- Viral infections (HIV/AIDS, influenza, measles, mononucleosis)
- Malnutrition
- Voluntary behaviors (smoking, for example)
- Emotional, physical or psychological stress (such as loneliness or Posttraumatic Stress Disorder).
Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
Primary Immunodeficiency diseases are caused by hereditary or genetic defects. They can affect anyone, regardless of age or sex. More than 200 primary immunodeficiency diseases are recognized by the World Health Organization, including Severe Combined Immunodeficiency , the absence of both T-lymphocyte and B-lymphocyte function resulting in high vulnerability to serious infections; Ataxia Telangiectasia , a variable immunodeficiency of T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes that affects different organs in the body; and Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, involving both T- and B-lymphocytes and blood platelets.
HIV/AIDS
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infects and eventually destroys T-cells. The compromised immune system is unable to fend off infections. A person who develops AIDS can develop rare types of cancer and life-threatening unusual infections, as well as common infectious diseases.
The Immune System
A person's immune system is distributed throughout the body, and includes the tonsils, adenoids, lymph glands, bone marrow, thymus, spleen, appendix and Peyer's patches. The body's defenses, called lymphocytes (T-cells, B-cells, phagocytes and plasma cells), travel through the lymphatic system, a network that parallels blood veins and arteries.
The immune system has evolved mechanisms of short- and long-term response to disease and other threats to the body. When a person catches a cold or has an infected wound, the healthy immune system responds by attacking the foreign bodies with a combination of generalized and targeted cells.
B-cells, T-cells and Antibodies
These cells identify and attack foreign cells in the body. In a healthy immune system, T-cells and B-cells will not attack a person's own tissues.
B-cells are one type of lymphocyte. They identify invading cells and produce an antibody. These antibodies are the immunoglobulins.
- Immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentrates in body fluids such as tears, saliva and the secretions of the respiratory and digestive tracts.
- Immunoglobulin D (IgD) helps initiate early B-cell responses.
- Immunoglobulin E (IgE) produces allergy symptoms and protects against parasitic infections.
- Immunoglobulin G (IgG) works efficiently to coat microbes so other cells in the immune system can more quickly absorb them.
- Immunoglobulin M (IgM) kills bacteria.
Monoclonal antibodies are produced by cloning a single B-cell to target a specific antigen. Antigen is a substance that is foreign to the body and induces an immune response.
T-cells can't identify invaders, but once the antibodies have marked the target cells, T-cells can either directly attack or regulate the immune response to them. Killer T-cells directly attack cells that have foreign or abnormal molecules on their surfaces, including exposed pieces of viruses. Natural Killer T-cells (NKTs) carry a load of chemical granules and the ability to recognize unmarked foreign cells. When NKT cells malfunction, a person can suffer from asthma, certain autoimmune diseases (including type 1 diabetes) or certain cancers. Helper T cells can stimulate B-cell production of antibodies, coordinate immune responses, activate other T-cells, or activate microbe-devouring cells . Dendritic cells help stimulate T-cell response.
Once activated against an invader, B-cells and T-cells become memory cells. If the same invader returns in the future, the immune system already knows the right weapon to fight it off.
Other Resources
References
NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (2007):
Understanding the Immune System: How It Works (NIH Publication No. 07-5423).
Immune Deficiency Foundation:
The Immune System and Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases
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