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 Article of the Month - February 2006
Boosting the immune system
At this time of the year, the body has different demands that need to be met. The body faces colder, damper conditions when we're outside, and sudden changes in temperature from outside to inside, dryness (usually the air we breathe is too dry with heating systems). Thus our bodies will need to be involved in taking up the nutrients we need to survive winter. In addition to this, the people around us can catch colds, chest infections, viral diseases, etc. and so our immune systems need to be in top shape to repel any contagions in the air around us.
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With supermarkets providing virtually the same fruit and vegetable selection all year long, worries about certain vitamin deficiencies appear to be a thing of the past. Or is it? Did you know that many supermarkets freeze produce for months to keep a year round supply? The process of freezing and storing fresh produce for long periods, in addition to the radiation treatments to control pests, can destroy the natural goodness in foods. Combined with the depletion of minerals in the soil and intensive farming techniques, our food today just isn't as nutritious as it used to be.
Thus, prepare for winter by helping your body to remain strong
- Homoeopathically, you can boost your immune system with remedies such as thymus gland (manufacture T cells which are key to your immune system), interferon (a substance produced by the body when attacked by bacteria and viruses), and kali phos (boosts the immune system). Nosodes, or the remedies made from diseased tissues, are excellent preventatives if there is something particular going around at the time. Consult your local homoeopath; you can find one using your embody directory online at www.embodyforyou.com.
- You can also use the penicillin remedy, the potentised version of the antibiotic without the side effects (wiping out the good bowel flora) for treating and preventing bacterial infections.
- Hepar sulph, pyrogen and gunpowder are good at the first signs of infection. The potency depends on the severity of the infection and the energy of the person.
- The Narayani remedy range carries some wonderful immune boosters. They are more difficult to get hold of, but the homoeopathic pharmacies should be making efforts to get hold of these. For more information, please contact me.
- When taking remedies for boosting the immune system, take them for a week and monitor the difference. I do not advise taking the remedies above for more than one month without consulting a homoeopath.
- Vitamin C is a must. The most absorbable form is the ester form. I personally like brands like Viridian, Lamberts, Solgar and Higher Nature. Look them up on the internet; they all have excellent philosophies and standards. We do not realise that the difference between some cheaper brands of vitamins is that many are in a form such that the body excretes most of it before it can break it down and use it. The brands I have mentioned are very particular about creating accessible supplementation. Please note that I do not work for these companies and am not paid to recommend them to you. For anybody concerned about what levels are right for you, consult your nutritionist and check the recommendations on the packaging. Contacting the supplier may also be of some help. There are mixed views about what is a safe level of vitamin C. Personally, I take 1g or 1000mg daily. If I have an infection or cold, I can take up to 8g daily. However, that is my body and you should satisfy yourself by asking the relevant professionals and researching vitamin C before you take more vitamin C than recommended. RDA for Vitamin C is only 60mg. This is what is required to prevent scurvy. Did you know that one cigarette destroys 25-100mg of Vitamin C?
The best natural sources of vitamin C are in fresh fruit like kiwis, oranges, acerola (the richest source), strawberries, melon, cranberries, guava and papaya. Other good sources are dark leafy vegetables like kale and spinach, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, potatoes, turnips, tomatoes and peppers (sweet and hot) and liver.
- Vitamin A is important because it helps the epithelial tissues (skin and mucous membranes), that is the surface of the skin, conjunctiva, mouth, nose, throat, lungs, digestive tract and urinary tract (all the bits exposed to the outside) to grow and repair itself. Without vitamin A, the cells grow dry and stiff. It enhances immunity. Carotenes, which are easily converted to vitamin A, are antioxidants (thus helps to prevent cancer), thus are very beneficial. Note that carotenes are preferable to Vitamin A as they can be turned into vitamin A on an as-needed basis, and there is no toxicity associated with it building up in the system. Beta carotenes, or preformed Vitamin A, are vegetable based (as opposed to vitamin A or retinol which come whole from fish liver oils, kidneys, eggs, milk and butter) and are converted to vitamin A in the liver. Beta carotenes are found in yellow fruit and vegetables, dark leafy vegetables and carrots.
- Echinacea herbal tincture stimulates the production of more white blood cells. Unless you have a severe auto immune disease, then I suggest taking this as instructed on the label. I recommend Bioforce herbal tinctures or you can order them from Napiers, Neal's Yard or Galens. Herbalists will quite happily recommend 50 drops in a little water three times daily. As a homoeopath who believes in the minimum dose, I think that 15 drops morning and night will suffice nicely unless during disease. During infection, I take 50 drops in a little water three to four times daily. Again, consult your herbalist about what is suitable and safe for you.
- Water. Even the dry parts of the body have water in them. Every cell of the body contains cytoplasm, a kind of gel that holds the parts of the cells within its membrane. This gel has a water content. Blood, lymph, urine, exhaled breaths, faeces, sweat, even our nails contain water. As part of easy transportation of nutrients and minerals, a good level of hydration is essential. 8 glasses or 2 litres of good quality water daily is required.
- Garlic is an antibacterial agent. It repels parasites, from worms to the germs that cause all kinds of infections. Add a few cloves of garlic to your cooking for a wonderful flavour and to help protect your body.
- Probiotics such as lactobacillus acidophilus help to maintain the balance of good and harmful bacteria in the bowels, but can also reduce the chances of bacterial and fungal infections. If you tend to suffer from athlete's foot or middle ear infections, taking probiotics can help strengthen your resistance. See your local health food shop for good supplements.
- Zinc supplements are useful in stimulating the immune reaction and reducing infection.
- Multivitamin supplements help to give the body what it needs to function well and are especially useful where an optimum diet is not achieved. Vitamin B is essential for healing and for the immune system.
- Antioxidants are vital if you want to prevent disease. The term free radical is used all the time, but most people have no idea what it is. Free radicals are molecules or atoms that are unstable and damage the body's cells. They are implicated in heart disease, cancers, arthritis, infections, eye degeneration, etc. Smoking, over-exercise, too much sun exposure and normal body functioning create free radicals. Hence a combination of antioxidants, which safely remove free radicals, is necessary. Antioxidants work best together in a kind of chain reaction manner. Well known antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, co-enzyme Q10, Siberian ginseng, minerals like zinc, copper, selenium and manganese.
- A healthy diet containing fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, good quality proteins and healthy oils gives your body the raw materials for optimum functioning.
- Exercise keeps your lymph moving and helps you get rid of toxins and keep your body oxygenated and healthy.
How to resist infection
- " In addition to the above, keep your body and surroundings clean. There is no need to go overboard with the bleach, use an environmentally friendly cleaning product to keep your kitchen, utensils, plates, bathroom, etc. clean. Personal hygiene is also important. Brushing your teeth morning and night, showering or bathing everyday may seem obvious, but it all helps to keep you free from infection. If you are prone to infections, why not try using tea tree oil shower gels to help repel harmful agents.
- Avoid sugar. There is nothing more than bacteria, fungi and viruses appreciate more than a good helping of sugar. They are attracted to and thrive on sugar, so cut it down. Sugar addiction is probably the most common unacknowledged problem today. As a sugarholic myself, I have spent many years fighting this and can only advise that knowledge, abstinence, learning to say no nicely, homoeopathic, herbal and nutritional support are things that are working for me. Look out for more on sugar addiction over the next few months.
- Detoxify your body. The body's energies are directed in getting the best functioning possible. If you are loaded with toxins, then body is diverting valuable resources into trying to eliminate them or manage them within the body. Hence, eating plenty of organic produce and meats, drinking good quality water and exercise are good ways to avoid toxicity. However, medications, our environment today (be it city pollution or farmers' chemicals), the additives in foods, etc. take a toll on the body and annual detoxification is a good idea. Try nux vomica 6C at night and carbo vegetabilis on mornings for two weeks. When detoxifying, always make sure that your bowels are functioning well, as there is no point detoxifying if there is no path for the toxins to take out of your body. Added fibre and water should help move the bowels. See my January 2006 article on detoxification for further information.
References
Prescription Alternatives by
Earl Mindell
Prescription for Nutritional Healing by
Phyllis Balch and James Balch
Prescription for Herbal Healing by
Phyllis Balch
Health Defence by
Dr Paul Clayton
Please be advised that the above are only my personal views and there is no guarantee that the above will prevent you from becoming ill. Any measures you take are at your own risk. Consult a nutritionist, herbalist and homoeopath before taking high doses of supplements, herbal tinctures and some homoeopathic remedies. This information does not replace medical advice and you should consult your doctor if you have any concerns about your condition.
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