If you missed Part 1 of this series, check it out by clicking HERE!
Spring is in now full swing! The weather is staying warmer and the trees and flowers are beginning to bud! Such a beautiful time of rebirth and renewal. The only down-side to this energizing season with it’s gorgeous blooms and blossoms is the ever-present pollen floating through the air. This allergen’s nightmare sends many into a tizzy of puffy and watery eyes, sneezing and runny noses for many months.
That’s why it is immensely important to give your immune system the support it needs to dissipate any seasonal allergies or head colds you might be battling. In this last post I will share my final four tips to help boost your immune system.
9. TAKE GARLIC
Garlic is one of the most ancient medicinal herbs and has been used for both food and medicinal purposes for thousands of years. It’s usage dates as far back as the Egyptian era, was used in 18th century to protect from the ‘plague’ and was even used on the battle fields in WWII.
Today it is used to help prevent heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cancer, and is a powerful immune booster. Because it is filled with anti-oxidants, it helps remove free radicals and harmful toxins from your body. It also is a powerful anti-fugal and can be used to treat fungal infections such as ringworm, athlete’s foot etc. (1) (2)
So if you are looking to give your immune system a boost, take concentrated garlic as you would take an anti-biotic: twice daily for 10 days. Although raw garlic is best, I usually take capsules so I don’t scare my friends and family away. These are the garlic capsules I prefer to take:
Kyolic Garlic Formula 103 Immune Formula (200 Capsules)
TO BUY THESE GARLIC CAPSULES, CLICK HERE
10. ESSENTIAL OILS WITH DIFFUSER
I LOVE essential oils! An essential oil is considered the ‘blood’ of the plant and is derived from both plants and seeds. When you put a drop of this powerful oil in the palm of your hand and inhale it, you are soaking in all of it’s incredible healing benefits.
Essential oils have been used for their healing and medicinal properties for over 5,ooo years. The Egyptians were known for their extensive use in aromatic botanicals and were true trailblazers in the field of herbal medicine. We owe much of what we know today to their knowledge and innovation. (3)
What’s even better than just rubbing a drop of oil in your hands is putting a few drops in a diffuser! This is seriously INCREDIBLE for when you are dealing with a compromised immune system and/or allergies.
I bought THIS Diffuser and it works well and isn’t too expensive:
To Buy THIS Diffuser, Click HERE
Now these diffusers (pictured below) are a bit more expensive but very high quality and SO WORTH IT!!!! I would highly recommend either one:
Young Living Rainstone Diffuser
To BUY THIS Diffuser, Click HERE
Young Living Essential Oil Home Ultrasonic Diffuser with Dew Drop Design Tear Drop
To BUY THIS Diffuser, Click HERE
The best essential oils for clearing nasal congestion and boosting immune function are:
1. Eucalyptus oil:
To BUY Eucalyptus Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
2. Thieves oil:
To BUY Thieves Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
3. Peppermint oil:
To BUY Peppermint Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
4. Lavender oil:
To BUY this Lavender Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
5. Lemon oil:
To BUY Lemon Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
6. Pine Oil
To BUY Pine Essential Oil, CLICK HERE
11. IMMUNE BOOSTING TEAS
Herbal teas are incredible for boosting your immune system. My favorites are Ginger and Astragalus:
Traditional Medicinals Organic Ginger Tea, 16 Tea Bags (Pack of 6)
To BUY Organic Astragalas Root Tea, CLICK HERE
12. PROBIOTICS
Last but certainly not least is probiotics.
There is a powerful system of communication between the immune system in the gut wall and what lives inside it, which is our gut flora. There is much research being done on how our gut flora communicates and directly effects the state of our immune health. (4)
“This raises the possibility that the mammalian immune system, which seems to be designed to control microorganisms, is in fact controlled by microorganisms (5).”
As I mentioned in a previous article, about 90 percent of all cells in our body consists of our gut flora. That means we are mostly comprised of these powerful micro-organisms.
They are responsible for regulating our digestion, immune function, absorption of nutrients, and keeping our gut-lining strong, and intact. Doing this, in order to keep toxins from leaking into our bloodstream.
Therefore, it is of utmost importance that your gut flora is healthy and balanced. The good beneficial gut bacteria should far outweigh the pathogenic bacteria.
My top probiotic recommendations are:
Natren Healthy Trinity Dairy Free Capsules, 30-Count Click HERE
Thank you so much for reading! I hope you found these tips helpful.
Sources:
3. Essential Oils in the Ancient World: Part 1. www.youngliving.com/blog
4. Interview with Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride
5. Nature Reviews Immunology 9, 313-323 (May 2009) | doi:10.1038/nri2515
6.International Immunopharmacology Volume 5, Issue 6, June 2005, Pages 1091–1097
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