Allowing the Body to Heal Itself

Here are a few natural remedies for some common health challenges:

Allergies - Freeze dried nettle, acidophilus, black walnut (for parasites)

Asthma - Ephedra/licorice (anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic, decongestant, etc)

Bed Wetting - Horsetail tea (bladder), chamomile tea (emotional stress)

Colds/Coughs - Zinc, Emergen'C, eucalyptus/tea tree oil, pulsatilla

Constipation - Aloe vera juice, senna leaf tea, licorice, more greens in diet, less dairy

Diarrhea - Acidophilus, charcoal, more greens in diet

Ear Infections - Garlic oil (warmed), collodial silver (kills bacteria)

Fever - For infant-- white willow bark tincture enemas or (sometimes) let nature take its
course. Fever is a sign that the body is killing the infection and taking care of the problem all on its own. Just watch the temperature.

Flu- Boiron Oscillowcocinum, bathe in apple cider vinegar and wrap around calves, zinc, Apple cider vinegar drink (8 oz water 2t ACV, pinch cayenne, 2t honey)

Headache- More water, peppermint oil (on temples and base of neck)

Heartburn- If frequent, Hawthorne berry tea, more greens in diet, low dairy intake

Hyperactivity (ADD/ADHD) - Hyland's calms forte, lower sweet or refined foods, GLA, magnesium, exercise, B-Complex vitamin supplement

Immune System (weak) - More greens in diet, acidophilus, garlic, echinacea, Emergen'C

Sinus Congestion - Collodial silver (sprayed or dropped up nose), bathe in ACV (20 min and increase water intake afterwards)

Stomach problems - Licorice-- stomach pain reliever (if long term, take DGL licorice), aloe vera juice, peppermint tea

Strep Throat - Xylitol (kills virus in mouth), ACV drink, Emergen'C, honey lemon tea, Echinacea, mullein and lobelia at onset

Tonsillitis - Zinc, acidophilus, garlic capsules, Echinacea, honey lemon tea (soothes and heals throat), ACV drink, bathe in ACV

Boosting Your Child's Immune System

Echinacea - this natural herb will enhance your own immune system. Many research studies have proven its effectiveness.

Vitamin C - this simple vitamin can fight off invading germs. Younger kids up to age 6 will benefit from around 250 mg per day. Older kids and adults can take 500 mg per day. Available as a powder, chewable, or capsule.

Fruits and vegetable supplement - the immune-boosting properties of nature's food is remarkable. If your kids won't eat enough fruits and vegetables, try juice with fruit and veggie supplements.

Zinc - this mineral is a safe and effective way to boost the immune system. Children up to age 6 years can take 10 to 20 mg per day. Older kids and adults can take 20 to 40 mg per day.

Probiotics - the common name used for this is Acidophillus. These are healthy bacteria that live in our intestines and help with our immune system. The best species of probiotics are lactobacillus and bifidobacteria. Available as liquid, powder, and capsules, children and adults can take as directed.

Avoid weakening your own immune system.

Source: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp#T042501

Bad Habits

1: Overdosing on sugar: Eating or drinking 100 grams (8 tbsp.) of sugar, (the equivalent of about two cans of soda), can reduce the ability of white blood cells to kill germs by forty percent. The immune-suppressing effect of sugar starts less than thirty minutes after ingestion and may last for five hours.

2: Excess alcohol: Excessive alcohol produces an overall nutritional deficiency, depriving the body of valuable immune- boosting nutrients. Second, alcohol, like sugar, consumed in excess can reduce the ability of white cells to kill germs. Amounts of alcohol that are enough to cause intoxication are also enough to suppress immunity.

3: Food allergens: After many encounters with food allergens, the intestinal lining is damaged, enabling invaders and other potentially toxic substances in the food to get into the bloodstream and make the body feel miserable. This condition is known as the leaky gut syndrome.

4: Too much fat: Obesity can lead to a depressed immune system. It can affect the ability of white blood cells to multiply, produce antibodies, and rush to the site of an infection.

Source: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp#T042501

Feeding Your Immunity

Vitamin C: Vitamin C supplements are inexpensive to produce, and it’s available naturally in many fruits and vegetables.

• Take around 200 milligrams a day
• Eat at least 6 servings of fruits/veggies a day
• If taking supplements, space them throughout the day (not one large dose)

Vitamin E: Antioxidant and immunity booster

• Stimulates the production of natural killer cells (destroy cancer and germ cells)
• Enhances the production of B-cells producing antibodies
• May reverse some of the decline in immune response commonly seen in aging
• Implicated to lower the risk of cardiovascular disease
• Cut the risk of heart attacks by 50%
• You need 100-400 milligrams per day, depending on your general lifestyle

Carotenoids:

• Reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease by interfering with how the fats & cholesterol in the bloodstream oxidize to from arterial plaques.
• Protect against cancer by stimulating the immune cells called macrophages to produce tumor necrosis factor, which kills cancer cells.
• The body converts into vitamin A

Bioflavenoids:

• Aid the immune system by protecting cells against environmental pollutants.
• Protect the cell membranes against the pollutants trying to attach to them.
• Lessen the formation of microscopic clots inside arteries, which can lead to heart attack and stroke

• If you eat the recommended 6 servings of fruits/veggies a day, you will get your daily dose of bioflavenoids.

Zinc:

• Increases production of white blood cells that fight infection and helps them fight more aggressively.
• Fights against cancer and helps white blood cells release more antibodies.
• Zinc supplements have been shown to slow the growth of cancer.
• It is best to get zinc from your diet (aim for 15-25 milligrams daily)
• A great source of zinc for infants and young children is zinc-fortified cereal.

Garlic:

• Stimulates the multiplication of infection-fighting white cells
• Boosts natural killer cell activity
• Increases the efficiency of antibody production
• Can act as an antioxidant that reduces build up of free radicals in the bloodstream
• Lower incidence of intestinal cancer
• May play a part in getting rid of potential carcinogens and toxic substances
• Heart friendly food - - keeps platelets from sticking together and clogging blood vessels

Selenium:

• Mobilizes cancer fighting cells

Omega 3/Fatty Acids

• Oils act as immune boosters by increasing the activity of phagocytes, the white blood cells that eat bacteria
• Protect against damage from over-reactions to infection.

Source: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/4/t042500.asp#T042501

10 Ways to Boost Your Immune System

1: Drink your lemons. Lemon is the ideal food for restoring acid-alkali balance. Drink freshly squeezed lemon juice in water, or add salad dressings (in place of vinegar), baking or cooking, helps maintain the body's internal "climate" at a pH which supports healthy bacteria instead of the viruses and harmful bacteria which thrive in more acidic environments. Apple cider vinegar is an alternative

2: Give your body an herbal boost. Hundreds of herbal supplements and tinctures exist to give the immune system additional support during the winter. Essential oils, fresh herbs and whole food remedies are always preferable over packaged herbs or supplements, since they have a much higher potency and frequency and your body absorbs more of their value.

3: Get a full night's sleep. Everybody's different. Whatever your personal sleep requirement is, get it! Sleep has been linked to balanced hormone levels, keeping weight down, clear thinking and reasoning, improved mood, and vibrant, healthy skin.

4: Eat plenty of protein. Protein is a building block for a healthy body, mind, and immune system. Diets that are low in protein tend to be high in carbs which convert readily to glucose, spiking blood sugar and stressing the pancreas and the immune system.

5: Drink plenty of water. You should be drinking, in daily ounces, half your body weight in pounds. (i.e. Body weight in pounds, divided by 2 = number of ounces of water per day.)

6: Stop drinking coffee. Caffeine robs your body of minerals and vitamins, and it dehydrates you. A mineral supplement helps to offset caffeine's damage.

7: If you do only one thing to boost your immune system, eliminate white sugar. You will see noticeable results in your energy levels, weight distribution, immunity and your ability to think clearly. Many holistic nutritionists consider sugar a drug for its impact on the human body; some practitioners are known to prioritize eliminating sugar from the diet over recommending that people quit smoking. Healthier sugars such as agave and stevia do exist, but avoid artificial sweeteners; they are even worse than cane sugar.

8: Stock up on raw fruits and vegetables for their antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber and enzymes. Dark-colored produce (berries, kale, and broccoli) tends to be higher in flavonoids, polyphenols and other antioxidants.

9: Spend some time out in the cold. Exercise can make a noticeable difference to your health and happiness by releasing endorphins. Most of us spend 90% of our lives indoors, inhaling dubiously filtered air and other people's germs, so take every opportunity to get outside. Time spent outdoors in the cold also stimulates the thyroid gland.

10: Nurture yourself. Make sure you take time to yourself, spend some time with friends, and indulge yourself in a massage, a hot bath, or an energy work session when you want one. Our bodies respond to our emotions - if you're feeling harassed and anxious, it can manifest in a sore throat or a cold. Create a space within yourself and your living environment for harmony, self-love and joy (giving thanks, prayer and blessing the abundance in your life and of the world around you helps). Pay attention to warning signs of sore throat or exhaustion so you can keep them from getting worse. Take a "mental health day" every few months to make sure your emotional needs are met. When you're happy, you're far less likely to get sick.

Source: http://www.suite101.com/content/10-ways-to-boost-immune-health-a8274