Health | Are You Immune?
The winter holidays may be a distant memory, but the toll it has taken on our health may linger until the longer days of spring. We can start to feel the repercussions of our over eating, lack of sleep, and stress the holidays and winter months have brought by the coughs, colds and infections we are starting to see. It is no wonder this time of year brings on the highest incidence of depression, heart disease and suicide. What can we do to not only battle the stress and anxiety but to keep our immune system healthy?
The reasons to pay attention to your immune system are plentiful. It does much more than protect you from the occasional cold or virus. Your immune system is the backbone of your defense against a world of invisible toxins. You can therefore lessen the risk of all sorts of ailments: environmental allergies, asthma, headaches, autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer.
Stress, lack of sleep and an unhealthy diet can lead to a weakened immune system. Add alcohol and smoking and you’re setting yourself up for colds, the flu, and other infections and diseases. There are several ways to help support and enhance your immune system through healthy lifestyle choices as well as implementing select nutrients and herbs.
Top 10 List for Your Immune System
- The flu shot or the flu mist nasal spray is still available. You can get more information from the local health department or your medical practitioner. A popular homeopathic flu treatment is Oscillococcinum. This can be used to prevent as well as treat flu symptoms.
- Eating healthy and reducing exposure to cigarette smoke and your consumption of simple sugars, alcohol, caffeine and fats goes a long way. Instead, eat more whole grains, legumes, fresh fruits and vegetables, especially onions, garlic, blueberries, broccoli, carrots and oranges/grapefruit.
- Vitamin C is the best vitamin to help prevent colds and infections. Stress, fever and infection increase the need for vitamin C.
- Astragalus is an ancient Chinese herb that helps activate the immune system. I recommend it for people who seem to be getting sick a lot and feeling run down. It is also good for children who are having a bad winter and need to build their resistance.
- Elderberry (Sambucus nigra) has been used as a folk remedy for colds, flus and respiratory infections. When taken throughout the cold and flu season, or even at the first sign of a viral infection, elderberry extyract has the ability to prevent and even treat a virus.
- Olive leaf extract is my favorite for treating acute colds, flus, respiratory problems, and ear infections. This is a natural antimicrobial for all types of acute infections and can work as an antibiotic, antiviral, and antifungal.
- Western Larch comes from the Western larch tree which is ubiquitous throughout the western United States. It is the treatment of choice for ear infections, colds and flu in adults and especially children.
- Medicinal Mushrooms: Maitake, Reishi, and Shiitake are three Asian mushrooms that are terrific immune boosters. Each mushroom has a slightly different function but I think the combination works best throughout the winter season.
- NAC (N-acetyl-cysteine) is the acetylated form of the amino acid cysteine. It is a good treatment for allergies, bad colds, bronchitis and sinus infections.
- Sleep. Getting a good nights rest is truly the best medicine to help strengthen your immune health. It allows your body to increase circulating white blood cells and increase antibody production to strengthen its resistance against foreign invaders such as viruses, bacteria and fungus.
I believe the best approach is to use a combination of these products along with good food, plenty of water, sleep and hand washing. That way, these infections don’t have a chance!
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Deborah Breakell is a certified family nurse practitioner specializing
in women’s health. Debbie’s practice includes developing individualized
holistic treatment options for women at midlife. During the past 14 years
she has worked in women’s health and family practice with a focus
on the integration of conventional and alternative therapies.
Debbie currently works at Helios Integrated Medicine. For more information
or appointments, contact her at 303-499-9224.
