Jump to content
IndiaDivine.org

Immunity Boosters

Rate this topic


Guest guest

Recommended Posts

Immunity Boosters

by Meg McGowan

home away from home: Spiritually_Speaking

Human beings have spent ages searching for immunity boosters--almost as long as

we have been seeking the fountain of youth. If living forever is out of the

question, we can at least lead death on a merry chase! Marry of the " new " immune

system enhancers have actually been rediscovered rather than invented. What is

new is the more specific information on the their benefits.

 

Garlic is perhaps one of the most ancient medicinal plants. The Egyptians fed

garlic to pyramid construction crews for strength. The Romans gave garlic to

both workers and soldiers, intending to affect both strength and courage.

Mentioned in Hindu writings, in works attributed to Hippocrates, and in a

medieval disquisition, garlic is enjoying a revival in popularity, which seems

less surprising than the fact that its virtues were ever forgotten. During

London's plague, garlic is credited with protecting households from the black

death. Similarly, stories are told of garlic-eating French priests who were able

to visit and minister to the sick during a later epidemic in London, while the

English clergy, whose diets were not fortified by garlic, were unable to expose

themselves without falling victim to the disease.

 

Through modern scientific study, garlic has been found to possess antiseptic,

antibiotic, and antiviral qualities. Some of its effect on the immune system,

however, may also be linked to its ability to lower stress. In Dr. John

Heinerman's book, The Healing Benefits of Garlic, he discusses evidence

presented at the World Garlic Congress, in the early part of the decade. Based

on information set forth by Dr. Richard Kvetnansky of the Slovak Academy of

Sciences in Bratislavia, Heinerman concludes that virtually all forms of raw

garlic would " exhibit anti-stress activity to varying extents. " A French

researcher claims specifically that garlic elicits a calming effect, as it

triggers release of the neurotransmitter serotonin, and in his book, Garlic for

Health, Benjamin Jau, M.D., Ph.D., cites significant results in a study done on

stress-beleaguered rats. The rats in the study that had been fed garlic

performed nearly two times better than the control group in a test for physical

endurance. Perhaps the answer to mystery of how the pyramids were built lies not

in the heavens, but under our feet, where the garlic bulb grows.

 

Garlic can be consumed in non-odor producing capsules, but don't overlook its

potential in the kitchen. Much of the current inquiry into the benefits of

garlic was undertaken upon realization that the garlic-eating populations of the

world experience a level of resistance against disease. Simply put, remember

where it all began. Of course, garlic's strength is also its weakness. As it

blazes its trail through the body, evidence of its power remains in the air.

Garlic applied to the skin, even on the soles of the feet, will be exhaled in

the breath. The effects of eating garlic can be neutralized by chewing coffee

beans, parsley, raw apple slices, or baked beet root. Alternatively, finely

chopped garlic, swallowed without chewing, greatly reduces breath odor.

 

Despite the new jargon, antioxidants have also been around for eons--like Norma

Jean Baker before she became Marilyn Monroe. She was still the same person,

someone just realized what she could do (and of course, intended to capitalize

on it), so he gave her a new name to go with the new image. Antioxidants include

many of the vitamins and minerals we grew up with, like A, C, E, iron,

magnesium, copper, and zinc, only they are now being recognized as having

greater potential than we knew .

 

Antioxidants function as a damage control team, limiting the destruction wrought

by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules with an extra

hydrogen electron. The electrons that are not paired seek partners, stealing

electrons from healthy cells and initiating a destructive cycle. Under ideal

circumstances the body is able to keep the number of free radicals in check

through its own antioxidant production. When they are not kept in check, the

results are illness and aging. Free radicals have been implicated in diseases

ranging from cancer to rheumatism, from heart attacks to senility. Although some

free radicals occur naturally in the body, we are also bombarded from without,

through exposure to or consumption of: radiation, asbestos, carcinogens, toxic

pesticides and herbicides, air pollution, heat, smoke, stress, and alcohol,

among others. The irony of modern life is that we are exposed to ever increasing

numbers of free radicals in our environment, while our diets are

deteriorating--effective antioxidant nutrients are processed out of our foods.

 

There are still many theories as to which supplements are best. Vitamins C, E,

and A are firmly established as immune system enhancers. Debate continues,

however, over effective doses (most sources recommend amounts much greater than

the rda guidelines, though vitamin A can be toxic in high doses), and the best

form in which to make these nutrients available to the body. Some experts

suggest that vitamin A is best taken as an individual supplement, rather than

taking beta-carotene, because not all people are able to convert beta-carotene

well. Others tout the additional antioxidant benefit of beta-carotene apart from

its vitamin A function.

 

Elizabeth Hiser, Nutrition Editor for Eating Well magazine, claims that

beta-carotene isn't actually any more beneficial than its other carotenoid

relatives which also act as antioxidants. For maximum health benefits, she

recommends " eat[ing] the widest possible variety of fruits and vegetables.

There's no way in the foreseeable future that this exquisitely complex chemical

structure could ever be reproduced in a laboratory and put into pills. " Recent

studies seem to be in agreement that antioxidants may be most effective when

taken together in a balanced formula. Each appears to contain elements which

complement another.

 

Bioflavonoids, for example, are useful in their own right, but are also required

in order for the body to properly assimilate vitamin C. Bioflavonoids (also

called vitamin P), are also considered to be potent antioxidants. Like vitamin

C, they are water-soluble and must be taken on a daily basis. Quercetin,

hesperidin, naringin, rutin, citrin, flavones, flavonols, and silymarin are all

bioflavonoids. Proanthocyanidins have recently come to the forefront of the

biflavonoid family. Also known as pycnogenols and leucoanthocyanins, they were

first extracted from pine bark and later, from grape seeds of the species Vitis

vinifera. American Health claims that pycnogenol is 50 times more powerful than

vitamin E in neutralizing free radicals, has no side effects and remains in the

body for 72 hours.

 

Herbal immune-modulators are also gaining recognition. Echinacea has nearly

achieved household name recognition. Less familiar are: Picrorhiza kurroa, an

alpine herb which protects the liver; Astragalus membranicus, a Chinese tonic

herb which replenishes bone marrow; Tabebuia impeteginosa (Pau D'Arco), an

antioxidant which increases red blood cell count; and Uncaria guianensis and

Uncaria tomentosa ,(two species of Cat's Claw), Peruvian herbs which have

anti-tumor properties. All are immune system enhancers. A trio of mushrooms is

also proving to have immune-stimulating properties--maitake, reishi, and

shiitake.

 

The Block Medical Center in Evanston specializes in building up patients' immune

systems, focusing on cases of cancer. Dr. Keith Block combines Eastern and

Western medicine, his underlying premise being that supporting the immune system

through proper nutrition can not only prevent cancer, but aid in recovery, not

just from the illness but from radiation and chemotherapy as well. His patients'

success stories suggest that he may be right.

 

A macrobiotic diet forms the base of his regimen, which includes vitamin and

herbal supplements, as well as stress management techniques and exercise. Block

creates tailor-made programs for his patients, an important aspect since

individual needs for antioxidants vary, and excessive doses can actually cause

fatigue. When taking large doses of supplements, or dealing with potentially

toxic herbs, it is important to deal closely with a knowledgeable health care

professional. Block puts supplements in their place, however. To him they are

just what their name says, supplements. " Food is undoubtedly the foundation, " he

says. " You can't compromise on a healing diet when it comes to cancer, and you

can't cancel out harmful dietary habits with supplements. "

 

As our bodies are called on to do more with less support, information on how to

keep ourselves equal to the task will become increasingly valuable. Too often,

however, small, flawed, or inconclusive studies receive extensive media

coverage. It is important that we evaluate the information we are presented with

and keep an open mind.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...