Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are central to immune tolerance, and it turns out a daily yoga practice is one way to support them. That finding — along with ideas about cytokines and immune balance — is central to my thinking on lifestyle recommendations.
Yoga and the Treg/Th17 Balance in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Gautam et al. (2023) studied rheumatoid arthritis patients who practiced yoga for two hours a day over eight weeks, and found meaningful shifts in immune cell balance: more Tregs, which produce anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and TGF-β, supporting more tolerogenic immune activity, and fewer Th17 cells — the cell type responsible for producing the inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-17 that contribute to joint damage in rheumatoid arthritis.
Having evidence behind why yoga supports immune health makes it easier to build a case for prioritizing a consistent daily practice.
Which Way to Shift the Th1/Th2 Balance
When a condition could benefit from shifting the Th1/Th2 balance, the direction that shift needs to go depends entirely on the condition. Increasing Th1 activity can be useful for cancer prevention or fighting an acute infection; increasing Th2 activity matters during pregnancy; reducing Th2 activity is the goal with allergies; and reducing Th1 activity is relevant for food hypersensitivity and ulcerative colitis. Many herbs can push the balance in the wrong direction for a particular situation — and I might recommend herbs deliberately, such as astragalus when the goal is to increase Th1 activity (Latour et al., 2021).
Alcohol and Inflammatory Cytokines
A systematic review and meta-analysis by Adams et al. (2020) found elevated inflammatory cytokines — IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, and TNF-α — in people with alcohol use disorder, even during withdrawal, though levels began to decline with longer periods of abstinence. The authors attribute this largely to alcohol increasing intestinal permeability, allowing more lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to cross into circulation. They cite research showing intestinal permeability and serum endotoxin levels normalizing after three weeks of abstinence, but caution that heavy drinking may cause longer-lasting changes to immune function.
Childhood Trauma and Adult Inflammation
Childhood trauma has been associated with a greater inflammatory response in adulthood (Murphy et al., 2025). For those have experienced childhood trauma, understanding this connection can offer a meaningful reframe: it can help explain why they might carry more inflammation than others, and why dietary changes that strengthen the Treg response, along with practices like yoga and meditation, could be particularly relevant for them.
The Takeaway
Immune balance isn’t a single dial — it’s several interconnected systems (Treg/Th17, Th1/Th2, cytokine signaling) that respond to lifestyle factors like yoga, alcohol use, and even early life experience. Understanding which direction an immune system may need to shift, and why, makes it possible to recommend more targeted interventions instead of generic advice.
The content of this blog is for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. Please work with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized guidance, particularly before starting or adjusting any herbal supplement intended to shift immune activity.
References
Adams, C., Conigrave, J. H., Lewohl, J., Haber, P., & Morley, K. C. (2020). Alcohol use disorder and circulating cytokines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 89, 501–512.
Gautam, S., Kumar, R., Kumar, U., Kumar, S., Luthra, K., & Dada, R. (2023). Yoga maintains Th17/Treg cell homeostasis and reduces the rate of T cell aging in rheumatoid arthritis: A randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 13(1), 1–13.
Latour, E., Arlet, J., Latour, E. E., Juszkiewicz, A., Łuczkowska, K., Marcinkiewicz, A., Basta, P., Trzeciak, J., Machaliński, B., & Skarpańska-Stejnborn, A. (2021). Standardized astragalus extract for attenuation of the immunosuppression induced by strenuous physical exercise: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, 18(1), 1–13.
Murphy, J., Healy, C., Mongan, D., Susai, S. R., Cannon, M., & Cotter, D. R. (2025). Developmental stage of childhood trauma exposure and markers of inflammation at age 24. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, 126, 225–234.
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