Immune-boosting Natural Remedies

• What you can do for you and your family to boost your immune system
• Take note of the below offerings of normal day to day ingredients you need.
• Why you should wash your hands with normal soap
• Simple and cost effective immune boosting tea recipe

During this very challenging time, the stress alone can have a negative impact on your immune system.  We need to try keep our body and mind healthy so we can support and uplift each other.  Dr Brigitte Spitze, a homeopath who practices in the Fourways area, recently shared some wonderful information on what we can do, remedies that we can take, to boost our immune system as well as some other useful information which I would love to share with you.

Boost that immune system, wake it up and help it to work more effectively

Echinacea is known to boost the function of our immune cells and reduce the symptoms of upper respiratory infections.  It’s well-known as a remedy that prevents the common cold.

Zinc improves the function of the immune system, reduces the duration and severity of the common cold and upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. It’s suggested that you need more than 75mg/day so check your labels.

Vitamin C is an age old remedy that we all know is great for boosting the immune system.  It reduces the signs and symptoms of viral infections, stops excessive inflammation in the lungs and suppresses the reproduction and spread of the virus in the body.

Vitamin D is another vitamin that is known to reduce the signs and symptoms of viral infections.

Essential oils (top grade) such as tea tree oil, oregano, rosemary and clove are very very effective in their anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.  Make a spray and use it on your hands, your counters, your door handles and spray it in the air.  These oils are safe and can be used anywhere.  I make up a spray of 50% alcohol, 50% filtered water, 5 drops tea tree and 5 drops rosemary oil which I use in my practice and I’ve never had
a problem with any of the above.

Personally I find Olive Leaf Extract to be highly effective too in reducing the symptoms of colds and upper respiratory tract infections and I use it extensively on my own family.  It is a powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal herbal remedy.

Enhance your first line of defense
This is your skin.  Our skin has a very fine layer of oil on it that helps to keep the bugs out!  Use normal hand soaps and wash properly, getting into all areas for 20 seconds, at least.  By using alcohol-based hand sanitizers we break down the oils on the skin and make it more penetrable.

Furthermore, Dr Spitze explains that “Another barrier we have are the different microbiomes, on our skin, in our mouth, nasal passages, gut etc. These microbiomes consist of beneficial bacteria, that are either helpful to us or at the worst neutral. They can help prevent infections. Antibacterial (work against bacteria, not viruses) hand washes, or antiseptic hand washes destroy these beneficial microbiomes, making us more vulnerable.

A protective mechanism here would be using normal soap to wash hands with, applying a thin layer of a good cream to the nostrils, to augment the natural mucus barrier that exists within the nose, and using a herbal throat spray, or zinc lozenges, when in contact with many people.”

Let’s not forget the really good stuff

While we isolate ourselves and try comprehend what is happening in the outside world let’s not forget about ourselves.  Keep up with your exercise regime, take 20 minutes a day to practice meditation and go to bed at a reasonable hour to ensure you get enough sleep.  Long warm baths, walks in the park or reading a good book are other relaxing activities which will help keep your immune systems strong.

Then last, but most certain, not least….. eat healthy!!!  We now know that a large part of our immune system lies in our gut so good nutrition is very important.

VIRUS KICKING GINGER AND THYME TEA
1/2 a full fresh ginger root (peel if not organic)
Large handful of fresh Thyme
1 Lemon sliced (optional)
Honey (optional)

Method:
Slice the ginger root into thin slices
Rinse thyme well
Place all ingredients in a coffee plunger and fill with boiling water. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. 
Plunger allows the fresh ingredients to continue steeping as you enjoy this refreshing healthy drink all day long.  Top up with boiling water as you wish.