The third most common disease category in the United States following cancer and heart disease is that of autoimmune conditions. It is estimated that around 50 million individuals in the U.S have been diagnosed with them, and this number is likely even higher as autoimmune diseases commonly go undiagnosed.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system attacks its own healthy tissues, which feeds into a cycle of inflammation in the body. Biomedical theories suggest that the immune reaction can cause a state of inflammation and likewise a state of inflammation can cause the immune reaction. This vice-versa thinking is a common theoretical viewpoint in Ancient Chinese Medicine, i.e., one state of vulnerability in the system can lead to another state of vulnerability. For example, anxiety can lead to insomnia and likewise insomnia can lead to anxiety.
So let’s take a look at how autoimmune conditions are approached in Ancient Chinese Medicine, and apply the utilization of herbal medicine.
According to Ancient Chinese Medical theory, in states of autoimmunity, the Kidney which is innately linked to our immune system and what is referred to as Jing, is in a state of over-reaction. Comparatively, from a Western Biomedical perspective, this reaction is mediated by the immune system’s T-Lymphocytes.
There are three main herbal approaches that might be considered:
- Subdue the up-flaring yang, which in this case is exemplified by the body’s autoimmune over-reaction, and tamper it with yin moistening herbs. Examples of yin moistening herbs include Tian Men Dong (Asparagus Root), Mai Men Dong (Creeping Lily Turf Root), Sheng Di Huang (Rehmannia Root), Wu Wei Zi (Schisandra Berry).
- Get rid of local and systemic inflammation, a quality of heat in Chinese Medicine, with cooling herbs. This might include herbs such as Bai Shao (White Peony Root), Chai Hu (Bupleurum), Dan Shen (Red Sage Root).
- Nourish the underlying systemic deficiency with tonifying, circulatory and warming herbs like Gui Zhi (Cinnamon Twig), or other key warming herbs which will be combined to target specific systems in the body that are not in a state of optimal function. Biomedically, this could be the enteric nervous system of the Gastrointestinal tract, the circulatory system, the liver enzymes, the thyroid metabolic output, the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis, etcetera.
Each individual’s specific diagnostic findings will reveal the present state of their system, which is often referred to as the qi dynamic. With this diagnostic information, a synergistic formula is created to directly target the root of the autoimmune response in the body. In combination with a few lifestyle modifications, this helps return the body to a state of ease, and one that is not an optimal environment for inflammation.
Sources:
- Autoimmune Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, October 2022.
- Fruehauf, H. Traditional Mentorship Tutorial, National University of Natural Medicine; April 2023.
- Murray, M. A Major Health Crisis: The Alarming Rise of Autoimmune Disease, National Health Council; March 2024.