This list is the result of an experience I had with my own immune system. I went to a dentist to have a tooth pulled and he insisted that I take antibiotics for a week. I resisted the idea, knowing how they affect the immune system. They are, after all, anti biotic. But I nodded.
The first day I took the drug, I felt my energy drop. At the end of the week I began to have severe bronchitis and sinusitis, digestive system problems, and yeast infections that resulted in urinary infections. It took me six months of intense work to get my immune system back to where it was before taking the antibiotics. During that time I used everything I had in my Immune System Enhancement toolbox.
Everything on this list is what I did, used, and drank during that time. It’s a long list and I didn’t do everything every day. You also don’t need to do everything every day, but doing some of the things every day will help you build a stronger immune system. I offer them in the hope that some or all of them may also help you strengthen your immune system.
Please note that this is information from my own experiences. Use your own discretion and know that your results may vary from mine. The information on this list is intended for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this article is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. I encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your own research and / or consultation in collaboration with your healthcare provider.
Activities:
1. Tai Chi – stimulates the internal organs, increases the flow of energy throughout the body and strengthens the immune system. In addition, it is mentally relaxing and is often referred to as “moving meditation.”
2. Walk – a 20 minute walk, preferably at noon, gives the body the sun exposure it needs for vitamin D. A brisk walk also strengthens the respiratory system with deep breathing, thus oxygenating the body.
3. Meditation – calms and relieves stress. If you don’t have a favorite method or don’t know how, guided meditations and visualizations are available on CD and as downloads.
4. Qi Kung – a Chinese method of moving Chi, or life force energy within the body, stimulating vital organs and supporting the immune system
5. Gardening – Putting your hands on the ground connects you with the energy of the Earth, which is very relaxing and relaxing.
6. Dry brushing – helps the lymphatic system to remove toxins from your body. Start at the extremities (hands or feet) and with the palm of the hand lightly brush towards the center in long, smooth strokes. For example, brush from wrist to elbow, then from elbow to shoulder. Make sure to brush all surfaces of the extremities and brush ONLY towards their center.
7. Deep circular breathing – When you feel tense, anxious, angry or any other similar emotion, you unconsciously begin to breathe shallowly. This reduces the amount of oxygen your body receives. Consciously begin to breathe deeply by emptying your lungs, then breathe in slowly and gently through your nose, drawing air to the bottom of your lungs. You should see your stomach stretch as you do this. If not and your shoulders are raised instead, you are breathing shallowly. (Women: Wearing a bra restricts your ability to fully open your lungs, so you may need to work harder on this or remove your bra.) Continue to draw air into your lungs, filling them from the bottom up. When your lungs are completely full, slowly release air from the top of your lungs to the bottom. Repeat.
8. Soak in a bath – Add a handful of Epsom salts to warm or comfortably hot bath water to flush out toxins created by depression outside your body.
9. Eat organic – The more organic food you eat, the less energy your body uses to fight the effects of chemicals in your food.
10. Drink PLENTY of pure water – to help your body rid itself of toxins, drink plenty of pure water (no chlorine, fluorine, or other chemicals)
11. Do not use dryer sheets or fabric softeners. – these products are loaded with chemicals, some of which are on the EPA Hazardous Materials list. The chemicals stay on your clothes and rub onto your skin when you wear the clothes. Everything that passes through your body enters your body. In addition, the vapors from these products are especially harmful to the respiratory system and can cause bronchitis, asthma, and other similar ailments. Instead, use baking soda to remove odors and soften fabrics, white vinegar to remove static, and wool balls in the dryer to remove wrinkles.
Modalities
1. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) Commonly known as “tapping,” this method alleviates the disruptions in the body’s energy system that are the cause of all negative emotions. Many previous studies have shown that emotions like anger and stress can negatively affect the immune system. It only takes a few minutes to feel relief using EFT. Instructions here: https://www.emofree.com/nl/eft-tutorial/tapping-basics/how-to-do-eft.html
2. Changing the lid – Research has shown that more than 90% of all conscious thinking is actually subconscious programming. This method works to reprogram your subconscious to those beneficial thoughts for you. Just change your thinking whenever you find yourself thinking negatively. It doesn’t have to be the opposite of negative thinking, just something that makes you feel happier.
3. The emotion code – Created by Dr. Bradley Nelson, this quick and easy process releases trapped negative emotions such as anger, fear, and sadness from the body.
4. Psych-K – This process rewrites the subconscious beliefs that you have that control more than 90% of your conscious thoughts. These beliefs can easily create emotional imbalances that compromise the effectiveness of the immune system. A certified physician can guide you through the simple yet powerful process in person or during a phone session.
5. Music – Specific sounds and rhythms affect us emotionally, some beneficially and others harmful, and emotions affect the immune system. There are CDs and music downloads that were created on purpose to calm and uplift emotions. Two of my favorite sources are Jonathan Goldman and David Gibson. His CDs and downloads are available online, as are many others.
Supplements
1. Elderberry extract – a full dropper in a glass of water every morning is my favorite way to start the day of supporting my immune system. My body even seems to crave it!
2. Vitamin D3 – Vitamin D3 deficiency is associated with increased autoimmunity and increased susceptibility to infections. I used to take vitamin C to support my immune system, but found that it was making my body too acidic and causing UTIs. A doctor told me to substitute for D3 because it is not acidic and is just as effective in supporting the immune system. Now I take D3 and I don’t have UTIs anymore.
2. Herbal extracts – There are many liquid herbal extracts created to help boost the immune system. My favorite is a few drops of a daily immune builder in a glass of water every day.
3. Herbal teas – Nothing calms like a hot cup of aromatic herbal tea. There are individual teas and blends available. I use Traditional Medicinals because I like their blends and because they are organic. My favorites to help boost my immune system are Throat Coat and BreathEasy.
4. L-lysine – It is an amino acid that has been shown to be effective in preventing and treating the herpes virus, especially cold sores. It has been called a viral retardant that deters the proliferation of viruses. L-lysine strengthens the immune system in the liver and helps in some of the most important functions of the organ. When taken with acidophilus, its effectiveness increases, according to a pharmacist who told me about cold sores and lysine years ago.
5. Probiotics – Although there are billions of types of probiotics in pill form, I prefer to eat my probiotics in yogurt. Whichever way you prefer, probiotics are an important part of a strong immune system. They improve the health of your digestive system and some say they help reduce allergies.
Essential oils
I use only the highest quality oils available. I make sure they are steam distilled, which means that no chemicals are used in the distillation process and therefore there are no chemical residues in the oils. They must also be organic and laboratory tested to meet therapeutic grade, the highest grade of oils.
1. Clove – highly antiviral
2. Incense
3. Idaho Balsam Fir
4. Tea tree oil
5. Oregano
Application methods: diffuse; apply directly to wrists, temples, neck, edge of ears, heart, and chakras; inhale directly; add 2-3 drops to your bath water (my favorite!); Apply a few drops to cotton balls and place them in the vents in your home and car.
Books
These books have been valuable to me in helping me learn about the relationship between the immune system and emotions / beliefs. All of these books are available on Amazon.com.
1. The biology of beliefs by Bruce Lipton
2. Develop your brain by Joe Dispenza
3. The emotion code by Dr. Bradley Nelson
Four. Can you heal your life by Louise Hay