Our immune system is an important in defending our body against foreign invaders such as Bactria and viruses, our body uses leukocytes which are colorless cells that circulates in the blood and body fluids and are involved in counteracting foreign substances and disease; a white (blood) cell. There are several types, all amoeboid cells with a nucleus, including lymphocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, and macrophages. Leukocytes are part of our immune system which fight foreigner invaders such as bacteria and virus, some of the white blood cells fight via producing antibodies and some directly attack the bacteria by a process of phagocytosis. The normal adult human has around 7000 White blood cells per microliter of blood, the following are the types of blood cells:

• They have a longer lifespan than many white blood cells and help to break down bacteria.
• They create antibodies to fight against bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful invaders.
• They kill and digest bacteria and fungi. They are the most numerous type of white blood cell and your first line of defense when infection strikes.
• These small cells seem to sound an alarm when infectious agents invade your blood. They secrete chemicals such as histamine, a marker of allergic disease, that help control the body’s immune response.
• They attack and kill parasites and cancer cells, and help with allergic responses.

Your white blood cells might fluctuate in numbers depending on daily activities such as exercise, alcohol consumption, insomnia and mild infections; however, the main culprit of abnormally high or low blood cells are:

•  Weak immune system. This is often caused by illnesses such as HIV/AIDS or by cancer treatment. Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy can destroy white blood cells and leave you at risk for infection.
• A higher-than-normal white blood cell count usually means you have some type of infection. White blood cells are multiplying to destroy the bacteria or virus.
• Myelodysplastic syndrome. This condition causes abnormal production of blood cells. This includes white blood cells in the bone marrow.
• Cancer of the blood. Cancers including leukemia and lymphoma can cause uncontrolled growth of an abnormal type of blood cell in the bone marrow. This results in a greatly increased risk for infection or serious bleeding.
• Myeloproliferative disorder.This disorder refers to various conditions that trigger the excessive production of immature blood cells. This can result in an unhealthy balance of all types of blood cells in the bone marrow and too many or too few white blood cells in the blood.
• Some medicines can raise or lower the body’s white blood cell count.

Acupuncture is commonly used for post chemotherapy cancer patients to help alleviate side effects of chemo such as anemia (low red blood cell count), leukopenia (low white blood cell count). Multiple studies have shown that Acupuncture in form of Electro-acupuncture and/or acupuncture with Moxa increase leukocytes (White blood cells) and may improve immunity.

Another study investigated the effect of Acupuncture on the immune system, the leukocyte, monocytes, and lymphocyte and lymphocyte surface markers such as CD2, CD4, CD8, CD16, CD19 and CD56. CD 4 which is T helper cells are arguably the most important cells in adaptive immunity, as they are required for almost all adaptive immune responses. They not only help activate B cells to secrete antibodies and macrophages to destroy ingested microbes, but they also help activate cytotoxic T cells to kill infected target cells. This study showed that the leukocyte above the CD cell counts significantly increased after acupuncture. The result indicate that acupuncture may regulate the immune system and can increase the activity of cellular and humoral immunity and NK (natural killer) cell.

Few Studies have shown Moxibustion alone to be effective in increasing white blood cell count, other studies have shown acupuncture plus Moxa or electro-acupuncture on various acupoints and specifically ST36 increased the concentration of CD 4 T helper cells, and the ratio of CD4/CD8 T cells and decreasing mortality due to sepsis (multiple organ failure due to hyper inflammatory response of immune system).

At Acuwellness Center, we provide Acupuncture, Electro Acupuncture and Moxa and Acupuncture to help to regulate immunity and improve overall health. If you have any questions or if you like to make an appointment please call us at 818-642-3512.

1. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=160&ContentID=35
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK73910/
3. http://wprim.whocc.org.cn/admin/article/articleDetail?WPRIMID=372865&articleId=372865
4. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0254627215300613
5. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-014-2530-7
6. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4540978/