Because Life Becomes What Life Does: #Coronavirus or any #compromise

First – don’t panic – stress compromises an immune system. If you are healthy and take healthy measures most likely you will avoid the flu or at worst get a mild case so…

Not just the Corona virus, but any flu, or illness can be an issue for a compromised immune system. Regarding the latest Corona virus we don’t know how it is being spread, how to contain it, and how to defeat it, so the best line of defense is a strong and healthy immune system. When the immune system is strong you have a better chance of fighting it off and if you should get sick a speedy and safe recovery.

You may not realize this, but 70% of your immune system is in your gut and the bacteria or micro bacteria in your gut are unique to you. Living inside of your gut are 300 to 500 different kinds of bacteria containing nearly 2 million genes. Like a fingerprint, each person's microbiota is unique: The mix of bacteria in your body is different from everyone else's mix. It’s determined partly by your mother’s microbiota -- the environment that you’re exposed to at birth -- and partly from your diet and lifestyle. The bacteria live throughout your body, but the ones in your gut may have the biggest impact on your well-being. They line your entire digestive system. Most live in your intestines and colon. They affect everything from your metabolism to your mood and your immune system.

The white blood cells in your body fight off infections and the flu virus. White blood cells (WBC) are called leukocytes or leucocytes and they account for only 1% of your blood but their job is big. These cells protect the body against both infectious disease and foreign evaders. All WBC are produced and derived from cells in the bone marrow called hematopoietic cells.

Leukocyte or (WBC) your infection fighting cells increase when fighting the flu and/or some other diseases. When the number of white cells in your blood is higher than normal, it’s called leukocytosis.

In most cases leukocytosis is the result of normal bone marrow reacting to inflammation or infection. This is caused by stress, overexertion, seizures, anxiety, anesthesia, and of course inflammation, flues and disease.

Think of white blood cells as your immunity cells. In a sense, they are always at war. They flow through your bloodstream to fight viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders that threaten your health. WBC rise when your body is under attack from extreme physical stress caused by an injury or emotional stress as well as inflammation, labor or the end of pregnancy, smoking, or even extreme exercise.

White blood cells rush in to help destroy the harmful substance and prevent illness.

White blood cells are made in the bone marrow. They are stored in your blood and lymph tissues. Because some white blood cells have a short life of 1 to 3 days, your bone marrow is always making them. But just how does the body make white blood cells?

Lymphocytes create antibodies to fight against bacteria, viruses, and other potentially harmful invaders. WBC count is increased when we are under attack. However, a weakened immune system caused by illness or chemotherapy and radiation can destroy WBC and leave you at risk for infection. So a higher than normal WBC can mean the body is fighting an infection.

We also have a lymphatic system that helps the immune system stay strong. The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials. The primary function of the lymphatic system is to transport lymph, a fluid containing infection-fighting white blood cells, throughout the body. But unlike blood, the lymphatic fluid is not pumped. It is squeezed through the vessels when we use our muscles. This is why exercise and especially yoga is a healthy and natural way to improve immune functioning.

So if the lymphatic system and the WBCs are our line of defense when it comes to infections and disease how do we keep them strong and healthy? Well, just remember; an ounce of prevention is more than a pound of cure!

Diet, exercise, rest, sunshine, herbs, essential oils and de-stressing are the most natural and healthy ways to boost and protect the immune system. So here are some simple things we can all do to keep the body, mind and soul healthy and fit.

Your diet is your first line of defense. The only thing that will rebuild and rejuvenate the body is a healthy diet. Drugs (prescription, over the counter or illegal) are chemical compounds. There is nothing is drugs that supports the health of your body. Your body requires vitamins and minerals, fats, proteins and carbohydrates to keep it health and functioning. Think of it like a car. Put the right fuel in and it runs. Put the wrong fuel in and the engine dies.

Let’s begin with the microbiota in your gut. Did you know that as well as probiotics you need to get prebiotics? Think of prebiotics as fertilizer that helps the microbiota grow and probiotics as what helps the microbiota repair and renew. Prevention is always better than cure so some great prebiotic foods are bananas, cocoa, flax seed, oats, garlic and onion. Probiotics are needed when the immune system has been compromised by disease, antibiotics or other medicines. Good probiotic foods are fermented foods such as miso, yogurt, cheese, sauerkraut and pickles. Natural whole foods are the best way to get both prebiotics and probiotics as often times supplements are adulterated – not always doing what they purported to be. Just remember you are what and how you eat, so fertilize your gut with healthy bacteria!

Note when you cook food you often destroy its vitamin and mineral content. Make sure you eat raw and fresh fruits, vegetable and dark leafy greens every day. Raw foods contain and produce enzymes; the engine the body needs to digest, assimilate and eliminate food. Without enzymes we cannot break down the nutrients from our foods.

For the lymphatic system eat red foods such as berries, cherries, pomegranate, cranberries and especially beets; all of which are natural lymph moving and detoxifying agents.

Drink plenty of water, green tea and ginger tea to stay hydrated. Ginger is a natural antiviral herb.

Eat a healthy diet rich in alkaline foods and vegetables that provide a full range of vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Alkaline foods include fruits and vegetable and grains, such as bananas, sweet potatoes, apples, oatmeal and berries.

Include healthy fats in your diet.Omega-3 is essential to keeping your body healthy. Eat fatty fish, walnuts and pecans.

Exercise daily, including both aerobic and anaerobic physical activity. Any type of muscular contraction helps move lymph along, but yoga, with its emphasis on working every part of us, is especially effective. ...Conscious breathing can act as a lymphatic pump helping direct lymph through the deep areas of the body.

Get a massage; not only does it help you to relax and de-stress, massage therapy improves circulation and helps the body to detox. It increases the production of endorphins, serotonin and dopamine; neurotransmitters that improve our mood and enhance our immune system.

Get some sunshine! We evolved under natural sunlight. The best way and most direct way to get vitamin D is through direct sunlight. This should be done at noon when the sun is at its peak. Fifteen minute of direct sunlight is all it takes to get your daily does of vitamin D. So at lunch time take a fifteen minute walk in the sunlight. And don’t forget to open the windows and let in some fresh air. A breath of fresh air reduces pollutants, germs and stress!

Now we can use Lysol, Clorox or any other alcohol wipe to clean surfaces and we should wash our hands frequently as germs and viruses live on hard surfaces such as door knobs, sinks and counter tops. But there are other more natural things we can do to keep germs at bay.

Let’s start with essential oils. Essential oils are called the blood of the plant. They are full of nutrients and compounds that make them natural antibiotic, analgesics, antiseptic, antispasmodic and antiviral. There are some very complicated oils that should be used with caution. However, an oil that is relatively safe is lavender. It is antiviral and an antiseptic so a great oil to be added to sanitary wipes; and so are lemon, tea tree, and eucalyptus, cloves and cinnamon antiviral-antiseptic oils. Cinnamon was one of the oldest spices known to humans. The ancient Greeks and Romans used it to improve circulation, as an antiseptic and as a tonic for flu and intestinal infections. All of these oils can be diffused into the air or simply put a few drops of the oil on a tissue and inhale. Do not use them directly on the skin as they can cause irritation. Sprinkle the cinnamon spice on you cereal, in your coffee or on toast for a healthy boost. Use lemon based cleaner wipes for your house and out in public.

Herbs can be eaten or you can drink them in what is known as a tincture or nectar. When the medicinal part of plant is extracted it produces an intense form of essential vitamins and minerals. As an herbal practitioner I was interested in developing a formula to boost the immune system when under stress, traveling, or feeling a little under the weather. With much trial and error I developed my Doctor Lynn’s Pep Berry Rob – immune boosting nectar in a base of honey and natural flavorings. I also developed Damiana’s Nectar - herbal nectar in a base of honey and dark chocolate to improve mood, suppress the cravings for sugar and provide antioxidants such as those found in dark chocolate. For more information about the nectars and other health products http://www.doctorlynn.com

Briefly:

The purpose of Doctor Lynn’s Nectars is to promote wellbeing, including living a long life with radiant health, happiness, wisdom, physical vitality and adaptability, sexual vigor and response, mental acuity, anti-aging, love and compassion, and a harmonious relationship with all of life. The word nectar means the drink of the gods. It is the sweetest part of the flower, from which bees make honey. http://www.doctorlynn.com products page

Need a Vitality Boost? Try Doctor Lynn’s Nectars!

Everyone can use a great boost of energy for the body, mind and soul! Doctor Lynn’s Herbal Nectars to help keep you healthy, happy and present.

Doctor Lynn’s nectar are a combination of herbs kissed with honey, natural raspberry, wild cherry, blueberry and chocolate flavorings ; mystically crafted to boost and enhance your immune system, your sexual energy, lift your moods, help manage your weight and support your memory. Simply take a dropper full three times a day under your tongue for best results. Keep these out of the reach of children. They contain alcohol and some of the herbs may interfere with medication so always check with your primary physician before using supplements. To avoid the alcohol drop a dropper full of the nectar into a cup of hot water and drink as a tea. The heat of the water will evaporate the alcohol.

Pep Berry Rob Nectar– immune system need a boost? Pep Berry Rob Nectar is a combination of powerful antioxidant herbs to boost and strengthen your immune systems in a base of honey and natural raspberry and strawberry flavoring; perfect boost for your immune system when feeling a little off, while traveling, or when exposed to the flue. Be healthy!

Daminana’s Nectar – mood need a boost? a combination of mood boosting herbs in a base of honey, chocolate truffle and black cherry; perfect to give you a slight mood lift and to help you lose weight. When feeling the urge to cheat or needing to cut a sweet craving take a dropper full under the tongue. Damiana is known as the “sad mood “herb which means it lifts your spirits. When spirits are lifted we tend to stay true to a healthy and supporting diet; and did I mention that it is also great for enhancing sexual energy? These herbs mixed with chocolate are purported to act as an aphrodisiac because they help to lift your mood. Nothing improves sex like a positive uplifted attitude! Be happy!

True Blue – memory need a boost? True Blue is a combination of memory boosting herbs in a base of honey and blueberry flavoring. What would happen if you suddenly lost your memory? It’s hard to be present when you can’t remember anything. Science tells us that the magic in antioxidants is one of the best things we can do to give our memory a healthy boost. That’s why True Blue is chock full of antioxidants and sweetened with honey! Be present!

Conclusion: Just remember an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure. You cannot know with any certainty when, where or how disease, viruses, bacteria or illness will strike. We are all vulnerable when it comes to our health. So the best advice is to be forearmed. Pay attention to your health every day; body, mind and soul, and be grateful for your health for it is truly your greatest wealth.