Infections touch nearly everyone at some point in the year. Be it a flu outbreak, a digestive upset, or a lingering cough, they remind us of how closely our health is linked to the world around us. Whether it’s a flu wave, a stomach bug, or a persistent cough, infectious diseases have become constant companions in our densely populated and highly connected world.
In Western medicine, infectious diseases are at the centre of modern diagnostics, pharmaceutical treatment, and prevention. Strategies such as antibiotic therapy and vaccination programs aim to combat pathogens and prevent their spread.
In Traditional East Asian Medicine (TEAM) (acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine) however, infections are viewed from a different perspective: not as a battle against germs, but as an expression of a disturbed balance between human beings and their environment. The Shang Han Lun describes with remarkable clarity how external influences can throw the body out of balance — written at a time when invisible agents like bacteria were still unknown but already claimed countless lives.
What Are Viral and Bacterial Infections?
Viruses are tiny particles that can reproduce only inside living cells. They insert their genetic material into our cells and use the host’s metabolism to produce new viruses. Examples include influenza, COVID-19, herpes, and hepatitis.
Bacteria, on the other hand, are independent single-celled organisms. Many live peacefully with us for example on our skin, in our intestines, and in the environment. They become pathogenic when they enter areas where they don’t belong or when the immune system is weakened. Typical bacterial infections include bladder infections, ear infections, sinusitis, and purulent skin infections.
How Do Viral and Bacterial Infections Differ?
From a Western perspective, the main difference lies in structure and treatment:
- Viruses require host cells and do not respond to antibiotics.
- Bacteria can reproduce independently and respond to antibiotics, although resistance is increasing worldwide.
In TEAM, the distinction is not based on the type of pathogen but rather on the nature of the pathogenic factor. Both viruses and bacteria can be understood as external pathogens such as Wind-Cold, Wind-Heat, or Damp-Heat that invade the body when the Wei Qi (defensive Qi) is weakened. The focus is therefore less on the microbe itself and more on the body’s individual response pattern.
How Common Are Infections Today?
Infectious diseases remain among the most common reasons for medical visits worldwide. In industrialised countries, they occur more frequently in colder seasons. While bacterial infections have declined somewhat due to hygiene and vaccination, viral infections have increased in recent decades particularly due to globalisation, climate change, and higher mobility.
At the same time, there is a noticeable rise in chronic or recurrent infections, such as repeated colds, sinusitis, or bladder infections. In TEAM, these are often seen as signs of deeper imbalances, not merely local infections.
Who Is Most Affected?
People most susceptible include:
- Children with immature immune systems
- Older adults with declining defences
- Individuals experiencing chronic stress, sleep deprivation, or poor nutrition
- Patients weakened by long-term illness or repeated antibiotic use
In TEAM terms, these often correspond to states of deficiency — particularly Qi deficiency, Yin deficiency, or Wei Qi deficiency which make the body more vulnerable to external pathogens.
Conventional Medical Treatment
Western medicine distinguishes strictly between pathogens:
- Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics.
- Viral infections are treated symptomatically (e.g., reducing fever, soothing cough, resting).
In severe cases, antiviral medications may be used, but often it is the immune system itself that must overcome the infection.
Problems arise when antibiotics are prescribed unnecessarily. This not only weakens the microbiome but also promotes antibiotic resistance — areas where TEAM can provide valuable complementary support.
How Does Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine Treat Infections?
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine take an individual and holistic approach. Holistic means taking the whole person into account — body, mind, emotions, and environment — rather than focusing only on a single symptom or disease. Its goal is to restore harmony between body, mind, and environment not merely to fight the pathogen.
Key strategies include:
- Strengthening Wei Qi (defensive Qi): through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and lifestyle adjustments.
- Expelling pathogenic factors: by inducing sweating (Han Fa), clearing heat (Qing Re Fa), or transforming dampness (Hua Shi Fa).
- Harmonising the Zang-Fu organs, especially the Lung, Spleen, and Kidney.
TEAM differentiates between several clinical patterns depending on the presentation. The best results are achieved when formulas are individually tailored. The formulas listed below serve as base prescriptions, often modified in clinical practice.
| Pattern | Typical Symptoms | Therapeutic Principle | Representative Formulas |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Wind-Cold Invading the Exterior (cold-type common cold) | Chills, headache, neck stiffness, clear nasal discharge, no thirst | Release the exterior, dispel cold, promote sweating | Ma Huang Tang – promotes sweating and opens pores and Lung Gui Zhi Tang – harmonises Ying and Wei Qi in mild Wind-Cold with sweating Xiao Qing Long Tang – for Wind-Cold with internal damp or phlegm (e.g., thick sputum, nasal congestion) |
| 2. Wind-Heat Attacking the Lung (viral infections, sore throat) | Fever, sore throat, cough with yellow sputum, swollen tonsils, thirst | Clear heat, release Wind, open the Lung | Yin Qiao San – early viral infections with sore throat Sang Ju Yin – early stage with cough and mild fever Chai Ge Jie Ji Tang – transition from Wind-Cold to Wind-Heat |
| 3. Damp-Heat in the Lower Jiao (bladder infections, bacterial inflammation) | Burning urination, turbid urine, lower abdominal pressure | Drain damp-heat, promote Qi flow and urination | Ba Zheng San – acute cystitisLong Dan Xie Gan Tang – rising damp-heat, gynecological infections with discharge or itching Er Miao San – damp-heat in lower limbs (fungal or skin infections) |
| 4. Damp-Heat in the Middle Jiao (gastrointestinal infections) | Diarrhea, fullness, nausea, bad breath, thick yellow tongue coating | Transform damp-heat, strengthen the middle burner | Ge Gen Qin Lian Tang – infectious diarrhea with fever Huo Xiang Zheng Qi San – summer flu, stomach flu, or travel sickness Lian Po Yin – vomiting and diarrhea due to damp-heat |
| 5. Phlegm-Heat in the Lung (productive cough after infection) | Yellow sputum, cough, chest tightness | Transform phlegm-heat, calm cough, open the Lung | Qing Qi Hua Tan Wan – thick yellow sputum Wen Dan Tang – phlegm-heat with nausea or stress-related coughBei Mu Gua Lou San – dissolves phlegm, opens Lung |
| 6. Qi and Wei Qi Deficiency after Repeated Infections | Fatigue, spontaneous sweating, tendency to catch colds | Tonify Qi, stabilise immunity, prevent relapse | Yu Ping Feng San – strengthens defensive energy Bu Zhong Yi Qi Tang – post-illness fatigue Shen Ling Bai Zhu San – strengthens Spleen Qi, transforms dampness |
| 7. Yin Deficiency with Residual Heat (after prolonged fever or chronic infection) | Night sweats, dry throat, weakness, thin pulse | Nourish Yin, clear residual heat, restore fluids | Qing Hao Bie Jia Tang – clears lingering heat after fever Bai He Gu Jin Tang – dry cough, hoarseness, Yin deficiency Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan – Yin deficiency with rising heat |
Acupuncture and Lifestyle
Acupuncture can relieve acute symptoms (e.g., sore throat, head pressure, feverish sensations) while promoting immune recovery.
Commonly used points include LI4 (Hegu), LU7 (Lieque), ST36 (Zusanli), and LI11 (Quchi).
Lifestyle and diet also play essential roles:
- Warm, easily digestible foods (soups, congee)
- Avoid cold, raw, or greasy foods during infection
- Ensure adequate sleep and fresh-air exercise
- Reduce stress and practise breathing exercises to strengthen Lung and Spleen
Prevention: Strengthening the Wei Qi
In TCM, prevention is the best treatment. By nourishing and protecting Wei Qi — the body’s defensive energy circulating at the surface — susceptibility to infection can be greatly reduced.
Effective preventive measures include:
- Seasonal acupuncture treatments
- Balanced diet following TCM principles
- Adequate rest, mindfulness, and emotional balance
- Herbal formulas that strengthen immunity or Wei Qi
Conclusion
Whether viral or bacterial, TEAM places the person, not the pathogen, at the centre of treatment.
Where Western medicine relies on diagnoses and pharmaceuticals, TCM asks: Why was the pathogen able to enter? and How can internal balance be restored?
This creates a holistic approach that not only treats symptoms but promotes health in a broader sense — as a dynamic balance between inner and outer worlds, between human beings and nature. If you are interested in exploring what acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine might have in store for you, book your appointment today or reach out with any questions.
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