Usually, when you find out your immune system is weak, it’s already too late. For most people, getting a cold or the flu is the first sign of low immunity that they see.

But it doesn’t have to be like that. In Eastern medicine, there are a few different ways you can tell that your immune system is tanking before the sniffles come on. Eastern medicine thinks about the human body holistically. That means everything is connected, for better or worse. So while your immune system isn’t something you can see, there are signs that something is wrong–if you know where to look.

Excess Sweating

It’s normal to get a bit sweaty when you’re hitting the gym, running to catch the bus, or moving furniture. But if you start to sweat even when you’re not exerting yourself, it could be a sign that your Wei Qi is on the fritz.

That’s because our Wei Qi sits right underneath the skin, so it controls when our pores open and close. So when your Wei QI becomes weak, you can start sweating all of a sudden for no reason.

Hitting the Snooze Button

Do you feel like no matter how much rest you get, you’re always tired? That’s not just a sign that your morning coffee isn’t strong enough. It might be an indicator that your Qi levels, in general, are low. 

Qi is our life force or energy, so it makes sense that we feel tired and sluggish when levels are low. Qi deficiencies can be related to lots of different health problems, not just a low immunity. So if you’re noticing signs of low Qi (including shortness of breath, fatigue, and sweating), you might want to visit your TCM practitioner to figure out the root of the problem. If you need some tips on how to get more sleep naturally, check out this blog. 

A White Tongue

When was the last time you took a good, hard look at your tongue? It’s probably been a while. But your tongue is a useful indicator of your health in traditional Chinese medicine.

Normally, your tongue should be a light red or pink. It might have a thin, white coating that covers it as well.

But if your tongue body is pale, you might have a low immune system. That’s because, in TCM, a pale tongue indicated either a blood deficiency or wind-cold illness. The whiteness might also come from the Candida yeast that causes thrush, which is another indication of a low immune system.

If your tongue coat is thick and white, that indicates Dampness, another sign of low immunity.  The thick whiteness might also come from the Candida yeast that causes thrush, which is another indication of a low immune system.

So the next time you brush your teeth, take a second to check out your tongue in the mirror. It’s a quick and easy way to check your health!

No Half-Moons On Your Nails

Like your tongue, your nails are another quick and visible way to diagnose low immunity. In TCM, the lunula (the pale half-moon at the base of your nail) should be clearly-defined and take up about ¼ of the nail. If your lunulae don’t look like this (or don’t exist) you might have a problem with your immunity.

That’s because lunulae represent your Qi. Clear, bright lunulae represent strong Qi, and vice versa. So if you’re missing lunulae on any nails other than your pinky, it could be a sign that your immune system needs a boost. Learn more about what your nails say about your health here.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Immune System

First, let’s go over the basics of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the immune system.

The most important concept in TCM is Qi, or our life energy. Every organ in our body has its own Qi, but these are the 3 main kinds:

• Ying Qi: This is the Qi or energy that we get from the food, drinks, and supplements we consume. That’s why you need to eat a healthy, seasonal diet to keep your immune system strong.
• Yuan Qi: Yuan Qi comes from the kidneys and helps to keep our blood pumping oxygen throughout our body.
• Wei Qi: When it comes to immunity, Wei Qi is the star of the show. You can think of it as a protective blanket around your body that guards against sickness. It hangs out between your skin and muscles to act as a line of defense.

When your Wei Qi levels are too low, your body can’t fight off the pathogens that make us sick. To boost your Wei Qi levels, you need to focus on two things: fresh air and healthy food. We need clean air to fill our lungs because they push out the Wei Qi to the rest of our body. And adding nutrition-packed foods like onions, garlic, ginger and mushrooms into your diet helps keep your Yuan Qi strong, as well.

So, keep an eye our for these signs, pay attention to your body, sleep well and stay healthy! If you’re curious to know more about some of these signs or if you’re wondering how you can naturally boost your immune system, set up a virtual consultation with one of our Eastern medicine experts who can help come up with a personalized wellness plan for you.