Building natural immunity on GBI and beyond “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure,” said visiting medical herbalist Mary Allan as she began her talk here a few days ago. Initially she planned to speak on safe and effective ways to support and strengthen the immune system as we move towards autumn and winter, the seasons when colds and flu are on the increase. Then she added to the description: “especially this year, with a virus pandemic looking possible”. By the time she arrived, a global pandemic had been declared. In the world’s present dire straits, an ounce of prevention is worth a tonne of cure. Mary shared enormously valuable advice on whole plant medicine for whole body immunity. This "special edition" post is based on her talk and on her workshop the next day and other research. The situation changed quickly during the weekend Mary was here. If the talk and workshop had been planned for this coming weekend, we would have cancelled them. More than half of the cells in our bodies are not human – they’re microorganisms, some beneficial, others harmful or deadly. The immune system, our ally in resistance to infection, is made up of entire organs and vessel systems as well as individual cells and proteins. Defences are found in bone marrow, the thymus gland, lymph nodes, tonsils, spleen, bowel, the skin, mucous membranes and more. Infection is the invasion and multiplication of a pathogen, while inflammation is the body's protective response against infection. Supporting the immune system is perhaps more important now than ever before. Herbalism is holistic, and Mary covered nutrition, hygiene, sleep and stress management as well as herbs to bolster our natural immunity. Herbs The following herbs are valuable for immunity and for protection and healing of the respiratory tract. Often the only difference in using herbs for prevention or for treatment is the size and frequency of the dose. Mary advises that these herbs have been helpful in viral infections, and whilst the Covid-19 virus is a novel virus that we haven't treated before, we can take an educated guess that they will help. Fresh garlic is active against all sorts of bacteria, fungi and viruses. It’s a warming herb that can be taken daily with food – 1-3 cloves daily, raw or lightly steamed. For acute treatment take raw on toast or mixed into honey, or make a jar of garlic-infused honey and use off the spoon or in drinks. To prepare, place garlic cloves in a jar, pour honey over to more than cover the garlic, cover the jar tightly, label. Let sit two weeks, then strain and store in a cool, dark place. If you know your stomach can handle it, you can even swallow half a garlic clove like a pill. Fresh ginger benefits every organ system in the body. It’s also warming and helps to strengthen the body. Ginger is a powerful anti-inflammatory and as well as aiding expectoration (expelling from the throat or lungs), it soothes digestion, helps reduce joint pain and has many other beneficial effects. You can eat ginger with honey or as tea, or slice and suck! For a cold or cough: squash a clove of garlic and a piece of ginger, put in a cup with chilli to taste, and pour boiling water over. Turmeric is warming as well. It’s very anti-inflammatory to the whole body. Turmeric is most effective if eaten along with fat, so put into food cooked with oil or in salad dressing, or make golden milk: mix a heaped teaspoon of turmeric in milk with some black pepper and honey (honey is optional), then heat. Viruses reside in the nose. A traditional Indian treatment is to place turmeric powder into a pot of boiling water and inhale through the nose at the onset of symptoms. [To really clear out your nose, check out the yoga cleansing technique jala neti with special breathing.] Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia roots for immune system stimulation, powerful blood cleansing, anti-infection and anti-inflammatory effects. If your mouth feels tingly, you know it’s good quality. It’s mainly used as a preventative, but if you feel like you’re getting sick, take a high dose immediately and every two hours. Sometimes this is enough to nip an infection in the bud. The most effective forms of the root: * a strong infusion – steep covered for much longer than tea. For prevention, drink 1 cup per day. If you have symptoms, a cup every two hours may knock out the bug. If it doesn’t after 1-2 days, switch to other herbs or continue to prevent secondary infection. * decoction (mince the root, bring to boil, then simmer 15-20 minutes) or tincture: 5-20 ml a day, up to 30 ml for colds and flu. The dose in echinacea supplements is too small to be of any real value Photo from Nature’s Creation: Knowledge and Guidance through Healing Plants by Jennifer Michelsen Studies have found that green and black tea are also useful preventatives. Elderberry has been used traditionally for respiratory infections and lab studies suggest it has antiviral properties. Elderberry syrup is a popular herbal medicine for colds and flu. Lung support Mullein tea: Pour 1 cup boiling water over 1-2 tablespoons of fresh or dry mullein leaf, cover and steep several hours, strain and sip. It’s palatable and soothing, moistening and expectorant, especially helpful for dry coughs. Plantain (ribwort) is another soothing herb with many virtues for the body! For coughs, narrow-leaf plantain is better than broad-leaf. Use as a tea, a tincture, a juice or made into herbal honey: place dried plantain into a jar, pour honey over to cover, stir to coat the herb, add more honey, cover tightly, label. Let sit two weeks, then strain. Stored in a tightly covered jar in a cool, dark place, it will keep indefinitely. Thyme has antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial properties, and is a powerful expectorant, especially helpful when a secondary infection is present. Include in cooking for as a preventative; for acute treatment make tea or take a tincture. Fresh or dried thyme can also be made into a vinegar: put leaves and soft stems into a jar, cover with apple cider vinegar, let soak 3-4 weeks, then strain. Important: If you are on medications or pregnant or have a serious health condition, check with a herbalist to be sure the herbs you use aren’t contraindicated, particularly when taken in higher amounts. Food quantities are unlikely to cause major issues. Nutrition and Supplements Fire Cider is a delicious sweet spicy brew to take through the cold and flu season for either prevention or treatment. It’s a herbal vinegar made with horseradish or turmeric, onions, garlic, ginger and chilli, and unrefined naturally fermented apple cider vinegar (with the “mother”) poured over all. Let sit four weeks, strain and add honey. You can find recipes online. Search for Rosemary Gladstar, who coined the term Fire Cider decades ago Zinc is required for the activity of over 100 enzymes in the body. Sources are pumpkin seeds, shellfish, mushrooms, spinach. Or take around 15 mg daily as a preventative. If you get ill, increase to around 35 mg daily or follow instructions on the label. Don’t take too much. Selenium boosts natural killer cells. It’s found in oats, raw garlic and Brazil nuts. Vitamin A is important for health of the mucous membranes, which line many body cavities and tubular organs, including the gut and respiratory passages. Beta carotene, which the body can convert to Vitamin A, is found in yellow and orange vegies. Vitamin C is found in fresh herbs, citrus and vegies. For a supplement, lypo-spheric may give better results, but it’s expensive. Take 1000 mg daily for prevention, 3000 mg if you get sick. For non-lypospheric vitamin C (tablets or powder), take 1000-5000 mg daily in divided doses as preventative, the higher end and even more if you get sick. High doses can cause loose bowels; reduce dosage if this occurs. Vitamin D3 is very important for immunity and much more. Because of so much time indoors, 40-70 percent of people may be deficient in vitamin D. Sources are fish, salmon, sardines, eggs, dairy. Supplementing with D3 is advised. Practitioners often recommend at least 5000 IU daily.Be sure not to take too much – check that your GP isn’t already giving you vitamin D, also called cholecalciferol. You can also ask to be tested for your D3 level. Vitamin E is needed for maintenance of the immune system. Found in nuts, seeds, vegetable oils and leafy greens. Carotenoids boost natural killer cells. Found in brightly coloured vegies. Essential fatty acids – omega 3, 6, 9: raw nuts and seeds including hemp seeds and flax seeds, fish oil. Olive leaf strengthens the body’s immune response. Make a tea or take a supplement. Honey is immune boosting and good for colds or sore throats. Probiotics such as kimchi, sauerkraut, miso, tempeh, kefir and yoghurt can add back helpful bacteria and boost the level of immune cells in the mucous membranes of the intestines. Eat a variety of mushrooms to strengthen immunity. Mushroom supplements can be helpful to strengthen immune health. Hygiene “Be careful, not fearful,” said Mary. Both personal hygiene and community and public health measures are essential. Hand sanitisers are effective but if overused they disrupt the natural healthy microbiome of the skin. Washing hands with soap and water is best. Air: Use a diffuser or burner to disperse essential oils at home, especially antimicrobials such as eucalyptus, pine, tea tree and thyme. Traditionally herbs such as white sage were burned to purify the air. Bleach as a disinfectant: Clean surfaces with soap and water first. Use 1 part bleach to 99 parts cold water. Use bleach with caution, follow safety guidelines, use gloves and keep away from eyes. Alcohol as a disinfectant: 70% dilution. Alcohol is flammable and should be used in well-ventilated areas away from naked flame. Also keep in mind that viruses dislike the sun and thrive more in cold and wet conditions. Sleep Herbs, nutrition, supplements and hygiene can only go so far to compensate for lifestyle shortfalls. For your body and immune system to function optimally, a regular routine that includes plenty of sleep should be top priority. Do everything you can to ensure adequate rest. Over time, being run down can suppress the immune system and leave you susceptible to infection and disease. When needed, use nourishing, relaxing herbal teas, tinctures or tablets. If you tend towards anxiousness or sleeplessness, be sure to have quality herbal sleep medicines on hand. * Nervine relaxants (calming and restorative): chamomile, holy basil, lemon balm, lavender, withania (ashwaghanda) * Herbal sedatives (stronger than the relaxants): kava, valerian, California poppy, hops Stress management The immune system is even affected by the mind. Stress-induced immune suppression makes us much more susceptible to catching whatever’s going around. Take a deep breath, reframe your situation, practice meditation, go for a brisk walk (or a swim!), whatever works for you. Laughter, friendships, relaxation and making music all improve the immune system. Even better, all at once! A verse from the Tao te Ching
Imagine a small country with few people. Its inhabitants are content. They enjoy the labour of their hands and do not waste time inventing labour-saving machines. Since they dearly love their homes, they are not interested in travel. Although they have boats and carriages, they are rarely used. Although there may be weapons, nobody ever uses them. They are content with healthy food, pleased with simple clothing, satisfied in snug homes. People take pleasure in being with their families, spending weekends working in their gardens and delighting in the doings of the neighbourhood. Although the next country is close enough that they can hear their roosters crowing and dogs barking, they are content to die without ever having gone to see it. This is the time!
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Archives
August 2021
|