Cold and flu season is just around the corner. Keep your immune system in great shape this winter.

The human body is continually faced with bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxins that threaten to cause disease and/or tissue damage. However, the immune system is always on guard to locate and fight these “invaders”, sometimes before the brain even knows they are present. In other English-speaking countries the immune system is known as the “defense system”, because this body system is constantly “defending” the body from “invasion”.

The first line of defense is the skin, and the second is the respiratory system. Here protective filter mechanisms and chemical reactions attempt to destroy the “invaders”. If they do manage to penetrate and enter the bloodstream, specialized cells, such as lymphocytes, destroy and dispose of them. When the invading organisms get past these defenses, there can be fever, inflammation and other reactions, which are part of the immune system’s way of neutralizing these organisms.

The immune system includes: the skin – the first line of defense against infection, which only occurs when the skin is broken; the tonsils and adenoids – located in the throat, they act as barriers to bacteria and viruses; the tear ducts – secrete tears, which wash away dirt and dust; salivary glands – saliva contains chemicals that resist infection; lymph nodes – produce white cells and antibodies (proteins that distinguish between the body’s own proteins and foreign proteins. Antibodies locate foreign proteins and destroy them); the thymus gland produces T-lymphocytes creating cell-based immunity; the  lymphatic system (also part of the circulatory system) – carries lymph, which gathers harmful bacteria, to the lymph nodes where it is destroyed; the  spleen – produces white blood cells and cleans unwanted debris from the blood.

The world is made up of increasingly difficult challenges for the immune system to handle. There seem to be chemicals and environmental pollutants everywhere and, of course, poor diet. Nothing depresses the immune system like white sugar or corn syrup, stress, smoking… and the list goes on. All of these factors plus many more keep the immune system from functioning in top form. Add emotional stress to these factors, and people often become physically ill.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR IMMUNE SUPPORT

THE ANTI-OXIDANTS – Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, Vitamins C and E, Glutathione and Selenium – Webster defines an anti-oxidant as “a substance that opposes oxidation or inhibits reactions promoted by oxygen or peroxides”. What does oxygen or air do to a silver or brass object? Tarnish it, of course. That is the oxidation process, and a similar kind of chemical reaction takes place in the body. Anti-oxidants can keep this process from taking place or can slow it down. They also protect the body’s cells from destruction and from free radical (damaging, scavenger molecules) damage and disease.

ZINC – a trace mineral essential for many types of healing, including wounds. It is important for a highly-functioning immune system.

SOME HERBS for the IMMUNE SYSTEM

Astragulus - a Chinese herb which increases energy and builds resistance to disease.

Burdock - nutritionally supports the lymphatic system.

Echinacea – a member of the sunflower family, used for building the immune system and cleansing the lymphatic system.

Goldenseal – contains alkaloids which favorably affect many parts of the body including the immune system, because of its antiseptic quality. (Should not be used for an extended period of time)

Pau d’arco – the bark of a South American tree; it nutritionally strengthens and balances the immune system.

SOME HOMEOPATHICS for the  IMMUNE SYSTEM

Aconite – first signs of a cold, sudden chills, shivering, fever.

Allium Cepa – colds, runny nose & watery eyes.

Causticum – hoarseness, loss of voice.

Belladonna – colds or flu, sudden high fever, red face.

Euphrasia – colds, red and sore eyes, sneezing, profuse watery nasal discharge.

Gelsemium – “flu-like cold”, tired eyes, wanting to sleep.

Hepar Sulphuris – noisy, “croup-like” cough.

Drosera – coughing from irritation in the trachea, worse when lying down

Bryonia – cough due to chest congestion and mucus

To your health,

Dr. Karen Purcell