Our immune system is incredibly complex and well designed to keep our inner and outer worlds living in relative harmony. This is achieved by an elegant and intricate set of cells, proteins and organs whose purpose is to protect our bodies from infections and disease, and to help injury recovery. This makes it essential to our survival but unfortunately there are many aspects of modern living that disrupt this delicate balance.
On the whole the immune system does a remarkable job of defending against disease-causing microorganisms but sometimes it fails and a germ will invade successfully causing sickness. Whether a person succumbs to pathogens often comes down to the state of their body with stress, tiredness and nutrition all playing a part. An infection seldom takes over a well-nourished, well rested body. There are many ways to keep the immune system healthy including eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep. These can contribute to a strong, healthy, empowered individual who is resistant to infection and disease.
Infection stimulates the immune system into producing antibodies, or other infection fighting constituents. Immune stimulation aims to increase the immune reaction before infection, or other disease, strikes as a means of preventing the infection or disease. Western medical doctors seek to boost immune system activity by prescribing things like chemotherapeutic agents such as methotrexate, a very strong antimetabolite medicine with many potential serious side effects, that arrests abnormal cellular growth. The modern medicine bag also contains vaccines which may contain either dead, or weakened bacteria or viruses, or other materials such as inactive toxins. Upon injection the vaccine artificially stimulates the body's immune system to produce antibodies against the perceived pathogen.
In contrast herbalists and naturopaths use plants to stimulate or potentiate the body's own defence mechanisms rather than substitute for them. This way the body's natural balance is preserved and side effects are either not present or substantially reduced. Although both vaccines and herbs elicit an immune response, vaccines boost the body's response to a specific pathogen whereas herbs tend to enhance overall immunity. The immunological activity of different herbal medicines is being increasingly documented with labels such as immune enhancers being ascribed to herbs which enhance non-specific resistance and enhance or stimulate one or more aspects of the immune system, such as immune components that are beneficial in fighting pathogens.
The key to resistance, and a strong foundation of health, is to support the body so that it can use its own innate intelligence to fight off disease. Given that the modern virus remains as elusive as it ever was an emphasis on strengthening defences is appropriate. Below are some immune stimulants (enhancers) which may help support a healthy immune system in combination with general healthy living strategies.
Immune enhancers (immune stimulants): Herbs which stimulate one or more aspects of the immune system. Herbs such as andrographis, cat’s claw, codonopsis (pictured above), echinacea, Korean ginseng, liquorice, poke root, reishi, and Siberian ginseng.
References
Low Dog T. Immune health – a deep dive. Medicine Lodge Academy. Available from https://medicine-lodge-ranch.teachable.com/p/immune-health1/?product_id=2959404&coupon_code=FORTIFY&mc_cid=ec51701a38&mc_eid=26aee821c7
Immune stimulation, as a vaccine. Encyclopaedia.com. c 2019. (accessed 9 June 2021). Available from https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/immune-stimulation-vaccine
Zimmerman M. Immune Enhancers. The Chiropractic Resource Organization. (updated Feb 1999: accessed 12 Aug 2024) Available from https://chiro.org/Graphics_Box_NUTRITION/FULL/Immune_Enhancers.shtml
Bone K, Mills S. Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy. 2nd ed. Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2013. p.130. p.238
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