Boosting Immunity Through Hormone Wellness: What Every Woman Should Know This Holiday Season

The holidays are one of my favorite times of year, full of celebration, connection, and slowing down to reflect. But as a practitioner, I also see another side of this season: the fatigue, stress, disrupted sleep, sugar overload, and the sudden panic when someone in the house starts coughing.

Almost every patient who has walked into my office this month has said the same thing:
“Please give me everything you’ve got so I don’t get sick.”

We often focus on the basics — sleep, hydration, nutrient-dense foods, protein intake, gut health, and vitamin support. And yes, those pillars matter tremendously.

But there’s something many women don’t realize:

Your hormones and your immune system are deeply connected.

Understanding this connection is one of the most empowering things you can do for your health — especially during the winter months.

How Hormones Influence Immunity

Estrogen: The Immune Enhancer

Women typically mount stronger immune responses than men. Estrogen boosts immune cell activity and helps your body mount an effective defense.
But there’s a twist: excess estrogen (a common issue in perimenopause) can also increase autoimmune tendencies.
During menopause, as estrogen declines, immunity can dip as well.

Progesterone: The Anti-Inflammatory Balancer

Progesterone helps regulate estrogen and promotes a calming, anti-inflammatory immune response.
Low progesterone — often due to stress or perimenopause — can leave the immune system overactivated and less effective.

Cortisol: The Stress Hormone That Suppresses Immunity

Cortisol plays a dual role:
It regulates inflammation, but chronic stress or prolonged high cortisol levels suppress the immune system, disrupt sleep, raise blood sugar, and interfere with melatonin production.

And when cortisol stays high for too long?
The immune system can become resistant to cortisol’s regulatory effects, leading to more inflammation.

Chronic Stress: The Silent Immune Saboteur

Harvard researchers have shown that chronic psychological stress increases susceptibility to infection.
It also depletes serotonin and GABA — neurotransmitters that buffer stress — which further increases anxiety and cortisol.

This is where intentional nervous system regulation becomes essential.

Simple Practices to Support Hormones + Immunity

Throughout the holiday season, I encourage my patients to practice:

• Acupuncture to balance hormones + regulate immunity

• Craniosacral therapy for nervous system regulation

• Medical massage or lymphatic drainage for circulation + detoxification

• Warm, cooked foods to support digestion and metabolism (especially in winter)

• Nutrients such as phosphatidylserine and L-theanine for cortisol balance

• Small daily nervous system resets like walking, breathwork, journaling, or meditation

  DHEA: A Key Hormone for Immune Resilience

  DHEA naturally declines with age but plays a powerful role in immune function.
  It counteracts cortisol, reduces inflammation, and enhances immune cell activity.

  While DHEA is available over the counter, I don’t recommend supplementing blindly.
  Proper hormone testing ensures the right dosage — and prevents overtreatment.

  Hormone Therapy, Nutrition & Herbs: Building the Immune Foundation

  Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can restore immune resilience in women experiencing the shifts of perimenopause or menopause. Research shows that estrogen and progesterone therapy:

  • Increase B-cell activity

  • Improve T-cell responsiveness

  • Strengthen overall immune function

  Alongside HRT, supportive foods and herbs can naturally nourish hormone balance:

  Hormone-supportive foods

  • Flax, pumpkin, sunflower, sesame

  • Eggs

  • Wild salmon

  • Cruciferous vegetables

  • Non-GMO soy in moderation

  Herbs such as

  • Maca

  • Angelica root

  • Black cohosh

  • Vitex

  These can gently support estrogen and progesterone production, especially when guided by proper testing.

  My Ancient Chinese Medicine Secret

  for Cold + Flu Season

  After treating thousands of patients through winters, travel seasons, and school germs, I have one trusted formula that consistently stops early viral symptoms in their tracks:

  🌿 Herbal ENT (Yin Qiao–based formula)

  It contains powerful antiviral herbs used for centuries — and it works best when taken at the first sign of exposure, not once symptoms are full-blown.

  I always recommend keeping a bottle at home and a bottle in your travel bag during the winter months.

  To grab a bottle or schedule a hormone wellness consult, simply contact our office.

  Reflecting on the Year Ahead

  As we approach the end of the year, I encourage you to pause and ask:

  What are my non-negotiable wellness practices moving into the new year?

  Choose a few, sprinkle them throughout your week, and honor the way your body guides you.

  If you’re searching for meaningful gifts this year, consider gifting wellness to someone you love.
  It’s a beautiful way to support their healing journey.
  👉 Purchase gift cards here: Gift of Wellness

  Wishing you and your family a peaceful, healthy, joy-filled holiday season.

  With warmth and gratitude,
  Dr. Suzanne Tang & the Inspire Natural Wellness Team