Don’t blame your boss for giving you too much work. If you’re missing more workdays due to getting sick, it’s probably because of the food you eat. Processed, unhealthy, and sugar-laced foods are the bane of your immune system; pair this with an unsatisfactory routine, and your body is bound to crash.
Your immune system might need an extra boost. Natural remedies such as ginger, berries, and your everyday greens work, but for your defenses to bulk up, Mother Nature provides the real treatments.
Chaga Mushrooms
Resembling a burnt lump of mud, the Chaga mushrooms from Siberia and parts of Eastern Europe, Alaska, and Northern Canada grow on barks of birch trees and bloom in brisk climates.
For centuries, Chaga mushrooms have been used as a natural anti-inflammatory substance. They stimulate white blood cells and promote the production of cytokines, proteins essential to our immune system. They’ve also been scientifically proven to lower blood sugar, cholesterol levels, and even stunt the growth of cancer.
Chaga mushrooms are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. Iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium, fiber, B-complex vitamins, and amino acids saturate these traditional super-foods. Chaga’s dense antioxidants also suggest anti-aging abilities, as these slow down the natural aging process. You can incorporate Chaga into your diet as a supplement or as an herbal tea brew.
Astralagus
Another power-packed supplement that improves your immune system is the Astralagus, a purple flowering plant prominently used in traditional Chinese medicine. Up to today, both big pharmaceuticals and simple backyard growers harvest the roots of the Artalagus as an anti-inflammatory and antibacterial remedy.
It’s also believed to treat liver and kidney problems as well as improve heart function and reduce symptoms of myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle. Astralagus is also an adaptogen; it supports the body’s adrenal glands and improves our body’s responses to everyday stressors. Moreover, it reduces the risk of fatigue, seasonal allergy symptoms, flu, and common colds.
Astralagus is taken in many forms. It can be added to diets as supplements, as powdered tea, or be administered through IV.
Andrographis
Andrographis, also known as green chireta, is an annual herb native to China and other South Asian countries like India and Sri Lanka. It’s bitter but remains a popular medicinal herb due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-viral properties.
By stimulating the immune system, the Andrographis plant has shown to relieve a multitude of ailments. It’s considered a solution to common digestive complaints such as constipation, stomach pain, colic, and diarrhea. It’s also been used to treat diseases such as syphilis and gonorrhea, a variety of liver and kidney problems, as well as other infectious illnesses such as malaria, pneumonia, leptospirosis, and cholera. It’s also been used to cure allergies, skin wounds, snake and insect bites, and other skin infections.
Most health and wellness stores stock Andrographis as either a supplement or a tincture.
While these organic options have been abundantly proven to treat various medical conditions, they continue to be a popular alternative for their capability to keep our immune systems in top shape. Consult experts about proper doses, and remember to couple this with a well-rounded diet and a restful daily routine.
