Immunity

A weakened immune system leaves the body vulnerable to virtually every type of illness and disease, especially when you move between climates, countries and time zones. Even the shift from late summer to autumn is always marked in the health calendar by the arrival of a new generation of viruses causing coughs and colds.

Although the immune system can recognise viral strains it has encountered and beaten off before, it will not recognise a virus which has mutated - and even the smallest genetic change will trick it into thinking a brand new species, for which it has no antibodies, has landed. While a strong immune system will cope with this attack, one that has been weakened by poor nutrition and too much stress will struggle to get you back to good health.

Fatigue, lethargy, repeated infections, slow wound healing, allergies, thrush, colds, and flu are all signs that the body’s immune system is functioning below par. A healthy adult, for example, should suffer no more than two colds a year so if you do succumb more to every passing infection, you definitely need to start supporting your immune system.

Almost everyone has now heard of the best-selling herbal remedy, echinacea, which in Germany, is prescribed by doctors and pharmacists to help fight colds and flu. It is effective, as long as you don’t overuse it, but I find another less glamorous herb even more effective. Goldenseal, which was once used to treat syphilis and gonorrhoea, was first discovered by the Aborigine healers in Australia. It will not only help prevent an infection if you are feeling low, but can reduce the inflammation of mucous membranes once you have a cough or cold.

Most people will also reach for the vitamin C tablets at the first sign of a splutter. A quarter of a century ago, the US Nobel Laureate, Linus Pauling, caused an outcry among medics by claiming this nutrient, taken in high enough doses, could alleviate the symptoms of the common cold. This debate continues but what we do now know is that many of the symptoms of a cold have nothing to do with the cold virus itself, but are caused by the body’s own immune response to that alien invader and it is this secondary problem that vitamin C can help counter.

What happens is that during a cold, the mucous membranes that line the nose become charged with the white blood cells that release large amounts of chemicals designed to destroy the virus. Unfortunately, these substances also attack the cells of the mucous membranes themselves causing a runny nose and other disturbances. So the idea behind giving antioxidants such as vitamins C, A and E to tackle a cold is two-fold. Firstly, these nutrients have now been shown to support the immune system but, just as importantly, they weaken the immune attack on the body’s own tissues.

Poor nutrition is the most common cause of a weakened immune response. Foods that are good natural sources of the immune-boosting antioxidants include kiwi fruits which contain more vitamin C than oranges, Chinese cabbage which is an excellent source of vitamin A and avocado, known as nature’s own superfood because it provides the optimum healthy ratio of fat, carbohydrate, protein and vitamin E. Foods that are rich in vitamin B6, which boost the production of antibodies to fight infection, will also help. These include bananas, carrots, lentils, tuna, salmon, wholegrain flour and sunflower seeds. You also need to step up your intake of dietary zinc by eating more seafoods, eggs, turkey, pumpkin seeds and crabmeat.

How To Beat A Cold & Boost Immunity
*Goldenseal: It tastes vile and will stain your fingers bright yellow, but Goldenseal is highly effective. Take in liquid or capsule form. If you prefer liquid, you can buy 100ml of wild-crafted goldenseal (this simply means it is harvested naturally from the wild, not cultivated which herbalists believe gives it even greater potency).

*Do not self-dose with this herb if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure.

*Antioxidants: The body cannot store vitamin C but must rely on your dietary intake. To prevent winter infections, take 1,000mg a day. To boost the immune system and ward off colds, you’ll find it hard to beat a product called Well-max by Country Life which combines all the antioxidants, plus antibacterial grapeseed extract, goldenseal, Siberian ginseng, astragalus, schizandra, shiitake and reishi mushrooms, plus bee propolis, garlic, echinacea and the liver-supporting herb, Pau d’arco.

*Echinacea: or Purple coneflower, is the top-selling herb in the US. Introduced into medical practice in 1887, modern research into how it supports the immune system began in the 1930s in Germany where, by the mid-1990s for example, it was bring prescribed by doctors and pharmacists 2.5 million times to fight colds and flu. Said to work by increasing the numbers and the activity of white blood cells, it also increases the production of interferon, a chemical that is critical to the immune system response. At the onset of a cold, take 20 drops of echinacea tincture, 3-4 times a day for 10-14 days. To prevent a cold, take three times a day for six to eight weeks but make sure you have “rest” periods or the protective effects will diminish.

*Maitake: One of the more exotic immune-boosting supplements to get noticed in the West is the Maitake mushroom (Grifoloa frondosa) which grows to the size of a basketball deep in the mountains of Northeastern Japan. Highly prized for its immune-boosting properties, it has been shown to stimulate the immune response by activating the T-cells which are the body’s own defence against viruses and cancer cells. Recent animal studies revealed that combining maitake extract with chemotherapy treatment resulted in a 99% tumour shrinkage in just 14 days. Studies in the US, Japan and the UK have also shown that giving maitake extract to HIV patients can help protect the body’s disease-fighting T-cells which the HIV virus normally destroys. Said to improve liver function too, it contains powerful polysaccharides; chemicals known to boost the immune system and is currently in clinical trials with both HIV and cancer patients. The recommended dosage it between 3-7g per day.

*Cat’s Claw: A herb which grows in the rain forests of South America, the active constituents are the oxyindole alkaloids which stimulate immune function. Not to be taken by pregnant or lactating women, it has both anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties making it useful for wound healing. To make a therapeutic tea, boil 1g of cat’s claw root bark with 250ml (1 cup) of water for 15 minutes. Cool, strain and drink three cups a day. Alternatively, take 1-2ml of tincture twice a day pr 20-60mg of standardised extract daily.

*Aloe Vera: A veritable storehouse of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes and numerous other ingredients, aloe vera acts as both an immune-enhancer and a natural antiseptic. Recommended for serious immune deficiency conditions, including Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, drink a quarter of a glass each morning and increase the dosage by drinking the same amount again at the end of the day if you feel a cold or other infection threatening. Find a product that is high in the mucopolysaccharides, which bolster the body’s natural defences.

*Grapefruit Seed Extract: An antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal agent, recommended for stomach bugs, throat and ear infections, you should only take this when you feel ill. If travelling to any country where you are worried about food hygiene, take 75mg three times a day, for a month before you go and another month after your return. The active ingredients are called Proanthocyanidins, a class of nutrients which belong to the flavonoid family and whose primary function is to work as an antioxidant in the body, mopping up the free radical toxic byproducts of metabolism. Available in tablet or better still, liquid form, take 15 drops in a glass of water, 2-3 times a day.

*L-Arginine: An amino acid that promotes wound healing and which supports the immune system. Dairy, meat, poultry and fish are all good natural sources. Levels drop during times of increased stress making supplementation important. It works by stimulating the thymus gland, which in turn stores the disease-fighting T-lymphocytes until they are needed to fight infection. Also used to treat sexual dysfunction in men, the recommended dose if 3-6g a day.

Warning: Some researchers believe it can trigger a herpes infection so avoid if you already suffer from cold sores.

*Probiotics: Beneficial bacteria that help boost immune function are called probiotics. They alter the balance of microflora in the gut by inhibiting the growth of harmful bacteria and favouring those which aid digestion and promote a healthy immune response to infection. Frequently used to repopulate the digestive tract after a course of antibiotics has upset this balance, research has shown they can prevent up to 50% of the infections that are common after antibiotic use. They can also be used by travellers to avoid diarrhoea. Found naturally in fermented foods, yoghurt is a traditional source although many products contain no live bacteria at all. Even those products claiming to provide millions of live bacteria may not work since these can be destroyed by the acid in the stomach. Seven Seas has now developed a capsule with an enteric coating, which protects the bacteria through the stomach so they reach the place they are needed - the colon. If you prefer to take a powder, take 8g per day of recognised strain such as Lactobacillus acidophilus.

*Liquorice: Particularly effective when the immune system is suppressed by stress or steroids, this herb has been shown to have an antibiotic effect against throat infections, candida and herpes simplex which causes cold sores. It can relieve a dry, irritating cough and is also a good lung tonic. Only take it when you feel ill; chew one 200-300mg tablet, three times a day, before meals.

*Glutamine: Critical for both normal brain and immune function, this is the natural form of the amino acid glutamine which is amazingly versatile. It is also a component of glutathione, which is the body’s primary antioxidant, present in virtually every single cell. It is often given to burns patients to promote wound healing and is now available in a powerful combination with anthocyans, which also remove the free radical scavenger molecules which would otherwise pollute the body and lower its natural resistance to disease. The new product, Rejuvan Forte is already widely used in Europe. It is a unique combination of two very powerful immune-boosters, glutathione and anthocyanidins. The latter are found naturally in red/blue foods such as red grapes, beetroot and berries, which are also very good for the lungs.

*Herbal teas: You can easily make your own immune-boosting herbal teas. Try ginger and cinnamon, which you can make by putting four large slices of ginger and a small stick of cinnamon into boiling water. Allow to “brew” for 15 minutes. Cat’s Claw tea from the Uncaria Tomentosa plant is another powerful immune system stimulant; drink it sweetened with apple or blackcurrant concentrate.

*Kombucha Tea: The Kombucha or Manchurian “mushroom” is also now widely used to boost immunity. The name, though, is misleading because it is not a mushroom at all but a large, flat, pancake-shaped fungus-like growth that is a combination of health-promoting lichen, beneficial bacteria and yeast that has long been used in Asia as a natural energy booster. It is not eaten either but brewed into a strong antiviral and antibacterial tea after it has been left to ferment for a week or so in a mixture of water, sugar, apple cider vinegar and green or black tea. Widely used to help fight immune-related diseases such as Chronic Fatigue and Multiple Sclerosis, (MS), some devotees claim it can even help reverse the ageing process. Kombucha Tea Networks - they exist in the UK, Australia, South Africa and the US - can get you started with a handbook and starter culture.
US readers can find out more about Kombucha in the United States, including purchasing details, from the following site: www.anahatabalance.com

*Garlic: The use of allicin, the primary active agent generated by garlic, for general well-being is on the increase and its role as an antioxidant has been widely investigated. Health Perception have a supplement called Allimax, which provdes the body with a guaranteed 100% yield of allicin. Each Allimax capsule contains 180mg allicin powder and, because it is absorbed so rapidly, it is unlikely to cause any repetitive odour.

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