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.
Namaste
May you always go with health, happiness
and peace
Doctor Lynn
