Immune System Boosters

Rest and connect. You MUST take a media break from the coronavirus. Play music, take a bath and sing in the tub. This is my favorite song to sing to right before bedtime: Jennifer Berizan “In these arms, a song for all beings”.

Read a good novel, doodle or draw/paint, or maybe create a “crafts” night or “games night” with your family. Cook together. If you live alone, FACE TIME or SKYPE someone, reach out but not by text, by face. Check-in with each other, ask “hey, how are you doing?” not necessarily sharing the latest website link or video about the virus, but how the other person is FEELING.

Drop stigmas and be KIND to one another. Sneezing and blowing your nose or having a sore throat means MOST LIKELY you do NOT have the virus. Don’t give people the evil eye who are blowing their noses. Yes, they need to blow into a Kleenex, throw it out, and wash their hands or use sanitizer afterward, but remember the top three symptoms of the coronavirus are: FEVER (104.0), COUGH (dry), SHORTNESS OF BREATH. Panic and anxiety can make us feel short of breath. A simple test for SOB is to take a deep breath in and hold it for 10 seconds. If you can do that, then it’s highly unlikely you truly have SOB.

Exercise. the Coronavirus Crisis Center in Santa Clara is noticing that people with a higher metabolic rate are not as affected by the virus. Since the gyms are closed, we are fortunate enough right now that we can get outdoors and exercise. Being in nature definitely helps lift the spirits and raise serotonin, the happy mood hormone.

If you can’t get out, go to your I-phone or smartphone and download an exercise app. My two favorites are: “8 fit” and “7-minute scientific workout.” Put on some fun music and rock it out. Jumping up and down on a trampoline or as if you were on a trampoline, even if it’s for only 2 min. boosts lymphatics. Repeat several times a day and use large arm movements and large arm circles to stretch the ribs and nourish your joints.

Create a home sanctuary with healthy, clean air. I love aromatherapy oils. My favorite brand for the immune system and clean air is called “Thieves Oil.” I also put a drop in hot water and drink it throughout the day. “Valor” is for emotional strength, “Bergamot” lifts the mood, and “Lavender” is for relaxation and calming, especially at night. Please use member number 2267353 if you would like to support the facility’s not-for-profit, which has given to children with Autism.

Give your gut some love. Your gut health and your immune system are intricately linked, so keeping your digestive tract happy will, in turn, keep your immune system up and running. Make sure you’re eating a healthy, well-rounded diet based on real organic foods, going to the bathroom regularly to eliminate toxins, and healing any issues you may have.

Eat Fermented Foods. 80%-90% of the immune system is in the gut, so eat fermented foods. Another favorite probiotic for increasing microbial diversity, which aids in resilience against infections, is the megaspore probiotic.

Drink water. This is very important. One study is showing that simply by drinking water every 15 min. or so, you let the virus slip into the stomach, where the stomach acid kills it. Warm your water up; you can put grated ginger in it or peppermint leaves to make a natural calming and warming effect.

Rinse your nostrils with water by using a Neti pot in the morning and evening. You must first boil the water and then let it cool. Though each product will come with its own set of information on proper use and care, the FDA provides the following general guidelines for Neti pots: Leaning over a sink, tilt your head sideways with your forehead and chin roughly level to avoid liquid flowing into your mouth. Breathing through your open mouth, insert the spout of the saline-filled container into your upper nostril so that the liquid drains through the lower nostril. Clear your nostrils. Then repeat the procedure, tilting your head sideways on the other side. When done this way, sinus rinsing can remove dust, pollen, and other debris, as well as help to loosen thick mucus. Make sure to use hydrogen peroxide or bleach in the sink after doing a nasal rinse.

Give Your Body a Boost with supplements: 

Supplements are one of the most potent ways to give your body a boost and drastically improve its ability to fight off infection. Here are some of the most powerful immune-boosting supplements that I recommend taking:

• N-Acetyl Cysteine is needed to make antioxidants (namely glutathione) and has been shown to yield a significant increase in immune function. Take 1,200-1,800 mg a day.
• Vitamin D plays a crucial role in modulating immune system function and a deficiency can put a damper on your ability to fight off infection. You need 5,000 I.U a day. Do not do more unless your doctor is monitoring your blood levels.
• Andrographis is excellent in respiratory tract infections. I love the doctor brand I use.
• Vitamin C is a key antioxidant that plays an integral role in proper immune function, or take Liposomal Vit. C 2,000 mg a day minimum and up to 6,000 mg a day. I like liposomal Vit. C the best.
• Zinc stops viral replication and can reduce mortality by 27%. Take 30-50 mg a day.
• Selenium prevents viral replication. Take 200 mg a day.
• ACS silver has been shown to kill MRSA and SARS- use ½ tsp daily or use the nasal spray.
• Consider an IV of high dose vitamin C, which was used in China to help cases of infection. Also increasing your Vit. C intake will help buffer this raise in oxidative stress.
• Adrenal Adaptogenic herbs are those that help the adrenal glands during times of stress.

Other things to consider:

Food: if you are elderly and afraid to go into grocery stores or have relied on restaurants for most of your meals and are challenged at home cooking, try online shopping and healthy meal delivery systems. Stick to lower sugar or sweetener alternatives such as stevia, raw honey, and coconut sugar in your home cooking or a piece of fruit rather than junk food. 1 tsp of sugar depletes the immune system for up to 6 hours. For the San Francisco Bay area, I like Sunbasket.com

Avoid alcohol: If you must drink, switch away from wine which is laden with sugar, and have clear spirits: vodka, gin, or tequila. My favorite “health cocktail” is a hot toddy with scotch, a clove, and a drop or two of Thieves oil. On the whole, avoid alcohol, but under extreme amounts of stress, I understand it’s hard to take away all our vices.