Boost your immunity without drugs or antibiotics

Nature provides us with a host of antibiotic substances and another huge army of immune system boosters.  This post is advocating careful thinking about how you can naturally boost your body’s defenses.

I have three stitches on the side of my foot – for the first time in my 37 years.  I was a little freaked out by the whole minor procedure.  Voluntarily harming my body to take off a mole that could be pre-cancerous (turns out that it was benign), seems strange.

The kind MD said that I should take an antibiotic. He said it was the best option since the stitches are on my foot, a difficult place to keep clean.  At first I agreed and he gave me a prescription, but before I filled it second thoughts began to creep into my mind.  Really is it necessary to put my body, especially my GI tract through this stress?  Just a few months ago there was a study published showing that a few rounds of antibiotics weaken immune systems over the long haul.

As an Ayurvedic practitioner, I decided that this was a perfect time to practice what I preach  – get over those fears instilled by the modern medical establishment

With my years of study of Ayurveda and natural healing methods, shouldn’t I be capable of preventing infection on a tiny wound on my foot?

Coincidentally last week I was reading Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s book – Super Immunity and I had already started to add mushrooms, allium family and cruciferous vegetables to my diet.

I have an arsenal of herbs at my fingertips that I use with clients, and a vast set of wisdom in ayurveda and other traditional medicines, with natural ingredients I been learning along the way.

Here are a few of the natural remedies that I decide to use

– Grapefruit seed extract – tablets – these are renound for boosting the immune system and their own antibiotic properties. I took 5 tablets per day. I also have the liquid extract which I can use for washing the cut and keeping my home clean from bacteria.

– Clear Nails Plus – Is a strong antibiotic, removes yeast and fungal infections, read the latest clear nails plus reviews.

– Mushroom extract – Usually I don’t take supplements, however I made an exception for this period, and mushrooms in the diet to strengthen the immune system.

– Honey – a very strong antibiotic on the skin when it’s combine wit an eczema cream, and also its astringent properties helps to heal the cut.  I applied honey a couple of times to the stitches, then covered with a large band aid.

– Garlic – antibiotic, anti-parasitic and antiseptic when consumed raw, and a boost to the immune system.

– Coconut oil – contains lauric acid, medium chain fatty acids that are antifungal and antibiotic.  Coconut oil is awesome for keeping the skin around the stitches moist.  I noticed that from all the cleaning my skin was getting red and tight.  Coconut oil remedied this immediately.  And it feels GREAT!  I’m putting it on my face, arms and legs.

– Probiotics help to keep beneficial gut bacteria in check.  I got these directly from coconut milk yoghurt.

Super charged immune boosting diet

– Green smoothie for breakfast

– Juice for snack.  Freshly made vegetable juices – beet, carrot, kale, lime, ginger, apple, etc.

– Coconut curry with cruciferous veggies, sweet potatoes and coconut milk

– Brown rice is a pre-biotic for those helpful bacteria

– So Delicious Coconut Yogurt for probiotics

– Raw crackers with hummus, olive oil and raw garlic

– Dark chocolate for the antioxidants.  In moderation of course!

– Mushrooms – especially shitake, portobello, crimini, button.  Others like reishi are very helpful too, but more difficult to use in recipes, or even locate.  

The stitches are very clean and clear.  No sign of infection.  Looking forward to hearing what the doc says when removing them in a couple days.

So the takeaway message from this post is – think about what you will put into your body.  Try to use natural substances. There are many options out there!