Six Supplements you can start taking now to boost your immune system
Dr. Bill Bastian
Six Supplements you can start taking now to boost your immune system. Right now, regardless of your social status, race or religion, you are most likely partaking in an unprecedented collective experience of isolation for protection of self and of community. While none of us would have consciously chosen this situation, we nonetheless can choose how we navigate through it and what we get out of it.
As a doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I daily impart to my patients the importance of finding balancing in multiple aspects of living. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your hunkering experience. I encourage you to dedicate this time to reshaping and rediscovering yourself. Claim new healthy habits, gain deeper insights into yourself and fortify your body and soul so when it’s time to emerge you can spread your new found wings and soar into a life of health and vitality.
There is no one thing to take to boost your immune system. It is a whole body experience that builds through time by eating right for your body, taking some key supplements, proper rest and exercise. Here are six things for you to consider:
1.Herbs: Jade Wind Screen / Yu Ping Feng San -This three herb formula contains astragalus (huang qi), white atractylodes (bai zhu) and edebouriella (fang feng) which combined tonify the immune system and protective Qi of the body. It has been in use for over 800 years. This formula is great to build the immune system and is often used between seasons to keep allergies in control as well (Du, et al 2013). Now is an ideal time for Yu Ping Feng San. A custom herbal formula will enhance the overall effects by adding in herbs your body needs to be strong.
2. N-Acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) Antioxidant and Glutathione Precursor - There are over 9,000 studies found on PubMed regarding NAC. Finding include that NAC diminishes airway inflammation (Lee, Hong, Jang, 2020) and helps to remove mucus (fluids) in the lungs and enhances bronchial air flow. NAC also assists the liver function. This is a supplement I recommend to all my patients who take medications, who have asthma and are looking to excel their overall endurance during workouts. Suggested dosage is 600-1,000 mg. Jarrow supplements offers a 600mg time released NAC which is very good.
3. L-Glutamine -Metabolism of the Immune System the most abundant amino acid in the human body. “During severe illness, the skeletal muscle is the major supplier of glutamine. Glutamine was an important modulator of leukocyte function, such as in lymphocytes and macrophages.” Sources of glutamine are found in beef, milk, eggs, rice, corn. Taking 1,000mg per day is a health dosage if you don’t eat animal products.
4. Grape seed extract (GSE) has antiviral activities (Joshi, 2015). While it is used as an anti-bacterial agent as well, it’s antioxidant properties it good for you but not a cure or vaccine for COVID19. It is helpful to keep your immune system strong as it also acts as an anti- inflammatory.
5. Vitamin C 2,000mg-4,000 mg per day -use higher dosage of 3,000mg-4,000mg at the onset of symptoms of cold or flu. There is lots of great information on the benefits of Vitamin C. Citrus fruits are ripe and ready in the winter months for a good reason -we need that extra vitamin boost during the cold and flu season. Eating seasonal foods matters and works with your body. During seasonal changes we find Vitamin C in other foods like sprouts found in early spring (Pitchford 2002).
6. Zinc -30mg per day. Zinc is essential for good immune heath. “People with zinc-deficiency had severe immune dysfunctions. Zinc affects multiple aspects of the immune system. Zinc is crucial for normal development and function of cells mediating innate immunity, neutrophils, and NK cells. Macrophages (the cells that kill microbes and pathogens) also are affected by zinc deficiency. Phagocytosis, intracellular killing, and cytokine production all are affected by zinc deficiency. Zinc deficiency adversely affects the growth and function of T and B cells. The ability of zinc to function as an anti-oxidant and stabilize membranes suggests that it has a role in the prevention of free radical-induced injury during inflammatory processes” (Prasad 2008).
For more information on herbal formulas and supplements that boost
the body’s immune system contact Dr. Bill Bastian at: Bill@BillBastian.com
Bibliography
Du, C. Y. Q., Choi, R. C. Y., Zheng, K. Y. Z., Dong, T. T. X., Lau, D. T. W., & Tsim, K.
W. K. (2013, November 11). Yu Ping Feng San, an ancient Chinese herbal decoction containing Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Saposhnikoviae Radix, regulates the release of cytokines in murine macrophages. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3823765/
Joshi, S. S., Su, X., & D'Souza, D. H. (2015, December). Antiviral effects of grape seed
extract against feline calicivirus, murine norovirus, and hepatitis A virus in model food systems and under gastric conditions. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26338111
Landau, S. I. (2000). Cambridge dictionary of American English. Cambridge (UK):
Cambridge University Press.
Lee, P. H., Hong, J., & Jang, A. S. (2020, February 28). N-acetylcysteine decreases
airway inflammation and responsiveness in asthma by modulating claudin 18 expression. Retrieved from http://kjim.org/journal/view.php?doi=10.3904/kjim.2019.105
Pitchford, P. (2002). Healing with whole foods. North Atlantic Books
Prasad, A. S. (2008, May). Zinc in human health: effect of zinc on immune cells. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2277319/
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