Why do I get sick so easily?
From an acupuncture perspective, your body is made up of
lots of different kinds of Qi, or energy. These different types of Qi have
specific physiological functions in the body. One essential type of Qi is the
Wei Qi. Roughly translated as “immunity,” the Wei Qi is your body’s natural
strength and ability to fight off pathogens like viruses and bacteria.
The Wei Qi, also called “protective Qi” flows in the space
between the skin and muscles, and is the first line of defense against sickness
(after your skin). The Wei Qi also controls the opening and closing of the
pores, so spontaneous sweating is a sign of a weakness in your protective Qi.
When the Wei Qi is not strong enough, we are not able to
fight off outside pathogens, and we get sick.
A number of other energetic imbalances can weaken our Wei
Qi:
●
When there is Qi Stagnation in the body from
stress or mental tension, this interferes with the flow of Qi throughout the
body, so the area where the Wei Qi flows is not supported properly and the Wei
Qi suffers.
●
When the digestive energy is weakened through
poor diet, overwork or stress, it fails to transport the nutrients from food
around the body, leading to a deficiency of the Wei Qi.
●
When the lung Qi is weakened through too much
talking, grief, pollution, illness or allergies, it cannot effectively turn our
breath into the Qi we need to protect ourselves. The lungs are also said to
control the Wei Qi, so when they are weakened, the Wei Qi automatically
suffers.
●
When our jing, or essence, isn’t strong due to
constitutional and genetic factors, all of our body’s systems suffer, including
the Wei Qi.
So, how do you make sure your Wei Qi is healthy and strong?
●
Eat right. The food we eat is transformed into
useful Qi by our digestive energy. This Qi - “Gu Qi” is further refined and
part of it is turned into Wei Qi by our body’s natural resources. If you are
not eating properly, your digestive energy won’t be able to pull the necessary
components out of your food to make efficient and strong Wei Qi. This means it
is essential to limit processed foods, eat warm and hearty meals, eat at
regular times, get enough protein and to eat a balanced diet.
●
Get outside. The air we breathe is also turned
into Qi within our bodies by the lung. Try to spend at least 10 minutes of
every day outside, regardless of the weather. This could mean taking a walk in
the sun, or standing on your porch and watching the rain.
●
Get enough sleep. Your body replenishes many
deeper levels of energy during sleep. If you are not getting enough sleep and
some of the more internal energies of your body are weak, the Wei Qi has to
work overtime to keep you healthy – and it won’t be able to do that for long.
Also, the Wei Qi actually moves internally in the body during sleep, to nourish
and protect your internal organs, and not getting enough sleep will not allow
it sufficient time to migrate inwards and then get back to the exterior of your
body where it is needed during the day.
●
Bundle up. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, many
pathogens enter the body through the back of the neck during cold weather. So
help out your Wei Qi and don’t leave your neck exposed to cold or wind – wear
scarves or jackets with collars to keep that area protected.
●
Get acupuncture! There are specific points on
the body that nourish the Wei Qi to help prevent sickness. Acupuncture can also
strengthen your other energy systems if they are not supporting the Wei Qi
sufficiently.
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