How is your immune system holding up this year? This cold and flu season started off particularly rough and hasn’t let up. If you have been able to ward off pathogens so far, keep up the good work, if not and if you’re looking to boost your immune function for the remainder of the flu and cold season consider adding in more ginger to your diet! One of my very favorite herbs to use in dietary and herbal therapy. It truly covers so many conditions- from acute or chronic pain, menstrual conditions, and immune function.
To boost immunity we are all familiar with the benefits of foods rich in vitamin C, elderberry, and garlic to prevent illness and shorten the duration of cold and flu once it’s hit. But how often are you utilizing the power of ginger to boost your immune system?
The model of the immune system In Chinese medicine utilizes the concept of wei qi, or the protective qi. Conditions or illnesses we contract whether contagious or climate-induced are viewed as exterior or interior and depend on the strength of one’s constitution. If the wei qi is strong and abundant then we are able to ward off illness, if it is weak it becomes harder for the body to fight off infection. The weaker our constitution, the deeper the pathogen may penetrate and cause harm. Our wei qi is also in charge of warming and nourishing all the outer tissues, opening and closing the body’s pores, and defending external pathogens. While there are many reasons our wei qi may become weakened or many reasons the immune system or constitution may become more vulnerable, there are always ways to boost the qi and blood to boost the constitution and in turn boost our immunity!
Ginger is one of my favorite herbs to use for this! Not only because it can be taken in food form but also in supplement or in an herbal decoction or tea. It’s warming, penetrating, drying, and depending on its preparation can be mild to very strong in its ability to warm the channels. It can also release wind in the body (wind is an external pathogenic factor). It boosts lung qi and enters the lung, spleen, and stomach channels. Ginger also optimizes digestive function, alleviates spasms, (wind), reduces abdominal pain, and is an amazing pain reliever for body pain.
If ginger makes a regular appearance in your grocery cart then you know the variety of uses it has in the kitchen. But if you’re new to using ginger root, here is a great congee recipe to support the organs of digestion and boost qi and blood to build up a strong constitution. Enjoy!