What Immunity really means to COVID 19.

Linda Anne Kahn CLT-LANA CHNC NCBTMB

As the country is in the midst of COVID 19 cases, is important to take even better care of your health than before. More research is necessary, but it’s believed that quality exercise and activity, good nutrition, and emotional health is recommended to boost your immune system and stay strong during this time.

What is your immune system?

Our immune system protects the body from environmental forces and defends you from diseases.
A compromised immune system cannot protect the body from invading organisms and you would be are at a greater risk for infectious illnesses and debilitating diseases

How does immunity work?

Immunity is understood to be the protection we have against a 2nd attack of an infectious disease. The immune system includes certain types of white blood cells, which directly attack foreign substances in the body and work together to help the immune system cells. It responds to infectious attack or internal mutation through both non-specific and specific immunity

The lymphatic system

Did you know that the lymphatic system is an important link to your health and to immunity?
Are you aware that 100% of the fluids in the connective tissue must be picked up by the lymphatic system? A healthy functioning lymphatic system is crucial to our health, wound healing, immunity and detoxification. The lymphatic system is responsible to clear the connective tissue of wastes and destroy bacteria and viruses

How can immunity be increased?

A team led by Vadim Backman at Northwestern University studied the Possible Role of Vitamin D in reducing complications attributed to unregulated inflammation and cytokine storm in COVID-19 Patients.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.08.20058578v4

Backman and his team were inspired to examine vitamin D levels after noticing unexplained differences in COVID-19 mortality rates from country to country. Backman believes vitamin D plays a major role. Not only does vitamin D enhance our innate immune systems, but it also prevents our immune systems from becoming dangerously overactive. This means that having healthy levels of vitamin D could protect patients against severe complications, including death, from COVID-19.

What are immune-boosting foods?

New research has suggested that plant-based foods contain vitamins and minerals and most importantly, phytonutrients. The foods with red color pigment are high in phytochemicals such as astaxanthin and lycopene, have high antioxidant activity, are anti-inflammatory, and also provide immune modulation. Who would have thought that rasberries, tomatoes and red peppers could be so healing. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jnme/2019/2125070/

It turns out that colored foods such as acerola cherry, rosehips, red bell pepper, and tomatoes also tend to be some of the highest vitamin C-containing foods. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is well known for its effects on the immune system, and in states of increased inflammation, vitamin C levels tend to decrease in the body.
Several studies in cell, animals, and humans have suggested that red-colored foods and/or their isolated constituents may assist with reducing systemic inflammation and bolstering immune system. This summer reach for watermelon, cherries, cranberries, pomegranate, and raspberries.

Aromatherapy and Immunity

I love the effects of essential oils on our body, mind and spirit. Essential oils (EOs) are highly concentrated, aromatic volatile oils from plants. They have numerous chemical constituents that are extracted by steam distillation, hydro-diffusion, or cold pressing

Essential oils can be a very powerful tool in boosting immunity as they work directly to strengthen the immune response or engulf the bacteria and viruses that can make us sick. These oils do this because of specific immune-strengthening properties: antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory

Thyme essential oil has been shown to produce a high level of antimicrobial immune activity.

In another study thyme essential oil was found to be effective against a range of infectious bacteria, including staphylococcus strains and treatment-resistant strains like MRSA.

The anti-inflammatory properties of EOs such as copaiba balsam have been investigated. In multiple studies it was found that essential oils of eucalyptus and ginger, seem to have immune function enhancing properties. Frankincense EO (derived from Boswellia carterii) showed strong immunostimulant effect

Effects of Essential Oils from Trees—Forest Bathing.

In Japan, a forest bathing trip, called “Shinrinyoku” in Japanese, is a short, leisurely visit to a forest; it is regarded as being similar to natural aromatherapy. When we breathe in these essential oils derived from trees while visiting a forest, we experience health-promoting and immune function enhancing effect.

In a study, natural killer (NK) activity was increased and lasted for more than 30 days after the trip, suggesting that a forest bathing trip once a month would enable individuals to maintain a higher level of NK activity. NK cells are a key component of the immune response and play vital roles in controlling and eliminating both virally-infected and cancer cells.

Did you know that laughter is the best medicine?

Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Laughter adds zest to your life and gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope.

Manual Lymph Drainage (MLD) and immunity

MLD is a gentle rhythmical massage performed by a specialized therapist to supports the immune system, increases lymphatic circulation and removes toxic wastes. When the lymph system is blocked, the lymphocytes, macrophages, T-cells and B- cells and other infection-fighting material of the lymphatic system are prevented from fighting the virus, fungus and bacteria that may be attacking. MLD facilitates the proper functioning of the lymphatic system.

MLD combined with essential oils specific to the lymphatic system is an effective way to boost immunity.

Summary

We now know that, in order to prevent colds and viruses, we need our immune system to be working optimally and our overall body frequency to be in its optimal range.
During these difficult times make sure that you find time to laugh a lot, eat a rainbow diet , walk in the forest, breathe in some essential oils, eat foods high in Vitamin C and receive a lymphatic drainage massage from an experienced professional

Develop a lifestyle that will support and strengthen your body and boost immunity on a daily basis. This Is not a guarantee that you will avoid becoming ill but we do know that a healthy immune system is your first line of defense If you do get sick perhaps the symptoms will be milder!

Here’s to your health!

Linda Anne Kahn CLT-LANA NCBTMB is an Aromatic Wellness Warrior and an Internationally certified Lymphedema Therapist. She is the President of Beauty Kliniek Aromatherapy Day Spa and Lymphatic Therapy Services in San Diego www.lymphatictherapyservices.com www.beautyklniek.com