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InnerMovement
A Five-Star Wellness Center
Call Today: (818) 549-1300
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Your Path To Wellness Begins Here |
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Greetings!
The immune system is complex and protects the body from infection and disease, but stress, lack of sleep, poor nutrition, and other factors can wear down our natural defenses.
Let’s look at 10 natural and easily obtained herbs that can boost immunity as we push through the last months of winter cold and enter into spring. Adding immune boosting herbs to our meals is a dynamic way to incorporate herbal knowledge into our daily routines.
Below is a recipe that helps with itchy skin as we move toward spring: a time of blooming flower, green leafy trees, warmer weather, and possibly itchy, dry, skin. Our skin can get dry after experiencing severe wind and cold followed by warmer springtime weather. These seasonal changes can make our skin more vulnerable to peeling, dryness, and itching. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), we call this "dryness syndrome."
Although topical moisturizers help, the root of the problem requires nourishing yin and blood. Our bodies’ own production of collagen is adversely affected by exposure to environmental factors as well as lack of sleep and aging. Using the bones from the chicken in this recipe will support collagen production to help brighten the skin and decrease dryness. Vegans can benefit from the increase proline intake from peanuts and vitamin C source of papaya in this recipe and forgo chicken and broth.
Papaya, Peanut, & Chicken Wing Soup
According to TCM, peanuts and papaya support Qi and Blood production. Thus, this recipe is beneficial for those with dry skin by nourishing blood. Hong zao / red dates support digestion of all the ingredients and rich in vitamin C, which is necessary for nearly every step of collagen production. Sheng Jiang / fresh ginger root is warm and spicy and benefits the skin by increasing the circulation of Qi, fluids and Blood.
Ingredients:
- 1 whole papaya (a ripe Hawaiian is best)
- ¾ c fresh or dried raw peanuts
- ½ lb chicken wings (mid-joint is best)
- powdered or fresh bone broth
- 5 pc red dates
- 2 slices fresh ginger
- Salt to taste
Cooking Instructions:
- Peel the papaya, remove seeds, and cut into 2” chunks
- Wash, soak and pit the Hong zao.
- Put all ingredients listed above into a soup pot with about 6 cups of the bone broth or add bone broth powder to the water.
- Bring to boil then medium heat for 1.5 hours.
- Skim off oil, salt to taste and enjoy (definitely eat the cartilage)
You can take any basic recipe and play with it by adding immune boosting herbs. For example, from the list of herbs below we can add garlic or cumin to this recipe. Eat, repeat, enjoy!
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Feel free to ask about our favorite herbal brands for Immune Health on your next visit.
From Our Health to Yours,
Veronica Sanchez LAc, RN, NP and the IMW Staff
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Boost your HEALTHY!
With
Acupuncture & Cupping
$99 Combo Treatment in March
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$99 Treatment includes: Chinese medicine consultation to identify deficiency in vital life force, following by individualized Acupuncture treatment to strengthen weakness found. |
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Getting sick alot this season? Let us BOOST your Healthy with this Ancient healing combo.
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Bonus Cupping treatment to detox, strengthen and relax your tissues.
Valid 1 per person. Must be booked in the month of March.
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10 Herbs That Help Boost Immunity: Current Studies
Research has revealed that these herbs—some of which you already have—can give you an edge on the flu and the common cold
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1.Strengthen Immunity with Astralagus Herb
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Astragalus, also called huangqi, is a root used in ancient Chinese medicine to strengthen and regulate the immune system. It has been used to alleviate many conditions, including respiratory infection, hay fever, asthma, and chronic kidney disease.
A systematic review of studies found that astragalus regulates immune function, promotes the proliferation of immune cells, stimulates the release of cytokines (which control the growth of immune cells), and influences the secretion of immunoglobulin (antibodies) and conduction of immune signals.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported that astragalus “may be safe when used orally and appropriately” and that doses up to 60 grams daily for up to four months have been used without reported adverse effects. Possible but uncommon side effects include rash, itching, nasal symptoms, and stomach discomfort.
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2.Prevent Infection with Echinacea Flower
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Echinacea refers to a group of flowering plants belonging to the daisy family. There are different species, but Echinacea purpurea is the most common.
A review of 16 studies found that echinacea was more effective than a placebo in preventing and treating upper respiratory infections.
Another review, which looked at 14 studies, found that echinacea reduced the odds of catching a cold by almost 60 percent and decreased the symptom duration by nearly 1 1/2 days.
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Boost Immunity with Garlic Extract
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Used as both a spice and food for thousands of years, garlic has been found by researchers to offer a broad range of health benefits, especially as an immune system booster.
A systematic review of studies found that garlic appears to enhance immune function by stimulating certain immune cell types, including macrophages, lymphocytes, and natural killer cells.
Another randomized controlled trial looked for evidence that aged garlic extract could boost human immune function against respiratory infection. While the number of study participants who caught a cold or flu wasn’t significantly different, researchers found that the garlic group experienced a reduction in the number of cold and flu symptoms and in the number of work or school days missed.
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Enhance Cell Strength with Black Peppercorns
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One of the most common spices in everyday cooking, black pepper has also shown promise in fighting cancer.
A study confirmed that black pepper extract significantly enhances the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells, and the study strongly suggested that the extract can exert immunomodulatory and anti-tumor action that can promote the maintenance of a healthy immune system.
Another in vitro study found that the active ingredient in pepper, piperine, boosts the immune system to slow the replication of breast, prostate, and colon cancer cells and could induce cancer cell death.
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Fight Bacteria with Holy Basil herb
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Different from common basil, holy basil is native to India and is a component of Ayurvedic medicine. Research found that holy basil inhibited the growth of multidrug-resistant bacteria that include Staphylococcus, Enterococcus, and Pseudomonas.
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Rosemary contains rosmarinic acid, which has been shown to modulate the immune response to have anti-allergy and decongestant properties. In a study with 29 participants, those given rosmarinic acid had decreased amounts of immune cells in nasal mucus and reduced nasal congestion.
A review of studies concluded that rosemary has significant antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties.
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Help Auto-Immune symptoms with Cinnamon
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Cinnamon is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal spice that can help the immune system fight off infection. This aromatic spice can also relieve symptoms of autoimmune disorders.
One study found that cinnamon offers significant relief of rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis symptoms, and another found that cinnamon and its ingredients can help treat COVID-19 infection.
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Fly Healthy with Black Elderbery syrup
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Black elderberry, also called Sambucus nigra, refers to several varieties of the sambucus tree, which has clusters of white flowers and black or blue-black berries.
A placebo-controlled, double-blind study of 312 plane travelers concluded that those who took elderberry supplements had significantly reduced cold duration and severity compared with passengers given a placebo instead.
A systematic review of studies from 2018 found that black elderberry supplements were effective in treating the symptoms of upper respiratory infection.
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Increase Immune cell activity with Ashwagandha extract
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Activate Immune Response with Black Cumin seeds
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Ashwagandha is a small woody plant native to India and North Africa that is used in Ayurvedic medicine. A clinical trial found that five participants who took six milliliters of ashwagandha root extract twice daily for four days showed significant increases in immune cell activity.
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found that ashwagandha extract significantly improved the immune profile of healthy subjects by modulating their innate and adaptive immune systems.
Researchers concluded that ashwagandha could be used to boost the immune system in people at risk for infection and during “widespread infections.”
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Black cumin seeds, also called black caraway, have a long history of therapeutic use.
A study identified compounds in black cumin seeds that can positively affect immune signaling pathways, showing that the herb could be used as a dietary supplement to activate immune responses.
A comprehensive review concluded that because of a compound called thymoquinone, black cumin seed promotes immunity and cell survival, acts as an antitoxin, and can lessen the side effects of certain drugs.
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