Immune system disorders - Nature Cures®

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The human immune system is an incredibly complicated armoury which can learn, throughout the life of the human, to defend against most forms of bacteria, fungi, virus, worms and other parasitic organisms. It produces nature ‘killer’ cells and antibodies which attack these microbes before they can become established and cause damage to tissues and organs.

How the human behaves and lives their life greatly affects the abilities of the immune system. Poor diet, stress, lack of physical activity, alcohol and drugs, trauma, over exposure to microbes and toxic chemicals and serious infections or disease can overwhelm and greatly reduce the immune systems strength and may lead to major illness and a shortened life.

Simple colds can lead to pneumonia and pleurisy which is the greatest killer of the elderly because their immune system has been reduced in capability. Scientists are not yet aware of why this happens. It could be that the body cannot produce so many killer cells anymore and this allows the viruses, bacteria and fungi to proliferate and overwhelm the system.

The immune system remembers each attack and when the same microbe is detected it will release the right kind of killer cells. It could be, that as the human ages, memory of previous attacks of the virus is forgotten as too many killer cells have died off by natural apoptosis and not been replaced.

The human immune defence system is made up of the following organs and glands:

Appendix
Bone marrow
Lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels
Peyer’s patch
Spleen
Thymus
Tonsils

Vitamin D also acts as a natural antibiotic working against all types of microbes (bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses) which helps to support the immune system. It has shown, in scientific studies, to be more affective at preventing influenza than vaccines and anti-viral medications.

Vitamin D levels can easily become deficient, especially during the winter months, as the body only stores it for up to 60 days thus making an individual susceptible to infections from November to April. It is during this period that blood tests should be done, especially if an individual keeps getting infections, colds and influenza, and extra vitamin D rich foods should be consumed.

Copper, together with zinc improves the absorption of vitamin D which aids in the absorption of calcium. Alcohol and some medications cause the expulsion of zinc, so it is advisable to consume more zinc rich foods if on medications or if alcohol is consumed regularly.

Highest sources of vitamin D per serving listed

Krill oil – 1 teaspoon: 1000 IU
Eel – 85 g or 3 oz: 792 IU
Maitake mushrooms – 70 g: 786 IU
Rainbow trout – 85 g or 3 oz: 540 IU
Cod liver oil – 1 teaspoon: 440 IU
Mackerel – 85 g or 3 oz: 400 IU
Salmon – 85 g or 3 oz: 400 IU
Halibut – 85 g or 3 oz: 196 IU
Tuna – 85 g or 3 oz: 228 IU
Sardines – 85 g or 3 oz: 164 IU
Chanterelle mushrooms – 85 g or 3 oz: 155 IU
Raw milk – 1 glass or 8 oz: 98 IU
Egg yolk – 1 large: 41 IU
Caviar – 28g or 1 oz: 33 IU
Hemp seeds – 100 g or 3.5 oz: 22 IU
Portabella mushrooms – 85 g or 3 oz: 6 IU

NOTE: One IU is the biological equivalent of 0.3 μg or 0.3 micrograms.

Tissue and organ transplants

Those who have had an unnatural transplant of tissues or organs from another living organism must have their immune system suppressed so that rejection of this tissue does not take place. This can cause many illnesses and often requires lifetime administration of steroids and other immune suppressing drugs.

A fragile balance between healthy immunity and non-rejection of the foreign tissues is very difficult to establish. Mostly, it is a case of trial and error, and the transplant patient may have to suffer many episodes of infections and rejection before the balance of drug administration is found.

It should be known that even a cold can become serious for someone whose immune system is compromised by the anti-rejection drugs they must take. Relatives, friends and anyone else who comes in to contact with a person who has to take anti-rejection drugs must be very cautious about passing on any contagious infections.

Autoimmune disease

Autoimmune diseases can affect almost any part of the body including the blood vessels, brain, eyes, heart, glands, joints, kidneys, lungs, muscles, nerves, skin and the digestive tract. The first sign of an autoimmune disease is inflammation, which can cause redness, heat, pain and swelling depending on what part of the body is targeted.

If the disease affects the joints, as in rheumatoid arthritis, there can be joint pain, stiffness and loss of function.

If it affects the thyroid, as in Graves’ disease and thyroiditis, it might cause tiredness, weight gain and muscle aches. If it attacks the skin, as it does in scleroderma/systemic sclerosis, vitiligo, and systemic lupus erythematosus, it can cause rashes, blisters and colour changes.

Many autoimmune conditions are not restricted to one part of the body. For example, systemic lupus erythematosus can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, nerves, blood vessels etc and type 1 diabetes can affect the glands, eyes, kidneys and muscles etc.

Behcets syndrome causes chronic mouth ulcers and other parts of the body like the lungs, heart, joints, gut and the nervous system.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma is caused by the immune system attacking the connective tissue under the skin and around internal organs and blood vessels. The word scleroderma comes from two Greek words ‘sclero‘ meaning hard and ‘derma‘ meaning skin. Scleroderma is particularly common in South African gold miners, where it is thought to be related to silica dust exposure.

Scleroderma has also been found in jewellery workers and miners who worked with quartz. People who live near airports also have higher incidences of scleroderma.

NOTE: It appears that an excess of vitamin B3 (niacin) can cause scleroderma in some people therefore supplements of this vitamin should not be taken and cereals etc. with niacin added to them should be avoided.

Scientists do not yet know what causes autoimmune diseases. In most cases, a combination of factors may be responsible. It could be because of diet, genetics or a virus may even trigger it.

Diseases that can be affected or caused by an autoimmune condition

Alopecia
Arthritis
Autoimmune Haemolytic Anaemia
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Dermatomyositis
Diabetes (type 1)
Glomerulonephritis
Granulomatosis with Polyangitis
Graves’ disease
Guillain Barré syndrome
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
Myasthenia Gravis
Myocarditis
Multiple Sclerosis
Pemphigus/Pemphigoid
Pernicious Anaemia
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Polymyositis
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Psoriasis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Scleroderma/Systemic Sclerosis
Sjögren’s Syndrome
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Thyroiditis
Uveitis
Vitiligo

Nutrients required to support the immune system

The immune system needs good, regular nourishment and any deficiencies can lower the immune system response to bacteria, virus, fungi and parasites infections. The following nutrients are vital and the highest natural food sources can be found by visiting each one.

People who live in poverty and are malnourished are more vulnerable to infectious diseases, but this may also be because of hygiene practises and being more subjected to infectious microbes.

It is claimed that many supplements and magic pills can boost the immune system but unless the overall diet is widely varied and nutritionally balanced, hygiene practises are sufficient and constant exposure to noxious chemicals, pollution and toxic drugs are eliminated, this will not happen. The fundamental reason for a lowered immune system must be addressed first.

Many common natural foods can nutritionally support the body’s glands and thus improve the immune system:

Natural foods to protect and improve the immune system

Alfalfa sprouts
Almonds
Anchovies
Ash gourd
Aubergine
Avocado
Bananas
Beef
Beetroot
Berries
Black currants
Brassicas
Brazil nuts
Buckwheat
Carrots
Cayenne pepper
Chanca piedra herb
Cinnamon
Citrus fruits (plus zest)
Coconut
Courgette

Cumin
Figs
Dates
Eggs
Garlic
Ginger
Hemp seeds
Oily fish
Organ meats
Peppercorns
Pumkin seeds
Raisins
Seafood (Mussels, oysters, prawns, shrimp, squid)
Spinach
Sunflower seeds
Sweet potatoes
Turmeric
Watercress
Yogurt (plain with live cultures)

When nutrition is good the following herbs can work with the immune system and help fight off infection and parasites.

Natural antimicrobial herbs

Aloe vera
Andrographis
Arnica
Ashitaba
Astralagus
Baobab
Basil
Bdellium gum
Black cohosh
Black seed
Blessed thistle
Blue vervain
Burdock root
Cat’s claw
Chaga mushrooms,
Chaparral leaf

Cleavers
Cloves
Comfrey
Coriander
Damiana
Dandelion
Dong quai
Echinacea
Ecklonia cava
False unicorn
Fennel
Gingko biloba
Ginseng
Goat’s rue
Liquorice root
Olive leaf

Natural immune system booster

Ingredients

1/2 tablespoon of cinnamon
1 garlic clove crushed
2 tablespoons of ginger powder
1/2 tablespoon of ground chilli peppers
100 ml (3.5 oz) freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoon of honey

Method

Add crushed garlic, ginger powder, chilli powder and cinnamon to the lemon juice.
Mix all the ingredients and add the honey last.
Let the syrup rest for 3 hours at a room temperature.
Keep the syrup in a closed glass container and store it in the fridge.
Every morning, before eating anything, take one tablespoon of the syrup to strengthen the immune system and cleanse the liver.
If suffering with any infections including colds or influenza, take one tablespoon of the syrup, three times a day half an hour before meals.

Seven ways to naturally boost the immune system in winter

During the winter we tend to consume more filling foods but often they are less nutritious, and this may have an impact upon the immune system. Here are the top eight ways to boost your immune system during the winter:

No. 1 Algae and seaweed

The western diet is often lacking in sufficient levels of vitamins and minerals due to modern intense farming techniques and the processing and refining of foods. Algae and seaweed are the richest sources of these nutrients which are vital for a strong immune system. Some can be purchased in powder form and one teaspoon per day can provide the nutrients that may be missing. The following are the various types available:

Chlorella (blue/green algae)
Dulse (brown algae)
Ecklonia cava (brown algae)
Irish moss (red algae)
Kombu (fermented seaweed)
Kelp (seaweed)
Miso (seaweed soup)
Nori (red algae)
Samphire (seaweed)
Spirulina (blue/green algae)
Wakame (brown algae)

No 2 Apple cider vinegar, honey and lemon or lime immunity tonic

Daily consumption of apple cider vinegar, honey and lemon or lime can help to support the immune system because they all have powerful antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral properties. Start each day with one teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water with half a squeezed lemon or lime and a tablespoon of unpasteurised organic apple cider vinegar. Locally sourced pure honey is best as it can also help to prevent hay fever and other allergies.

No 3 Chilli pepper

Chilli pepper contains beta-carotene and capsaicin both of which boost the immune system. Beta-carotene is the fat-soluble pigment found in red and orange plant foods and needs to be consumed with a little oil in order to be absorbed. Sprinkle a quarter to half a teaspoon of chilli pepper onto any savoury dish or add to the immunity tonic above at No. 2.

No. 4 Fruit, nuts and seeds.

Vitamin C and vitamin E must be consumed in equal quantities as they effect the mineral levels in the body, and both are required to boost the immune system. Consuming a handful of fruit, nuts and seeds together daily can do this and provide many other essential nutrients needed by the immune system such as selenium.

No. 5 Garlic and ginger

Garlic, especially black garlic, and ginger are two of the best immune-boosting foods due to their powerful antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral properties. Consume at least three garlic cloves and two cups of ginger tea daily or use in meals.

No. 6 Green vegetables

All green vegetables especially barley grass, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, chlorella, kale, kelp, leeks, peas, rocket, spinach, spring onions and watercress contain components which the immune system needs to work correctly. Make a soup with a selection adding herbs and spices for additional immune boosting properties. Blend the soup and consume a bowl every day.

No. 7 Mushrooms

Mushrooms are rich in the essential minerals selenium and copper that are important for the immune system. The best ones to consume for this purpose are maitake, reishi or shiitake mushrooms.

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