If your immune system doesn't seem to be working right - you get sick often, you have allergies, you've been diagnosed with an auto-immune disorder, you've got a skin condition - LISTEN UP.

I'd like for you to stop and think for a second.  Have you ever considered that the insides of your intestines are actually on the outside of your body?  We are actually one long tube from mouth to rectum and our intestines protect us from the outside world, just like our skin does.  Go ahead, sit with that for a moment ;)

I find this notion absolutely fascinating because in Chinese medicine, the Lung (which is in charge of your immune system and relates to the skin) and Large Intestine are connected.  Think of them like a married couple, they exchange ideas, support each other, etc.  If one becomes unbalanced, the other can easily become unbalanced as well.  In biomedicine, the skin and intestines serve a similar purpose in keeping the bad out and letting the good in and Chinese medicine matched them up!

So what does your intestinal health have to do with your immune system?  As I mentioned above, your intestines are a barrier between you and the outside world.  If the intestines are damaged or inflamed, they can let things in that should remain out.  When these substances are allowed in, it's now your immune system's job to destroy them before they can cause a ruckus.  

If your intestines are consistently allowing in these substances, your immune system gets stuck on high alert at your gut and can't be particularly effective elsewhere. This can be a difficult pace to keep and eventually your body gets tired - leading to a malfunctioning immune system.  Here are some symptoms that can be related to poor intestinal health :

• Eczema
• Psoriasis
• Allergies
• Food Sensitivities
• Catching colds often
• Digestive issues like gas, bloating, constipation and diarrhea
• Acne
• Migraines

So what are some things you can do to improve your gut health to in turn improve your over all health? 

• Take Colostrum - Colostrum is the amazing part of milk that gives babies their first real boost of immune system.  It helps protect them until their own immune system becomes mature and can take over this important task.  You can get it in pill form, so it's super convenient.  What Colostrum does for an adult with a disfunctional immune system is it help to heal the intestines so they become a better barrier against the outside world.
• Drink water - Making sure you're getting enough water will help your body flush the biproducts of digestion and keep your intestines moving smoothly.  If a bowel movement sits in your intestines too long, you'll have more time to absorb things that put your body on high alert.
• Eat fiber - related to drinking enough water is making sure you're getting enough fiber so that your bowel movments can move.
• Take a probiotic - Probiotics are the good bacteria that help us digest our foods properly.  Your gut bacteria balance can be disturbed by any number of things including use of antibiotics, use of hormonal birth control medications and poor diet to name just a few.

Take the above steps to improve your intestinal health, and I'm positive you'll start noticing some improvements quickly!

A healthy immune system should be like a bubble that lives right underneath your skin.  It protects what's inside the bubble from what's outside the bubble.  In fact, your skin itself is one of our first defenses against disease and is an important part of our immune system!

Sometimes our bubble doesn't quite work right, which leads to 2 basic types of problems.

The first issue is an immune system that lets things into the bubble that it shouldn't.  The most common symptoms of a weak immune system is catching colds really easily and frequently.

The second issue is an overactive immune system that actually attacks things inside the bubble.  With an overactive immune system you get diseases like allergies, eczema, psoriasis, celiac disease, lupus and more.

Chinese medicine is very effective at reminding your body's immune system how it should be acting.  It calms an overactive immune system and boosts an underfunctioning one.  This not only leads to symptom relief, but prevents the symptoms from recurring.  Isn't that the dream of anyone who suffers from immune system disorders?

• Gas and bloating
• Diarrhea
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Eczema

What do all of the above symptoms have in common?

Your digestion (and the ability to absorb nutrients efficiently) play a role in all of them!

You have over 8 feet of intestines, divided into the large and small intestines.  Your intestines are responsible to absorbing much of the nutrients from the foods you eat.  

I like to think of your intestines being like your skin. If you think about it, we are one big tube with our mouths being one end and our anuses being the other.  Technically, the inside surface of our intestines is like our skin - the barrier between us and the outside world!  Take a moment to think about that - it's wild, huh? :)

So what happens if your skin or intestines aren't healthy and can't provide an effect barrier?  On our skin, bacteria can cause an infection.  In our intestines, we can either absorb things that aren't supposed to make it through, or be unable to absorb nutrients that we should be able to.  This can lead to increased allergies, in the case of absorbing things we shouldn't; or nutritional deficiencies in the case of being unable to absorb vitamins and minerals properly.

Improper diets, antibiotic use, and stress can all lead to an unhealthy digestive system.  Poor digestion can also be complicated by Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance), Irritable Bowel Disorder and Chron's Disease which all damage the absorptive lining of the intestines.

So what can you do to help keep your intestines happy and healthy on your own?

• Probiotics - If you've ever taken antibiotics, the natural balance of bacteria in your gut has been altered.  A good, high potency probiotic can help bring it back into balance.
• Drink plenty of water - This will help keep everything moving smoothly and help flush your system.
• Eat a clean diet - Avoid sugars and processed foods.  The chemicals that are found in so many of our foods are irritants to our intestines.  In small doses, in a healthy intestine this might not be as much of a problem, but many of us have weakened digestion and we're overwhelming our systems with processed foods.
• In addition to eating a clean diet - eat plenty of fruits and veggies!  The fiber in them will help your intestines move unwanted compounds through more quickly!

Keeping your intestines healthy is absolutely necessary for maintaining your health.  Without an effective barrier against the outside, your immune system will have to work overtime to protect your body.  Without a proper absorptive surface, your body won't get the building blocks for maintaining your body!

Eczema is a skin condition that affects an estimated 1 in 18 people in the US.   It consists of redness, dryness or weepiness and extremely itchy patches of skin.  The itching can be so intense that some people find themselves scratching at the sores in their sleep!  Because of all of this scratching, many people experience skin thickening and scarring, which can be a source of embarrassment.

Unfortunately, biomedicine doesn't always have a good answer for treating eczema, and many people find that treatments don't work for very long.

A skilled acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist will be able to create a personalized treatment plan that will lead you on the path to stopping the itching and healing your skin from the inside out.  This process can take some time, but it is possible to have clear, healthy skin!

Here are some things you can do at home, in addition to working with an acupuncturist who specializes in dermatology, to help heal your skin:

• Take a probiotic - an unhealthy balance of gut bacteria can contribute to eczema.
• Take omega 3 fatty acids - omega 3 fatty acids help break the inflammation cycle
• Do an elimination diet to learn what (if any) foods you may be sensitive to.  If you're constantly eating something that is irritating to your gut, it'll show up in your skin.

If you're in the Portland area, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me to discuss the possibility of Chinese medicine working to treat your eczema!

I liked this article from Natural News (copied below) and wanted to share it with you all.  Apparently I am in the mood for some autumnal foods.  Bonus recipe at the end!

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is represented by the metal element, which corresponds to the Lungs and Large Intestine. Weakness in this element shows up as ailments in the Lung and Intestines: allergies, asthma and constipation. The remedy can be found in this season's most notable food: the pumpkin or squash.

The pumpkin is round, orange and sweet. It corresponds to the earth element in the five element cycle. Earth is the mother of metal. In Chinese medicine there is a saying: when there is weakness in the child (in this case metal: lungs and large intestine), nourish the mother (in this case earth.)

Weakness in the lungs will show up as: 

• allergies
• asthma
• bronchitis
• pneumonia

Because the lungs open onto the skin, one may also see acne, eczema and psoriasis. The paired organ to the Lungs is the Colon, so weakness here will show up as constipation, diarrhea, or IBS.

In Chinese medicine, the pumpkin is known to relieve damp conditions such as dysentery and eczema. It promotes discharge of mucus from the lungs, bronchi and throat, easing bronchialasthma. (1)

Not only does the flesh of the pumpkin benefit the Lungs and Large Intestine, the seeds are especially good for the intestines, easing constipation and acting as a parasite cleanse. Known as nan gua zi, pumpkin seeds are especially known to alleviate tapeworm and roundworm. For this purpose pumpkin seeds are taken by boiling into a strong tea known as a decoction or grinding into a powder to be taken with water.

Nutritionally, pumpkins are high in beta carotene which is converted by the body to vitamin A. Beta carotene protects the mucous membranes of the body and has been shown to protect both the lungs and large intestine against cancer. (2)

Soup is an excellent way to nourish the body this time of year. The following soup can be made with pumpkin or any kind of yellow winter squash. Make sure to save and wash the seeds, which can then be salted and baked at 350 degrees until dry.

Nourishing Pumpkin Soup 

• 1 pumpkin or squash, halved, seeded, and baked face down on baking sheet at 350 until soft (1/2 hour to an hour depending on thickness of squash.)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 Tbsp olive oil
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 6 cups water

1. In soup pot, saute onions, garlic and carrots in olive oil until softened.
2. Add water, flesh of the squash scraped from the skin, maple syrup, salt and pepper and mix well.
3. Bring to boil and simmer for 20 minutes.
4. Cool and blend until smooth.
5. Reheat and serve.

Footnotes 

1. Pitchford, p.508
2. Ibid, p.313

References
Pitchford, Paul. Healing with Whole Foods. North Atlantic Books. Berkeley, CA.
Bensky, Dan and Gamble, Andrew. Chinese Herbal Medicine, Materia Medica.Eastland Press, Seattle.
Shanghai College of Traditional Medicine. Acupuncture, A Comprehensive Text. Eastland Press. Seattle.