Note: This article was written back in 2009, long before the current situation. However, it still contains a lot of great tips for supporting your immune system.
As threats of devastating diseases of epidemic or pandemic proportions swirl around us, our natural protective instincts kick in. We question “If we were to have an outbreak of Avian Flu, Swine Flu, Anthrax or any other potentially catastrophic illness, what can I do to protect myself and my family?”
According to our local epidemiologist who is in charge if there were a pandemic or epidemic, Dr. John Lee, we need to prepare ourselves for this possibility. It’s better to be prepared and not need it, than to not be prepared and be immersed in the center of it with no plan and no supplies. I have interviewed with both Panhandle Health and Dr. John Lee and was impressed with their preparedness and foresight into this matter.
My interviews revealed that if there is an epidemic or pandemic in this area, we will be sequestered to “Alternative Treatment Centers” to protect the public from further exposure. These areas will be large facilities such as school auditoriums, large enough to handle both the infirmed and the workers. Access to hospitals will be limited to other emergencies so as to protect those who had heart attacks, were in an accident, etc. from now having to fight a flu as well as deal with their other emergency condition. Makes sense.
You also have the option to self-quarantine. To keep yourself confined to your home until the threat has subsided enough for you to feel safe. If you choose that option, you better be prepared to have enough food to last 2-3 months! If you are sick and self-quarantined, you will not likely receive medical care from anyone. So you need to be prepared to handle that as well.
The best preparation you can make, however, is with your own health. Your own strong immunity should be the number one focus – prevention is easier than the cure! To discuss this matter we have to look at what you need to be doing to strengthen your immune system, and what you need to stop doing that is compromising your immune health.
First, let’s discuss what we do that interferes with proper immune function. Stress. Chronic stress, sudden high stress, and in fact any stress lowers immune response. We all have stress, especially in these trying times, however, it’s our response to stress that we have the most control over. Our adrenal glands help us cope with stress. They represent a significant part of the “fight or flight” response. Stress is interpreted as a fight or flight response, calling on our adrenal glands to respond. The problem is that the adrenals were designed for occasional dramatic responses, and not for a long term stress response. This chronic condition weakens the adrenal glands, limiting their response over time, making the ability to cope more difficult. Other things that weaken the adrenal glands include caffeine, sugar, alcohol, and limited salt intake. When the adrenals weaken or “fatigue”, they don’t step up to the plate in response as well and your ability to cope with stress goes down. The less you cope, the more you experience stress, and the weaker the adrenals get. It becomes a viscous cycle. Stopping the intake of caffeine, sugar, and alcohol and adding good salt with all of the normal mineral co-factors (such as Redmond Real Salt, Celtic Sea SaltÒ or Himalayan Sea Salt) help.
Sugar is also an immune suppressant. By several mechanisms in the body, sugar suppresses immunity. First, it raises the insulin level. This inhibits the release of growth hormones from the pituitary gland – a hormone that regulates the immune system. Sugar also competes with vitamin C in the cells. Vitamin C is needed to phagocytize (or gobble up) bacteria and viruses. With a high level of sugar in the body, Vitamin C function is inhibited. Sugar is also seen as a toxic foreign agent by the body due in part to the industrial contaminants normally in sugar from the refining process. This triggers a continuous immune response to deal with the toxic load, further weakening it. According to Linda Allred, only 6 teaspoons of sugar decreases immune function by 25%, 10 tsp by 50% and 24 tsp by 92%!
Many medications suppress immune function as well. As we become more and more medication-dependent, we have weaker and weaker immune systems. Check the insert in your prescriptions.
Trans fats/hydrogenated fats decrease immune function by decreasing natural killer cell activity and proliferation. They also tend to block the absorption of the good fats such as olive oil, fish oil and coconut oil which have all shown to be beneficial by modulating the function of the immune cells. Essential Fatty Acids also have antimicrobial properties, and enhance cell membrane integrity which improves immunity.
Other factors which suppress or inhibit immunity include: lack of sleep, lack of exercise, overtraining, lack of quality protein in the diet and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals. Vitamins and minerals must be in a food form – not a synthetic form. Examples include vitamin A as palmitate, acetate or beta carotene, Vitamin E as d-alpha-tocopherol or mixed tocopherols, Vitamin C as ascorbic acid or calcium ascorbate. These are fractionated or synthetic forms which actually calls on excess body resources to utilize, thus actually weakening the body. Ascorbic Acid and d-alpha-tocopherol commonly thought to be vitamin C or vitamin E respectively, are actually only the markers to identify the presence of the vitamin in the food or plant, and are only a small part of the vitamin complex found in the food. The rest of the complex is missing, which actually misses the mark in proper nutrient response in the body. But that is a topic all of its own!
The best support for the immune system includes foods. Food-sourced vitamins instead of synthetic ones, and real foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables instead of depleted, pre-packaged foods. Foods high in essential fatty acids such as raw nuts and seeds, avocados and fish, meats (includes beef, chicken, fish, eggs) that are raised & processed free of chemicals and added hormones, and lots and lots of fruits and vegetables – the greener the better! Organically grown produce is not only free of chemicals, but higher in nutritional density.
Herbs which have strong immune modulating or supporting qualities such as Echinacea, Goldenseal, Cat’s Claw and many of the mushrooms such as Maitake, Shitake and Reishi are great. I would recommend you choose 4 different immune herbs, and rotate them on a weekly basis to prevent the body from adapting to them. I would also recommend strong quality herbs, such as those made from MediHerb or Standard Process which are available from natural health care providers.
One other important mineral in particular is calcium – in the ionizable (lactate) form. Calcium is needed by the T-Cells in order to function. Without it, according to a Scientific American journal article An Immune Portal the immune system won’t work. Calcium enables immunoglobulins to work and are part of the mechanism which controls apoptosis of the cell, a critical component in cell turnover, that if inhibited has a detrimental effect on immune function. Calcium also signals the immune response by calcium “waves” that pulse through the cell, issuing an intracellular call-to-arms to attack the pathogens in the body. A good store of calcium lactate is important in supporting immune function.
Want to know what to get to prepare for a pandemic or epidemic?
Calcium Lactate: Preventive and Active. A study by the American Society for Cell Biology found that ionized blood calcium levels were the single greatest predictor for survival from lethal infection. Calcium activates lymphocytic activity which is the body’s natural defense for “foreign invaders” such as bacteria and viruses.
Andrographis Complex: Preventive and Active. Contains a blend of herbs (Andrographis, Echinacea Angustifolia Root and Holy Basil) to support immune function. Acute infections. Prevention and treatment of colds, influenza and upper respiratory acute infections. Relief of the fever of influenza. Relief of mucus congestion. To boost immunity for any infection or disorder characterized by low immunity.
Oscillococinum: Homeopathic formula shown in numerous studies to reduce the severity and shorten the duration of flu. We have found that when it is taken at the first onset of flu symptoms, it generally knocks it out right away. If active flu, Insure Herbal works best to speed recovery.
Insure Herbal: Echinacea and Goldenseal Formula that supports the defense mechanism of the body during a cold or flu. It features the renowned American botanicals Echinacea root and Goldenseal root in a base of Red Clover flower, Burdock root, Ginger root, and other supportive herbs. It is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-parasitic and anti-fungal. Add 1 tablespoon to a bottle of water and sip on it throughout the day. Continue until 2 or 3 days after symptoms have disappeared.
© 2009 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
