The latest wave of swine flu outbreak in Mexico and parts of USA illustrates the adaptability of viruses.
These tiny organisms which are not even visible to our naked eyes learn and adapt to their environment with alarming efficiency and this recent outbreak is a good example. Caused by a mutant of a previously known swine flu virus H1N1, the trend seems to indicate that we are getting a new strain of virus almost every year.
While it is important to develop new vaccines to fight against new viruses, it is equally important, if not critical, to develop and strengthen our own immune system. If our body’s line of defense is weak or strained, bacteria and viruses will stand a higher chance of invading and attacking our body, and mutating into stronger versions.
Other than the commonsensical measures of getting sufficient rest and sleep, drinking enough clean uncontaminated water, exercising regularly and eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, here are some other ways which I have found to be useful in boosting our body’s natural defenses:
1. Harness the Power of Your Mind
-
A scattered mind that is under perpetual stress, or constantly engaging in destructive emotions such as anger and anxiety burns up valuable energies. This leaves less energies for other important bodily functions like fighting against viruses and removing waste and toxins. Over time, the immune system will become weaker and weaker, making you vulnerable even to viruses that do not usually give you problems.
Meditation helps by focusing your mind and aggregating your dispersed life force, so that they are not wasted on mindless thoughts and emotions. Your body, in turn, will have more energies to shore up its natural defenses and fight against harmful organisms..
Visualization on the other hand helps to boost your healing capabilities by clearing your inner blockages and tensions often caused by suppressed emotions, and directing your energies to heal specific parts of the body with the aid of positive mental images.
Meditation and visualization are often used together. By combining them, you get a winning combo that’s powerful and effective. I’ve described a few different ways to meditate and visualize in my past articles, pick one or two that you like most and do them consistently for at least 15-minute a day.
2. Exercise Your Way to Stronger Body
-
Moderate exercise is another great way to strengthen one’s immunity as it improves blood flow and helps to remove toxins from the body, making you less susceptible to viruses and bacteria.
Exercise has also been found to be an effective stress reliever because it provides an effective outlet for the nervous energy caused by stress. It also helps to keep the mind busy and break the vicious cycle formed by incessant worries, anxieties, or negative thoughts.
So pick up a sport that you like today and stay moving your body!
3. Tap on the Essences of Nature
-
Pure essential oils which are derived from branches, leaves, flowers and peels of plants, shrubs, fruits and trees have a myriad of useful properties for a wide range of uses.
Eucalyptus and Tea Tree are two essences from nature which have strong antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties for healing and protecting your health. Putting four to five drops of either oil in a candle-based oil burner or electric diffuser will yield multiple positive effects, including:
-
kills germs in the air and reduces the number of airborne viruses and bacteria;
-
repels disease-borne mosquitoes and insects;
-
improves respiratory conditions such as cold, cough, running nose, sore throat, asthma and nasal congestion;
-
helps to invigorate and stimulate your mind, and
-
acts as a natural air freshener for your room or office.
The best part is, these effects are not restricted to you alone; they will also help those who are in the same room as you. So light up the candle and vaporize a few drops today. Your co-workers or family members will thank you for making their environment more pleasing and safe!
Caution: Pure essential oils are only meant for external use. Never take them orally, or apply undiluted oils to skin (except for tea tree oil which is safe to use undiluted on small areas of the skin).
-
4. Push Your Self-Healing Buttons
-
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) believes that the body is made up of an intricate network of meridian pathways that interconnect with all the different parts of the body: bones, muscles, organs, skin, everything. Along these pathways are points through which qi, blood and fluid flow, enabling life-supporting functions and processes to take place. When one or more of the meridian points are blocked due to some reason, an imbalance occurs which can lead to illnesses if left untreated for a period of time.
Acupressure is one of the means to activate our internal self-healing energies to clear blocked pathways. By massaging certain meridian points, you stimulate your inner self-curative mechanism to heal specific parts of the body.
There are certain immune-boosting meridian points that can give you an edge over viruses. Zu San Li is one of them. Literally translated as the “Leg Three Miles” meridian point, Zu San Li belongs to the Stomach Meridian. It is located four fingers below the kneecap and one finger width to the outside of the shinbone, in the depression between the shinbone and the leg muscle. Stimulating this meridian point will help to improve digestion and strengthen the immune system. It is widely recognized as an important meridian point for preserving one’s health and for improving one’s constitution in TCM.
After locating Zu San Li, use the non-sharpen end of a pencil to depress it with moderate strength. If you hit the right spot, you should feel slight pain when you depress it. As you press it in, exhale and hold for a few seconds, before releasing it and inhale. Do this for five minutes for each leg every morning before breakfast.
5. Cheer Up Your Feet with Foot Bath
-
This method is recommended by a friend of mine who has been performing this ritual for the past eight to ten months. Reportedly, a 20-minute warm foot bath every night has helped him to ward off colds and flu, and improved his quality of sleep.
I have also read that warm foot baths can improve one’s blood circulation which in turn helps the body to detox. A warm foot bath also works miracles on tired feet and will help you to wind down after a day of hard work. The temperature drop that you experience after a relaxing soak will also help you to sleep better at night.
In reality, foot bath is an age-old practice that has long been used in China to improve certain health conditions. In TCM, selected herbs are boiled in water to extract their medicinal properties and the water is then used by patients to soak their feet. At home, you can put one to two drops of pure essential oil into lukewarm water before sliding in your feet for a fragrant and health-enhancing foot bath.
The five methods I have outlined above are by no means exhaustive. I am sure there are many other ways of boosting our immune health. Do you know of any that works well for you or other people? If you do, let us know about it in the comments. Thanks!
Continue to Natural Remedies for Colds and Flu »
I have noticed too that one’s state of mind effects immunity. Thanks for your contribution to Take Charge of Your Health Care.
[...] presents 5 Simple Ways to Boost Your Immune Health posted at The Conscious Life. “With flu virus on the loose, it is important to strengthen our [...]