Natural Immunity & Stress

Stress and the Immune System

Managing stress is crucial to maintaining our immune system. With schools closing, workers being asked to work from home, those who are not feeling well to self quarantine and all the uncertainties that come along with this. Managing our stress level is a vital part of keeping our immune system functioning. The following are ways you can assess and help your patients.

*Stress and Adrenal Support

Here is a great resource from MediHerb: Click Here – Supporting Neuroendocrine Health for your review. Here is an excerpt: “The HPAT axis is the major part of the neuroendocrine system that controls the body’s normal reactions to stress and regulates many body processes, including those of digestion, immune system function, mood and emotions, reproduction and the cardiovascular system as well as energy storage and expenditure. The HPAT axis is also the primary mechanism for interactions that mediate the general adaptation syndrome (GAS).” Click on the above link for more information.

Adrenal & Immune Function
Withania, licorice, rehmannia, and echinacea root are important herbs with a deep history of supporting adrenal and immune function. WholisticMatters has a great article on this topic…
Withania – Ashwagandha
Withania somnifera root has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for fatigue, general debility, nervous exhaustion, wasting in children, anemia, loss of memory and muscular energy, convalescence, insomnia, impotence, spermatorrhoea, inflammatory conditions; as an aphrodisiac and a nutrient and tonic for pregnant women and the elderly.
Licorice
It is well known in western herbal medicine as an expectorant for bronchitis and as a demulcent, useful for relieving irritation of mucous membranes.28
Rehmannia
Rehmannia is regarded as an adrenal tonic, due mainly to the activity demonstrated in experimental models.
Echinacea Root
The roots of Echinacea angustifolia and Echinacea purpurea are considered the most efficacious, particularly when known to contain a certain amount of the important constituents, alkylamides.
To read the full article on WholisticMatters Click Here
*Stress Assessment Tools
Here are some tools to assess your patients’ stress levels.
Stress Assessment Click Here – Stress Assessment

As more cases of the Coronavirus – COVID-19 are reported, the more requests we have received on how to naturally support our immune system before and during viral infections. You may have seen this before but it is worth repeating. Please note those who are not able to take Viranon may be able to substitute with St. John’s Wort.

Lifestyle Tips

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. It doesn’t matter the water temperature.Use hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) as an adjunct between washing your hands. Rub until fully absorbed. How to Make Your Own Hand Sanitizer. My personal favorite is On Guard from Doterra.

Lastly avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes, ears and nose. Stay 3 – 6 feet away from others. Do not shake hands or hug others. Please stay at home if you are sick. Get plenty of rest and drinks lots of water. Eat a healthy and clean diet. Limited sugar and simple carbs. Cover your mouth and nose if you cough or sneeze. Immediately throw away the tissue in the trash and immediately wash your hands. Clean and disinfect commonly touched areas often. The virus can last in the air up to 3 hours and on hard surfaces up to 3 days. Here is a link to the CDC’s cleaning guide: CDC Environmental Cleaning and Disinfection Recommendations Here is the link to the CDC’s FAQ: CDC Coronavirus FAQ. Stay informed but don’t fixate on the news. If you are staying home, take this time to: Take care of some household items such as cleaning out the playroom, cleaning out the closets or organizing your home playing games with the kids. Reconnecting with friends and love ones by phone or Facetime is great!. Read that book you have been wanting to read put a puzzle together or do crossword or word search puzzles unless you are an allergy suffer, open up the windows and let the fresh air in if you are not ill, step outside and soak up some Vitamin D and remember, this to shall pass.
*Acute Infections Cold & Flu Support

Andrographis Complex – A powerful herbal formula for acute infections and cold/flu support. Take immediately at onset of illness. 1 tablet 2-3x/day for children, 2 tablets 2-3x/day for adults. Take for 7 – 21 days. Note: Do not take if allergic to daisy family or pregnant. Andrographis Complex
Congaplex – May help to breaks up congestion and stimulate the immune system. Take 3 capsules 3 – 4x/day for adults. Take for 7 – 14 Congaplex
Chewable Congaplex 1 – 2 tablets 3x/day for children. Take 7 – 14 days. Congaplex Chewable
Viranon – Broad-spectrum anti-viral herbal blend. An excellent choice for severe viral infection support. Take 1 tablet 3x/day. Caution: Do not use this product while taking any prescription drug(s) without the advice of your prescribing physician. Avoid excessive exposure to UV radiation (e.g. sunlight, tanning) when using this product. Contraindicated in high blood pressure, edema (water retention), congestive heart failure, low blood potassium, pregnancy and lactation. Best avoided in epilepsy. Viranon
Viranon Or St. Johns’ Wort
St. John’s Wort (Gluten-free)  Anti-viral properties for enveloped-viruses. (Coronavirus is an enveloped-virus) This is good for those individuals who cannot take Viranon for the above contraindications. Take 2 tablets 2X/day Caution: Avoid excessive exposure to UV radiation (e.g. sunlight, tanning) when using this product. St. John’s Wort

All three can be taken in the case of a severe infection.