Expert ADVICE
The Best Immune Defense is Good Offense
FIQUET HANNA DUCKWORTH, DOM
Integrative Japanese Acupuncture & Wellness Center 1510 St. Francis Drive 505.982.9626 FiquetHannaDuckworth.com
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uring cold and flu season, your best defense against getting sick is your immune system. Thus it’s important to be proactive about keeping your immune system strong, healthy and vibrant. When the seasons change—especially from warm to cold—we are most vulnerable to sickness because our bodies are adapting to changes in the environment. Of course, eating a proper diet, getting rest, alleviating stress and exercising regularly all help keep the immune system at optimal health. However, another great way to support the immune system is via acupuncture. Even a simple tune-up can do wonders to protect and fortify the body. In Japanese acupuncture, the body’s immune system is referred to as the defensive qi. Using pulse diagnosis to determine where the defensive qi needs strengthening, needles are placed in
points that mediate and rebuild that defense system. The body depends on balanced energy in the various organs that control the defensive qi to prevent illness. Overexposure to harmful pathogens, excessive use of antibiotics, poor diet, over consumption of alcohol and stress all deplete the immune system and make us susceptible to colds, flu and allergies. If the defensive qi is not treated and balanced, a simple condition such as a cold can become chronic.
why that ailment developed and through what type of lifestyle.
Dr. Duckworth studied Kototama Japanese Medicine with Sensei Nakazono, founder of the Kototama lineage, for 10 years. Kototama Medicine is based on the Kototama Principle of sound vibrations. These sound vibrations are the same energy vibrations in the meridians in the body. Insertion of needles in the meridians changes the vibrations, or energy, allowing for the body’s energy to be balanced.
While we all will pretty much survive colds and flues, it’s worth noting that the best defense against cancer is also the immune system. If it is strong and functioning, an aberrant cell is targeted and killed. But if chronically exhausted and ill, the immune system misses those aberrations, leading to a tumor. By keeping your immune system on offense, you won’t be playing defense in the long haul. And while many of us say, “I don’t have time,” if you don’t take the time, time will take you.
In conjunction with Japanese acupuncture, Dr. Duckworth also prescribes a variety of herbs, supplements and medical foods to support and boost immune function. Her office additionally integrates aspects of functional medicine like blood tests and imaging. When working with a new patient, she strives to learn more than simply what is ailing, but
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine have been use for thousands of years to improve and support the immune system by eliminating or reducing inflammation caused by pathogens and/or allergens. This is achieved by treating with needles the meridians that show imbalance, bringing energy to the problematic area via blood flow.
Dr. Duckworth has been in practice for over 30 years. She is the vice chair of the New Mexico Board of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. She has been recognized as Acupuncturist of the Year twice by The American Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.