Chinese Medicine Clinic Services

Immune System Support in Greenville, SC

Immune System Support at IHP Greenville — authentic TCM, in-house herbal pharmacy. Dr. Hendry, DAOM, 25+ yrs experience. Call (864) 365-6156.

Immune system support at Integrative Health Partners goes far beyond taking vitamin C and zinc. Dr. Hendry addresses the structural and functional factors that determine immune robustness — gut barrier integrity, microbiome diversity, vitamin D status, zinc and selenium levels, HPA axis function (chronic stress is the most potent immune suppressor), sleep quality, and the Chinese medicine constitutional patterns that reflect immune strength. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and functional medicine each contribute unique immune-supportive effects.

How Immune System Support Works

Immune support protocols combine acupuncture (which modulates NK cell activity, T-cell function, and inflammatory cytokine balance), Chinese herbal medicine (Yu Ping Feng San for immune deficiency; Huang Qi/astragalus, Ling Zhi/reishi, and other immunomodulatory herbs), and functional medicine testing (vitamin D, zinc, selenium, NK cell function, IgG panel, and gut health markers).

Conditions Treated with Immune System Support

Your First Appointment

Describe your immune history: frequency of infections, healing speed, response to illness, and whether you are prone to certain types of infections (upper respiratory, opportunistic, etc.). Recent illness history and current medications that affect immunity are relevant.

Why Dr. Hendry for Immune System Support

Dr. Hendry's Chinese herbal pharmacology training includes the most extensively studied immune-modulatory herbs in the world. His functional medicine testing goes far beyond standard immune panels to identify the specific drivers of immune dysfunction.

Frequently Asked Questions

Immune 'boosting' (indiscriminate stimulation of all immune components) is not always beneficial — autoimmune diseases reflect an already over-activated immune system. Immune modulation (achieving balanced, appropriate immune function) is the therapeutic goal. Acupuncture and adaptogenic herbs achieve modulation, not indiscriminate stimulation.
NK cell activity, lymphocyte subsets (CD4/CD8 ratio), comprehensive immunoglobulin panel, complement levels, inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-alpha), vitamin D (essential for immune regulation), zinc, and selenium.
Yes — approximately 70% of the immune system is located in and around the gastrointestinal tract (gut-associated lymphoid tissue, GALT). Gut dysbiosis and leaky gut dramatically impair immune regulation, increasing susceptibility to infection and autoimmune reactivity.
Multiple studies confirm acupuncture increases NK cell activity, enhances T-cell function, and produces favorable shifts in inflammatory cytokine ratios. It is most effective as an immune modulator rather than a simple stimulant.
For ongoing immune maintenance: monthly acupuncture and seasonal herbal adjustment. For immune rehabilitation after illness or during cancer treatment: weekly sessions with specific protocols.
Integrative Health Partners, 319 Wade Hampton Blvd, Ste A, Greenville, SC 29609. Call (864) 365-6156.

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