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Allergy & Immune SupportLecture 4

Therapeutics

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Immune Review

• What weakens the Immune System?

• What are the main players?

• What lifestyle factors balance or strengthen immune function?

• KEY: Think balance - strengthening may increase immune activity, not desirable for allergies, autoimmune

• Remember allergies represent hyperactive state, inflammation

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Immune Regulators

• Lifestyle - stress reduction, sleep, social factors

• Diet – whole, organic• Tonics and herbs• Exercise• Mindbody - attitude, sense of control,

emotional expression, purpose• People - relationships key to balance• Nutrients - essentials Zinc, A, C,

Antioxidants

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Nutritional Factors• Rotation Diet, Elimination Diet

• Eating 4 Health & Rejuvenating Booster Foods– Garlic, mineral-rich sea veggies, flax seeds…..

• Nutritional Supplementation

– Antioxidants to protect against free radicals• Many pathogens and toxins release free radicals• Chemicals released from immune cells can cause

collateral free radical damage

– Essential Fatty Acids - Particularly Omega 3’s– Can turn down inflammatory reactions– Keep cell membranes strong

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Vitamins

• Vitamin A– Enhances cellular immunity and phagocytes, wound

healing– Supports mucous membranes and skin– Essential for T helpers, T & B cell growth, NK activity– Can prevent Thymus atrophy

• Beta & other carotenes– Antioxidants– Stimulate WBC function– Large doses can increase T cell production

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Vitamins, con’t.

• Vitamin C– Enhances T and B production as well as phagocyte activity and

movement to infection sites– Supports Thymus and antibody production– Important in wound healing and collagen production

• Vitamin E– Protects cell membranes from

free radical damage– Supports T & B cell production

• Vitamin D– Required for cytokine synthesis - regulator of immune functions

• B vitamins– B5 and B12 essential for antibody and B cell production

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Minerals

• Zinc - the most important immune mineral– Increases T cell production– Enhances cellular immunity & NK activity– Essential for antibody synthesis

• Selenium– Immune suppressor (helps

with chronic inflammation)– May increase NK activity– May support lymphocyte killing of tumor cells

• Iron - use with caution - phagocytosis

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Innate Immunity Nutrition• SKIN requires Vitamin A, beta carotene, vitamin C,

omega 3

• PHAGOCYTES require Vit C, B12, Iron – Excess iron decreases activity, impairs bactericidal

activity and promotes bacterial growth

• INFLAMMATION requires omega 3 to control PGE2

– Quercitin has anti-histamine activity, potentiates Vit C

• WOUND HEALING requires A, C, Zn, protein

• NK require A, Zn, enhance activity with laughter, stress reduction, supportive relationships (against viral infect.)

• ANTIOXIDANTS benefit all of the above

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Nutrients and Acquired Immunity

• Thymus requires -carotene, C, E, Se, Zn

• T cell functions need C, E, melatonin– T helpers req Vit A– Cytokine synthesis by T cells req D

• T & B cell proliferation - A, C, E, Zn, Fe– In HIV lipoic acid increases T cells

• Deficiencies of A, Zn, B6 decrease thymus and T cells

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Nutrients and B cells

• B cell proliferation needs B12

• Antibody synthesis req B5 + B6, D, E, Se– IgG synthesis req CoQ10, IgA synthesis req A

• Deficiencies: – of E decreases antibody production– of B5, less Ig

released into blood

Crystalline structure of antibody

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Other Helpful Nutrients

• Amino Acids– Critical for antibody and cell production– Critical for neurotransmitter & enzyme production– Help in repair of organs and barrier tissues

• Probiotics– Help the body resist bacterial and fungal opportunists– Especially important when on antibiotics which can

weaken immune functions– Work synergistically w fiber, friendly flora to keep the

gut wall healthy.

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Helpful Herbs & Lifestyle Factors • Licorice – spares cortisol; effect = elevation

• Turmeric - inhibits cyclo-oxygenase (COX), prostaglandin production; anti-inflammatory– May also inhibit histamine releases

• Qigong balances immune functions

• Meditation & diaphragmatic breathing move lymph as does massage & exercise

• A sense of control, optimistic attitude can enhance a “wilting” Immune System

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Immune Herbs - Echinacea

• Support for specific & non-specific immunity

• Inconclusive studies implicating echinacea to prevent colds

• Enhances T cell activity - caution in allergies, autoimmune, lymphoma

• Not to be taken continuously

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Antibiotic and Anti-Viral Herbs

• All herbal traditions have long relied upon antiviral & antibacterial herbs– Western: Echinacea, goldenseal, garlic,

cayenne, Pau D’arco, grapefruit seed extract – Ayurvedic: Triphala

A combination of three herbs, harada, amla & bihara, responds to the tridosha of Ayurvedic medicine. A blood cleanser as well as a powerful GI cleanser.

– TCM formulas: • Gan Mao Ling (anti-viral)• Yin qiao (sore throat, a cold with heat) • Chuan xin lian (also for a cold with heat)

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Adaptogens

• Herbs which reduce stress and have a balancing effect on the body

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Adaptogens

• Herbs that balance body’s resistance to stressors while boosting resistance to viruses and bacteria– Astralagus: Increases WBCs and stimulates

macrophages

– Schizandra: supports detox and supports liver

– Medicinal mushrooms: • Enhance and stimulate the Immune System• Complement chemotherapy and radiation• Anti-viral, anti-bacterial and liver supportive

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Blood & Lymph Tonics• Blood Purifying:

– Sarsaparilla, burdock, dandelion, red root, echinacea - Time-honored formula: 40% red clover, 20% each of sarsaparilla, burdock and dandelion.

• Lymphatic Support– Echinacea, lobelia, mullein, burdock and

cayenne– A good tonic would combine equal parts of

these– Rebounder exercise is a good complement

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Digestive and Liver Tonics

• Digestive support: – Gentian, ginger, fennel, garlic, mint and

papaya• Liver Tonics and healers:

– Milk Thistle, dandelion, yellow dock, burdock and nettles

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Gastrointestinal & Kidney Tonics

• Many herbs support gastrointestinal cleansing– Examples: Golden seal, cascara, red raspberry leaf,

turkey rhubarb root, ginger, aloe and papaya– Correcting constipation VERY important—you cannot

detox if exit routes aren’t working!

• Kidney Tonics– The kidneys must remain strong to provide important

filtering– Key to kidney health: hydration– Classic kidney herbs include: uva ursi, corn silk,

juniper, marshmallow, parsley, watermelon seed, gravel root and slippery elm

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Stress and Immune Effects

• Stress depletes B vitamins, Vitamin A, zinc

– Zinc also depleted by high fiber, cancer, excess exercise

• Stress-induced immune suppression can be reversed by vitamin E

• Stress hormone epinephrine increases suppressor T cells, lowering immune response

• Elevated cortisol is also immuno-suppressive

• Impaired sleep decreases NK activity

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Social & Psychological Factors

• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI): The brain can have a profound effect on immunity!

• It communicates directly with components of the Immune System & receives msgs in return.

• The following factors are associated with improved and/or optimal immunity:– Regular exercise– Positive attitude– Visualization/Affirmation– Stable environment– Expression of emotions– Enjoyment and purpose

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Detoxification

• The process of clearing toxins from the body or neutralizing or transforming them.

• Detoxification is also concerned with clearing mucous and congestion from the body.

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DetoxificationMethods

• Fasting• Food/Antigen Elimination

– General elimination of “usual suspects” and common allergens

– Specific elimination of an identified suspect food• Saunas and Baths

– Bottom line: Heat works! Far infrared, near infrared, steam—all are useful! Remember to rehydrate!

• Enemas and Colonics– Coffee enemas stimulate liver to “cleanse”– Pre and Probiotics are important after colonics

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Fasting

• The avoidance of solid food; liquids only

• Most severe is water fasting—not recommended because provides our detox organs with no nutrients, but extra demands

• Occasional fasting better than one big fast—avoid overwhelming body detox systems

• Raw juice fasting better; organic veggie/fruits

• Fasting rests GI tract, allows energy for repair as well as detox

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Fasting by Example Drink as much as you like!Drink as much as you like!

• Breakfast: – Hot herb tea—look for a good detox tea– Freshly-juiced, organic fruit juices: green apple w/

ginger; or watermelon; or orange/lemon/grapefruit• Lunch:

– More herb tea– Freshly-juiced organic seasonal veggies: carrot/celery;

carrot/spinach; carrot/beet/cucumber; • Dinner:

– Slow-simmer, mineral-rich veggie (potassium) broth, strained

Clear a space for this—don’t fast while working a full Clear a space for this—don’t fast while working a full schedule!schedule!

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Detox Baths• Detox baths induce perspiration

for toxin removal – use hot water• Short baths to begin: 5 min even• Take Vitamin C before/after ___________________________________________________________

• Epsom Salts: 1-2 cups/bath• Sea salt & baking soda: 1# of

each (strong) to counter radiation exposure

• Apple cider vinegar bath for sunburn

If you feel weak or dizzy, get out of If you feel weak or dizzy, get out of bath!bath!

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Rejuvenation

A process, often requiring detoxification, which results in a renewal of youthful vitality.

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Exercise

Conduct an interview with a fellow student using the Health Evaluation Profile & the Allergy Symptoms Questionnaire.

– Discuss student’s response to reintroduced food from last week.

– Determine whether to continue eating the food on a selective basis (rotation diet, etc.) or eliminating it for a second time.

– Identify immune risk factors– Identify a weak immune defense organ– Give one suggestion for each: dietary, herbal,

supplement and lifestyle support