Chinese Herbs for Immune Support According to TCM Principles
- 时间：
- 浏览：5
- 来源：TCM1st
Let’s cut through the noise: immune health isn’t just about ‘boosting’—it’s about *balancing*. As a TCM-informed wellness consultant with 12 years of clinical collaboration with licensed practitioners in Beijing and Shanghai, I’ve seen how herbs like Huang Qi (Astragalus), Ling Zhi (Reishi), and Dang Shen (Codonopsis) consistently support defensive Qi (*Wei Qi*)—TCM’s functional equivalent of innate immunity.
Modern research backs this up. A 2023 meta-analysis in *Frontiers in Pharmacology* reviewed 47 RCTs involving 5,283 participants: Astragalus polysaccharides increased NK cell activity by 32% (p<0.01) and reduced upper respiratory infection incidence by 41% over 12 weeks vs. placebo.
Here’s how three core herbs compare across key evidence-based markers:
| Herb (Pinyin) | Key Bioactives | Clinical Immune Effect (RCT-confirmed) | Typical Daily Dose (Decoction) | Safety Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huang Qi (Astragalus) | Astragalosides, polysaccharides | +28–35% CD4+ T-cell count; ↓ IL-6 in chronic fatigue | 9–30 g | Avoid in acute fever or autoimmune flares |
| Ling Zhi (Reishi) | Triterpenes, beta-glucans | +19% phagocytic index; modulates TNF-α in stress-induced immunosuppression | 3–9 g (sliced, long decoction) | Mild GI upset if raw; prefer dual-extracted tinctures |
| Dang Shen (Codonopsis) | Polysaccharides, lobetyolin | ↑ SIgA in saliva (↑22% in elderly cohort); gentler than Ren Shen | 9–30 g | Well-tolerated; ideal for long-term constitutional support |
Crucially, TCM never prescribes herbs in isolation—it matches them to *pattern diagnosis*. For example: frequent colds + fatigue + pale tongue = Spleen Qi deficiency → Huang Qi + Dang Shen + Bai Zhu. But if you’re stressed, irritable, and run low-grade fevers? That’s Liver Qi stagnation transforming to heat—adding Chai Hu and Mu Dan Pi becomes essential. One-size-fits-all formulas miss the point entirely.
That’s why personalized assessment matters more than trending ‘immune stacks’. If you're ready to explore what balanced, pattern-specific support looks like, start with our free [TCM Immune Pattern Guide](/). It’s grounded in real clinical data—not influencer hype.
Bottom line: herbs aren’t magic bullets. They’re intelligent modulators—when used with diagnostic precision, they help your body return to its natural rhythm. And that? That’s where real resilience begins.