Boost Your Children’s Immunity Using Acupressure, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) at Home

By Risi Idiokitas, MSTOM

There are steps you can take to boost your little ones’ immune systems so they are ready to fight the germs they’re exposed to at school. One of the great things about Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is that it is preventative medicine. This means that you don’t have to wait until there is an illness before you use TCM; you can use it now to prevent from getting sick. TCM can get the body functioning at a place of balance, where it is prepared to handle any “ick” that comes its way. In this issue, I’ll cover acupressure.

Acupressure

Acupuncture is the most widely known TCM modality and acupressure is a variation of acupuncture that anyone can do anywhere. There are several acupressure points that are used to boost the immune system. In TCM, the body has a barrier that serves to protect it from outside germ invasions. This barrier is called wei qi and translates as “defensive energy.” The following 3 points serve to strengthen wei qi.

Stomach 36 (ST36). This point is called Zu San Li and translates as Leg Three Miles. This point, shown above, is located on the leg, the width of your little one’s four fingers below the knee and one finger to the outside of the shin bone.
San Jiao 5 (SJ5). This point, shown at right, is called Wai Guan and translates as Outer Pass. This is on the back side of the forearm, the width of three of your child’s fingers above the wrist in the middle of the two bones, the ulnar and the radius.
Kidney 27 (KD27). This last point is called Shu fu, which means Shu Mansion. This is in the little corner where the collar bone meets the breast bone [below].

These three points can be stimulated for a couple of minutes daily with gentle pressure. You can even teach your children to do it themselves as a part of their normal routine.

Herbs

Another strong suit of TCM is herbal medicine. There are 3 formulas that I keep on hand for this time of year. Yu Ping Feng Wan or Jade Wind Screen is very useful as a preventative and can be taken daily to keep the immune system in tiptop shape. Start giving this to your little a couple weeks leading up to the start of school and continue through the winter.

Another to have on hand is Windbreaker made by Kan Herb Company to use at the first sign of runny nose or cough. If there is any complaint of a sore throat, use CQ Jr. made by Blue Poppy. It is best to see your local pediatric acupuncturist to check for any modifications to these formulas that will best suit your little.

Other Tips

Food. One of the best places to start boosting your little’s immune system is in the kitchen. Foods that we eat can both give our immune system a boost and also stamp it out. Be sure to give your little plenty of foods that are high in vitamin A, C, D3, and zinc.
- Vitamin A is crucial for healthy immunity in the gut lining, it helps to maintain the inflammatory/anti-inflammatory response in the gut. Foods to eat include sweet potatos, carrots, butternut squash, and leafy greens.
- Vitamin C is needed by white blood cells to fight infection and is a natural antioxidant. It can be found in peppers, broccoli, brussel sprouts, strawberries, pineapple, oranges, kiwi, and leafy greens.
- Vitamin D3 is needed to activate the immune system . Our best source of Vitamin D3 is from the sun but it is also found in oily fish like salmon, tuna, mackral, sardines, and also eggs. It’s often difficult to get enough from the sun and diet so it’s important to supplement.
- Zinc helps in new cell production and healing. Good sources include grass feed red meat, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, lentils, garbonzo beans, cashews, quinoa, and shrimp.
- Also good old garlic, onions, and ginger can be used to give any meal immune boosting properties.
Probiotics. A healthy gut is a necessary for a healthy immune system . Probiotic supplements should be taken daily to support a balanced gut. Babies under 1 year old can get 5 billion organisms per day, children 1-5 years old can get 10 billion, and those older than 5 years old can get 20 billion per day.
Ditch the Sugar. Sugar is known to depress immune function so do your best to limit sugar intake and watch out for added sugars in your little’s diet, especially high fructose corn syrup.
Bone Broth. Finally, one of the best and easiest things you can do in your kitchen for the whole family’s immune system is making bone broth. Bone broth has been used for centuries in cultures around the world to keep families healthy and strong.

[Risi Idiokitas, MSTOM, L.Ac., is a pediatric acupuncturist and herbalist currently practicing in D.C. and Maryland and an Integrative Medicine Specialist at Children’s National Medical Center. She lives on Chiswell Lane.] ■