Boosting Immunity Naturally: Walsh Natural Health

Taking good care of yourself with proper rest, nutrition, exercise and stress management is the best way to insure you will stay healthy through the fall & winter months.   Certain nutrients are especially protective of the immune system and there are a plethora of herbs that are antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal. There are many wellness formulas that combine herbs and other nutrients that one can take during the flu season to ward off potential problems. Homeopathy can also be taken as a preventative measure. At the first sign of flu, homeopathic remedies can be taken to shorten the duration and intensity of the flu. Below we will talk about how to keep in great bug-fighting shape using some of these methods. There is no need to take them all, but find one or two tailored to your specific tendencies for illness and stay well!

Important Nutrients for a Healthy Immune System

A Good Quality Multivitamin-This is the single most important nutrient you can take. A strong base of all of the essential vitamins and minerals is vital to all of your bodily functions, including the maintenance of a healthy immune system. Taking the drug store variety falls under the "save your money" category as they contain forms of vitamins that are not well absorbed by the body, fillers, colorants, and preservatives.  It is doubtful that this type of vitamin will actually improve your health.

Vitamin D-Vitamin D, the "sunshine vitamin", has been widely researched and touted for its ability to protect against many illnesses from viral infections to depression to cancer. Having an adequate level of Vitamin D in the body can help the body ward off disease. The best way to know if you are Vitamin D deficient is to get a 25-hydroxyvitamin D test at your doctor's office. Your target level of Vitamin D should be a minimum of 50 ng/ml and up to 80 ng/ml. Recommended daily intakes are now 1000-2000 IU's per day for healthy individuals, depending on what source you look to for information.

According to the Vitamin D Council, if your level is below 50 ng/ml, you should take 5000 IU's of D for three months and then be re-tested to see if your levels are adequate. Research has shown that children with inadequate Vitamin D levels are more susceptible to viral and other infections. The appropriate level of D for a child who is deficient is 1000 IU's for every 25 lbs of weight. There are also baby D drops available. It is recommended that infants get 400 IU's of D daily, and most infants do not get this amount in either breast milk or formula. Vitamin D is also a very inexpensive nutrient and great protection for the money.

Probiotics-These are the "friendly" bacteria that populate the gastrointestinal system. These bacteria ensure proper functioning of the gut and help fight illness and disease. Since much of the action of the immune system is in the gut, keeping this area of the body healthy is vital. Probiotics compete with pathogens for space in the gut. Our healthy intestinal flora can be disrupted by many things, most notably the use of antibiotics. Also affecting the balance of healthy flora are poor eating habits, chlorinated drinking water, stress, disease, antibiotics in our food supply, and alcohol consumption.

If you want to maintain health you must have a good amount of healthy bacteria in your system. Taking a probiotic is very good protection against any sort of virus, bacterial infection, or even fungal infection. Udo Erasmus, author and international authority on natural health, breaks open a capsule of probiotics each night to brush his teeth since most illness enters the body through the mouth and nose.

Vitamin C-This vitamin is well known for its importance in fighting disease and it plays a vital role in many immune mechanisms. A range of 1000-2000 mg a day is recommended for prevention of colds and flus in the fall and winter months. Children can take 500-1000 mg per day. Vitamin C can cause bowel disturbance in some people, so it is best to start with 500 mg and go up from there to test your tolerance. If you are actually ill, you can safely take up to 10,000 mg per day, up to bowel tolerance.

Vitamin A-This vitamin is essential to proper immune function. It plays an essential role in maintaining the skin and mucosal surfaces, the "first defense" level for the body. It stimulates several immune functions including enhancement of white blood cell function and increased antibody response. About 5000 IU's per day are recommended for prevention. Many multis, particularly the food-based ones, now have as much as 10,000 IU's of vitamin A in the form of beta carotene. If you are taking one of those you may be getting enough protection.

Zinc-Adequate tissue levels of zinc are necessary for proper immune function. A zinc deficiency results in an increased risk of infection. Zinc is involved in virtually every aspect of immunity. For general health, take 10-15 mg of zinc (will be part of a good multi) and when trying to resolve illness, 50-80 mg for men and 30-50 mg for women. Zinc competes with copper for absorption, so long term usage should be avoided.

Selenium-This trace mineral plays a vital role in all aspects of the immune system. It is vital to the development and expression of white blood cells. Selenium is also an important antioxidant that prevents free radical damage to cell membranes. Just 200 mcg of selenium per day will result in increased immune function.

Herbal Help for Prevention/Healing

Astragalus-This herb has been found to be exceptionally effective for the immune system. According to "Herbal Antibiotics" by Stephen Buhner, astragalus "increases the number of stem cells in the marrow and lymph tissue, stimulates their maturation into active immune cells, increases spleen activity, increases releases of antibodies, and boosts the production of hormonal messenger molecules that signal for virus destruction." Astragalus has an affinity to the lungs and respiratory system. Enough said!

Olive Leaf Extract-Olive leaf is a true antiviral compound. It has the ability to interfere with amino acid production for viruses, can inhibit the budding and assembly of viruses, and can penetrate infected cells and stop viral replication there. It is also effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, yeast strains, and fungi, so if a secondary infection develops (as often happens in severe cases of the flu), it can ward off problems from that as well. Due its effects, olive leaf can be used to speed healing from mononucleosis.

Echinacea-This herb stimulates the immune system, including its ability to increase white blood cell count. It is best used at the onset of a cold or flu and must be taken in large doses and frequently to be effective. Once fully symptomatic, this herb is not as likely to be effective.

Andrographis--Disorders such as upper respiratory infections, fevers, persistent sore throat, and a variety of infectious diseases have been treated using this herb in Asia for centuries. The prevention and treatment of the common cold is the most common use for this herb.

Garlic-Eat garlic raw, cooked or in capsule form to give the immune system a boost. Garlic is not just antiviral, but also is one of the most potent antibiotics in the plant kingdom. No other herb comes close to garlic in terms of its immune-potentiating power.

Elderberry-This herb contains compounds that can block receptor sites for certain strains of the flu virus, keeping them from infecting human cells. Flu strains can also send out enzyme spikes to dissolve the walls of healthy cells, allowing viruses to enter. Compounds in elderberry thwart this process, giving protection from the flu. Elderberry is good for treating sore throats, fevers, and upper respiratory issues. It can be found in liquid form or capsules.

Grapefruit Seed Extract-This bitter, concentrated extract is antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antiseptic and antimicrobial. It is very strong and therefore is not to be used for wellness, only when illness occurs. It must be diluted to be ingested. It is gaining popularity in industrial applications as an environmentally friendly cleanser and antiseptic. If someone in your home is sick and you want to keep phones and other surfaces protected, use a dilution of this to clean them.

Medicinal Mushrooms-Mushrooms have been used for centuries in Asia and other parts of the world to improve health and vitality. The polysaccharide content in mushrooms is responsible for a wide variety of immune-enhancing activities. Maitake, Reishi, and Shitake are most noted for their help in fighting disease, even illness as serious as cancer. These mushrooms are antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal. Taking a mushroom or combination of mushrooms to bolster immune activity will help prevent a variety of illnesses. An excellent immune enhancing formula is My Community by Host Defense, a blend of 17 different mushroom species.

Ginger-Ginger has long been a primary herb for fighting colds and flus. It is especially good for children in that it is safe at high doses. Its anti-cough action rivals that of codeine, it is a strong expectorant, it stimulates sweating to reduce fever and inflammation, and it relieves pain. It is also anti-cramping, anti-nausea and eliminates diarrhea, making it useful for flus accompanied by intestinal issues.

Wildflower Honey-Using a high quality honey as a regular part of your diet may provide extra immune protection due to the fact that the nectar in wildflower honey typically contains compounds found in many medicinal plants. It contains a plethora of vitamins and minerals, a total of 75 different compounds. It is effective in the prevention and treatment of colds, flus, respiratory infections, and depressed immune problems. Put some in your yogurt, tea or over fruit each day.

Ashwaganda, Rhodiola, Schizandra & Ginseng-Each of these herbs is an adaptogenic herb that can generally help balance the system and protect the body from stress. Any significant stress can weaken the defenses of the immune system. These herbs can be taken every day to keep the body balanced and maintain a proper response to stress. In this way, they can help protect against the flu and other illness.

Wellness Formulas-We have a number of wellness formulas that are a combination of some of the above-mentioned herbs and nutrients that are excellent for getting through the cold & flu season. There is a maintenance dose suggested for everyday use, as well as an increased dose if you feel an illness coming on.

Homeopathic Help

Each year, Boiron puts out a remedy called influenzinum that can be taken as a preventative measure against the seasonal flu, similar to a flu shot. Since it is based on the current year flu strain, it is usually not available until October. Many homeopathic practitioners find it to be more effective than the flu shot.

For those who have used homeopathic medicines in the past, you know that choosing one if you become ill is very specific and requires matching symptoms to a remedy. As a consequence, it would be difficult to list each of the recommended remedies and their symptom profiles here. You can, however, go to www.flusolution.net/remedies.htm to find an appropriate remedy if you become ill. Select the Remedies tab and page down to find the remedy best suited to your symptoms.

It is important to have a few remedies on hand should you become ill. Oscillococinum should be taken as soon as you begin feeling ill. I once felt the flu coming on and took several doses of this in a few hours and I was feeling better in 24 hours. Engystol, a combination remedy by Heel, is particularly effective when the symptoms include headache, chills and fever. I recently took it and was over my virus in half a day! Aconitum napellus can help with a sudden and severe onset of flu accompanied by great anxiety and fear, particularly if the illness seems to have come on from exposure to cold or wind. Ferrum Phosphoricum can help if aconite does not and the only symptom you have developed so far is a fever. Take 3 doses, one every hour. If relief is not achieved, then move to one of the remedies specific to your symptoms.

Essential Oils Keep Your Environment Free of Germs

Many of the therapeutic-grade essential oils are antiviral and can help keep your environment free of flu bugs. You can diffuse the oils into the air, dilute them in water to make a room spray, or dilute them to make a cleaning solution. The oils that have antiviral properties are as follows, so just choose one you like:

·        Bay laurel
·        Cinnamon bark
·        Clove bud
·        Eucalyptus (Globulus is the strongest for this purpose)
·        Lavender
·        Lemon
·        Ravintsara
·        Tea tree
·        Thyme

You can also use any of the above in a bath, as a chest rub, or for a foot massage. Always dilute the oils in a base oil or lotion for topical use.

Conclusion

There are many ways to keep healthy during the sick season. If you decide to use natural means to stay healthy this season, then I hope you have found some useful suggestions above!