Energy Medicine for Immune Health
Easy Immune Boosters
1. Wash Your Hands
2. Avoid Touching Your Face (eyes, nose, and mouth)
4. Practice the Daily Energy Routine to keep your energies humming.
5. In Oriental Medicine, the first line of defense is Food as Medicine. Here are the best foods for a super charged immune system. It’s important to eat a healthy, nutritious diet and given the food accessibility right now you will just have to make the best choices you can. Try eating more of these immune boosting fruits, veggies and herbs like garlic, ginger, turmeric, green tea, citrus fruits (especially lemons, limes, and tangerines), kiwi fruit is especially beneficial for the lungs, spinach and other fresh leafy greens, red bell peppers, broccoli, papaya, almonds, mushrooms, acai berries, cranberry, blue berries, watermelon, sweet potato, and pomegranate for starters. Eating healthy proteins including eggs, hormone free/grass fed/free-range meats, and wild caught fish, especially salmon. And, of course there’s no better remedy than a good pot of chicken soup. It’s also helpful to avoid processed foods, gluten, sugar, dairy, soy and other food allergens as they impede immune function and increase mucous. Another surprise is Quinine, found in tonic water, I do recommend reading the labels and avoiding ones with High Fructose Corn Syrup. I enjoy drinking mine with fresh grated lemon!
6. Super charge yourself with natural virus killers. For centuries, high doses of Vitamin C have been proven effective for a myriad of health issues including boosting immune function while reducing viral loads. In fact, early reports from China mentioned the effectiveness of Intravenous Vitamin C in stopping and reversing the Covid-19 Virus. Here are some of Dr. Melanie’s top immune boosting nutritional supplements: high doses of Vitamin C (ascorbic acid works best), Vitamin D and Vitamin K2, Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Elderberry, Zinc, Garlic, Rosemary (My personal favorite is to add a fresh sprig to my hot tea.), Resveratrol, Turmeric, Olive Leaf Extract, Honey, Sulforaphane (broccoli sprouts), Astragalus, Copper, Calendula, Andrographis (I’ve used this for years with patients. It was a number one remedy in Europe during the SARS outbreak. Covid-19 is an RNA virus similar to SARS and HIV.), Dandelion, Artemisia, Propolis, Scutellaria, Licorice Root (avoid with high blood pressure), Glutathione, Probiotic, Melatonin, Selenium, Magnesium, Omega 3 oil, N-Acetylcysteine, Moringa, Lomatium, Thieves Essential Oil Throat Spray, other anti-viral and anti-bacterial formulas. Cordyceps and other medicinal mushrooms. And Bamboo Extract is a Chinese herb that I recommend as it is extremely beneficial for the lungs.
Please note that since everyone’s metabolic profile is unique, we highly recommend scheduling a TeleHealth session for Advanced Substance Testing to determine the foods and nutritional supplements that are right for your overall health and wellness. Remember, not everyone will benefit from Vitamin C, garlic, or other substances. Email Support@wellwithin.net now to schedule your personalized TeleHealth Session.
7. Besides being dormant for up to 14 days, there is something else unique about this Virus. The Coronavirus seems to stay in the mouth several days prior to moving down to the lungs before presenting with a cough, sore throat or inflamed lymph nodes. For this reason, it’s beneficial to gargle (deeply) with your preference of warm water and baking soda, warm water with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, or Food-Grade Hydrogen peroxide. Please make sure you spit it out and do NOT swallow any of your gargle mixture.
8. Sleep is essential for restoration and repair. It’s important to be asleep before 11pm as Triple Warmer energy is at its peak between 9 and 11pm. After 11pm, the body begins to run on adrenal reserves. This alters the production of melatonin and sets off a hormonal chain reaction. Allow seven to nine hours of sleep per night to reduce stress, balance hormones and maintain overall health and wellness.
9.Exercise and movement like yoga, Energy Medicine exercises, walking, running, swimming, weight lifting, riding a bike, dance, Qi Gong, and Tai Chi, are so important for good immune health. Especially if you can still get outside and commune with nature. Nothing better than grounding with your feet on the grass or my personal favorite, leaning your back up against a tree.
10. Stress reduction – it’s so important to stay calm and centered in these turbulent times. Having a lot of stress in your life can cause the overproduction of hormones especially cortisol. One of the stressors I hear most often from patients is how they feel after being plugged into the daily news cycle. My suggestion is to get an update or snippet of news from your preferred (less stressful) news source. My favorite is NPR radio. There is less of a stress response loop when we reduce the visual stimulus and also when we avoid getting caught in the 24-hour repeated negative energy that often comes from watching too much of a good thing.
11. Take time out for rest and rejuvenation. One of my favorites is laying on the ground and soaking up the Vitamin D for the sunshine. Start a practice of GRATITUDE by writing 5 things you are grateful for every day. Practice forgiveness and help others where you can. I’ve loved hearing about people who are getting creative and thinking outside the box. On a recent TeleHealth session with a client in Brooklyn, New York, she shared how good it felt for her to contact her favorite restaurant that was now trying to stay open and she offered to pay for several hundred dollars’ worth of food to be delivered to the Covid medical team at her local hospital, one of the hardest hit in the city. Another client made a financial donation to the St. Pete free clinic and dropped off food staples to be distributed while they waited.
In addition to good sleep, exercise, and time in nature, I recommend mediation or prayer; reading, puzzles, art projects, singing, playing an instrument, writing letters to loved ones, watching funny movies and laughter which releases endorphins that boost your immune system. There are also many Energy Medicine exercises for reducing stress, including these: on stress relief.
Autoimmune Illness
Autoimmune illness is understood by Western Medicine to be a malfunction of the immune system, when the immune system attacks and destroys healthy cells in the body. There are more than 100 different autoimmune diseases, which disproportionately affect women. These diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.
Occurrence Increasing
Currently, we are facing a dramatic rise in immune system issues, such as cancer and allergic diseases, and in autoimmune diseases, even though the incidence of infectious diseases is decreasing. As examples, the incidence of type 1 diabetes increased by 23 percent between 2001 and 2009, according to a study by the American Diabetes Association. And according to the National Institute of Health, there is a significant increase in celiac disease and multiple sclerosis is on the rise too.
There’s Hope
Before we continue to discuss the rise of these serious health issues and possible causes, it is important to remember that there is an enormous amount of HOPE. We developed the Energy Mastery for Immune Health Workshop to share some of the countless ways we can address these issues.
Those of you who are familiar with Donna Eden’s history know that as a young woman she suffered from many immune and autoimmune issues, including debilitating multiple sclerosis. She was considered to be on her deathbed by several conventional medical doctors. As you know, she healed herself, and went on to develop Eden Energy Medicine. Many of us come to energy medicine for similar reasons-perhaps we’re seeking answers, or perhaps we have already overcome major health issues, but in either case, we know that healing is possible and that we have an incredible capacity to help ourselves, and, as practitioners, to facilitate healing in others.
Why?
Why are these conditions becoming increasingly prevalent in our society? A quick Google search of the topic turns up recent articles with titles such as: “Rise in MS and Autoimmune Disease Linked to Processed Foods,” “Why Autoimmune Diseases Are on the Rise,” “12 Scary Reasons Millennials Need to Worry About Autoimmune Diseases” and “Increased Stress Could Lead to Immune System Disorders, Study Finds.”
The answer is complex, yet it can be summed up in just one word: stress.
Stress refers to both emotional stress and environmental stress (and, of course, the two are linked). When we are stressed, whether the cause is sitting at a desk positioned next to a modem, or eating massive amounts of sugar or being in a difficult relationship, that stress affects our entire body, from the cellular level to the organ level. Stress affects our autonomic nervous system, our hormonal system and our microbiome.
The Immune System and the Gut
There has been increasing attention paid to the microbiome recently, in both conventional and alternative health worlds, for very good reason. Did you know that two-thirds of the immune system is in the gut? As a result, the health of the immune system is integrally connected with the health of the microbiome. And the health of our microbiome is dependent on our environment, the food we eat and our stress levels, among other factors.
Environment
Our environment is not the same as it was 500, 100 or even 50 years ago. The quality of the food and water we consume and the air we breathe has degraded. Pesticides, genetically modified foods and pollution are just a few of the factors that play into this. Added to that, we have the controversial issues of vaccination and of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, both of which can have long-term negative effects on our immune system. Then there is the unprecedented levels of man-made electromagnetic fields (EMFs) that we encounter constantly from our wireless and microwave technology. These are environmental stresses, and they affect us.
What We Can Do
We are fortunate to live in a time when, despite these challenges, we have vast amounts of knowledge and tools to address these issues and enhance our immune health. For most people, there is no one lifestyle adjustment, no single supplement, and no individual energy medicine exercise that will heal a disease. Instead, it is typically a combined approach that can transform our health and the quality of our lives.
Every positive thing you do for your health makes a difference; together, they add up to major changes. Here are some of the key areas we work on with clients at Well Within Natural Medicine:
- Diet. Consider eliminating gluten, sugar, soy, dairy, caffeine and alcohol. Focus on whole foods, and go as organic as possible. If you have food sensitivities, eliminate those trigger foods. Drink quality spring water or filtered water.
- Reduce environmental stressors. What can you do in your environment to cut back on EMFs and other sources of stress? Can you unplug your wireless at night? Turn your cell phone onto airplane mode when you are not using it? Reduce or eliminate your microwave oven use?
- Exercise, meditation and sleep. These are key lifestyle factors, and while this is not new advice, it’s often disregarded. These simple habits can profoundly improve your quality of life.
- Energy medicine exercises. The Daily Energy Routine is foundational; if it is not already part of your daily life, consider incorporating it. Doing it twice a day can be very helpful for people with immune or autoimmune issues, as can adding targeted energy techniques that address your individual needs.
Strengthening the Auric Field:
The Hook Up connects two key meridians Central and Governing that feed energy out into all of your energy systems. It fortifies your Aura, protects your Chakras, connects to all Meridians, the 5-Elements, calms Triple Warmer and supports Spleen, activates the Radiant Circuits, hooks into The Electrics, the Celtic Weave, and the deepest Energy System The Grid. The Hook Up is so simple, yet so powerful.
Place one middle finger in the navel and the other middle finger between your eyebrows. Gently press in and lift up on your inhalation. Hold for 30 seconds then exhale and repeat a few times.
Tap the Thymus gland over the center of your chest to BOTH calm the energies of Triple Warmer (your fight or flight response mechanism) and to strengthen your immune function. It is one of the few ways I know to reduce your stress and increase your immune function simultaneously. As you know, stress is one of the primary causes for compromised immune function and many diseases. Tapping the Thymus has been shown to increase T-Helper Cells. T1 cells help protect you against cancer, supports HIV and kills viruses. T2 cells go after bacteria. They are also beneficial for allergies and auto-immune diseases.
The Triple Warmer Smoothie will calm your nervous system as you begin tracing from the outside of the eyebrow to the opening of the ear, up and over the ear as you smooth behind it down to your shoulders. Give your shoulders a squeeze. Repeat often. When the energy of Triple Warmer is out of balance, it first pulls extra energy it wants from the Spleen. This helps explain why living in a stress-filled environment is the cause of many diseases. Our immune system grabs diseased cells, tagsSpinal Flush them and moves them out of our body through our lymphatic system.
The Spinal Flush works best when done with a partner. It moves lymph to flush toxins and clears stagnant energies. It calms the nervous system, de-stresses and releases emotional stagnation while grounding the body’s energies. By moving lymph you are supporting immune function. Use it when you feel sick, sluggish, overly emotional or just can’t deal with one more issue. Massage along each side of the spine with medium pressure.
The first Thump – K27 is the last point on the Kidney meridian located just below the collarbone on each side of your breastbone. Tapping it will strengthen your immune system; boost and restore your overall energy level; reduce fatigue; move lymph; improve focus and memory; keep energy moving forward through all of your meridians; improve eye health; and help to sync in that Figure 8 cross over energy pattern from the Brain. You will want to massage or tap these points frequently. The second Thump – CV17 is the Sea of Qi and also called the Sea of Tranquility. It is located between the breasts, level with the nipples at the mid-line of your breastbone. Tapping or massaging it increases energy flow, reduces fatigue, calms the mind and the heart, while reducing stress.
10 Natural Ways to Boost Your Immune System
Laughter lowers the production of stress hormones and increases the release of endorphins, the bodies natural “feel-good” chemicals. This combination helps increase immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies.
2. Meditate. Daily meditation is excellent for your immune system. Meditation with a mindful approach to daily living will reduce your stress for sure!
3. Eat Healthy fruits and vegetables especially those that are high in Vitamins A, C, E, B-6, zinc and folic acid, which are all beneficial in creating a healthy immune system.
4. Drink H2O. Drinking plenty of water. It helps to carry oxygen to all the cells of your body, which keeps your body functioning well and your immune system is strongest when all your cells are in tip top shape. Water also flushes toxins out of your body.
5. Wash your insides with probiotics. Probiotics, live organisms, are often referred as the “good guys” because as our intestines are stripped of all the “bad” stuff through frequent antibiotic use, it also kills the “good guys.” Often the “good guys” can be built back up with probiotic supplements or copious amounts of yogurt.
6. Exercise regularly. Exercise is linked to a positive immune system response and a temporary boost to the cells that attack bacteria. Long-term, consistent exercise leads to overall better immune system health.
7. Sleep enough. The immune system needs time to work while you are sleeping. Lack of sleep (fewer than seven hours a night) stresses the body and a stressed body can’t function properly.
8. Don’t skimp on the Garlic.
Garlic contains three powerful compounds (allicin, ajoene and thiosulfinates) that help prevent and fight infections in the body. Studies show that those who ingest large quantities of garlic when they start to get sick will reduce the longevity of the cold.
9. Drink green tea. Several studies have shown that green tea has antiviral properties. It also is said to help suppress appetite which leads to weight-loss control.
10. Have Sex. Having sex once or twice a week is connected to higher levels of the antibody immunoglobulin A, or IgA, which helps protect you from infections and illnesses.
I work with hundreds of people every year with immune related illnesses and have found that energy medicine offers the relief so many people are looking for. I have also found that many people have tried numerous traditional and alternative approaches for immune health with limited success. If you are one of those people, don’t be discouraged. It is so important to find and work with a practitioner that has extensive experience with immune imbalances. Since there is a high correlation between emotions and stress to immune health, it is also important that the practitioner be skilled in working with the emotional component as well as the physical related issues. Before scheduling an appointment with any practitioner, go to their website and review their biography to be sure that they have the necessary credentials and experience. Don’t hesitate to call or email a practitioner directly and ask how much experience they have had with working with your particular challenge. A good practitioner will be open and honest and if they don’t have the experience in a particular area, they will let you know and recommend you to a practitioner who does.
Immune Health Benefits of Coconut Oil
It is often heard that we need to avoid saturated fat in our diet. Is all saturated fat created equal?
Coconut oil is by nature a saturated fat, but it is also a nutritional superfood. The saturated fat we should avoid contains long-chain fatty acids. The fatty acids in coconut oil are medium-chain and very beneficial to our health.
Besides being a healthy fat, coconut oil also provides some health benefits that boost the immune system:
- Protects against heart disease
- Kills disease-causing bacteria and viruses
- Slows sugar released into bloodstream (important for diabetics)
- Prevents and heals skin issues
- Boosts metabolism and increases energy
- Prevents strokes and brain disorders
In our day, coconut oil is easy to find at most grocery stores. When shopping for it, keep in mind that not all coconut oil is equivalent. Look for either “Virgin or “Extra-virgin” coconut oil and the least refined oil as possible.