I’m sure you are also thinking about winter and all the cold and flu bugs
flying around. Not to speak of the new 'super bug' scare. (We've been warned for
quite some time that the age of 'super bugs' is upon us.)
But how do you protect yourself?
Well you can do the outrageous. Stay at home. Refuse to kiss anybody.
Sterilize (with hyssop) your family and friends before they set foot in your
home.
Or you can do what I've been doing for the last couple of years with very
good results. Yes, I still get a cold. But it is always self-limiting and short
lived, as I spend considerable time to make sure that my, and my family's,
immune systems are functioning properly.
When you read this material please bear in mind that I am by no means a
qualified alternative health practitioner (as defined by the new act.) I am a
qualified horticulturist and reflexologist, and I am also an avid reader,
student and home practitioner of herbalism, aromatherapy, Bach Flower Remedies,
and Pressure Point Therapy.
With that cleared lets get started.
First, you have to realize that we experience 3 types of immune failure. The
first is infection, and for many of us, this is the most common
evidence of immune breakdown that we'll face from day to day. This is generally
experienced in the form of colds and flu, which are disruptive, annoying
infections that tend to recur.
The second is allergy. The immune system, which is
responsible for what is ‘us’ and what's foreign, sometimes overreacts and
attacks foreign substances that are not genuine threats - cat hair or pollen for
example. This usually happens when the immune system is over-exposed to
something at a time when it is under nourished, out of balance, or not taken
care of properly.
For instance, I have a problem with hay fever. When is it at its worst? When
I don't rest enough, smoke too much (we all need our bad habits), or when I'm
going through a bad patch - mentally or physically.
The third type of immune dysfunction is autoimmune disorder. It's
like an allergy. Only this time the body mounts a full-blown attack against
something that's not really a threat. Worst of all, it’s not a 'foreigner' or
outside catalyst such as cat hair or pollen but part of you that gets
wiped out. Good examples are rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and Hashimoto's
disease.
All three manifestations of immune-system weakness need individualized
treatment, both for the person and for the particular body system or part
involved. Fundamentally, however, the underlying issue is the same for all three
- your immune system needs support.
Ideally, your immune system should be so strong that as soon as a new bug
comes in, your body cranks out new antibodies by the zillions and deactivates
the bug. You then have immunity, and don't have to go through fever, muscle
ache, headaches and so on.
This is possible. It may take some time to
get there (and if you continue smoking, drinking coffee and alcohol, you are
just plain irresponsible), but colds and flu are not inevitable facts of life.
It is possible to simply not get ill. I'm getting better and better at it
each year, and hopefully so will you and your family. However, if you don't do
something special - conscientious self-care that's better than average - you're
likely to keep on getting ill just like everyone else.
Return to Immune-boosting
Basics.
