This week at Summer Camp, we have an exciting guest post from one of our favorite local Chiropractors, Dr. Michele Gardner! Check out what Dr. Gardner has to share about optimizing immune health below.
Summer is almost over which means school will be starting soon! There’s a funny thing that happens when children get together in large groups and have the added social stress of starting a new year. It seems to do with both stress-coping strategies and gut health. We now understand that stress affects our nervous system, which in turn alters immune function- especially when it is chronic. (Segerstrom, 2004) We also 
know that a large percentage of our immune function resides in our gut. (Vighi, 2008) Each family essentially has its own ecosystem that gets challenged when encountering another that our immune system is unfamiliar with. (University of Utah, 2014) Fortunately, there are daily choices you can make to support general immune health, actions you can take for prevention during exposure to an illness or during a high stress time-period, and treatments you can use to ease your symptoms and possibly shorten their duration.
For starters, I have never seen more stressed-out kids than those in school today. The level of academic and social demand placed on our children requires we teach them stress-coping strategies. Do you know what works for your child and your family? As parents, the pressure is just as great- in different ways. And if you’re a “big kid” – this applies to you too.
Here’s my list of Top 10 Daily Choices to Support General Immune Health:
- Get adjusted by your family chiropractor. Adjustments not only boost immune function for hours afterward (Brennan, 1991), they increase relaxation and digestive health through the nervous system! (Yates, 1988) (Takeda)
- Consume high-quality, nutrient-dense food for a healthy gut. We have many knowledgeable people here in Flemington who can help you learn to make the best choices for you and your family. Just ask! We’ll help you get started by finding the right person for you. It can be simple too – no need to get overwhelmed. It can be all about adding in good stuff that crowds out what you don’t want. And, it can taste great so you don’t have to feel deprived. If you regularly eat at Basil Bandwagon’s Farm to Market Café, then you know I’m right!
- Find appropriate exercise. Did you know exercise immunology is a thing? Regular moderate exercise is shown to decrease risk of illness while over-training can have the opposite effect. (Gleeson, 2007)
- Get quality rest. Our bodies restore and regenerate while we sleep. The amount of sleep we require changes with age too. For most adults, seven to eight hours will suffice; teens and infants require more like ten to twelve! (Olson, 2015)
- Take quality, whole-foods supplements including vitamins and trace minerals tailored to your needs. Whether you need to establish/restore your gut health or counter the depleting effects of stress, supplementation can be instrumental in your health. The key is to first find out what your specific needs are, and that can often begin with bloods tests. There are certain supplements that are safe to use even if you don’t have a deficiency (essentially you’ll just eliminate the excess). But, there are others you want to take ONLY if you are deficient – especially fat-soluble vitamins (that means they get stored in your body). (Medicine Net, 1999) There are medical doctors with post-doctorate training in Functional Medicine or Integrative Medicine who have a more comprehensive understanding and testing capabilities. Again, we have many here in our community and neighboring counties.
- Learn to reduce stress. We’ve already established that our community has a high level of stress, and chronic stress affects our immune function. Help yourself and your family by cultivating stress-coping strategies. We aren’t going to eliminate the stress in our lives so we’d better adapt! And, for the love of Pete, don’t add this to your already overloaded to-do list and become the health “Nazi” in your family! These are strategies that develop over time, organically, and from self-love! Surround yourself with practitioners from traditions that make sense to you, who can guide you along this journey. Ask and we’ll help you find your:
- Family Chiropractor
- Community Acupuncturist
- Aromatherapist
- Massage Therapist
- Yoga Instructor
- Family Gestalt Therapist
- Tai Chi or Qigong Instructor
- Ayurvedic Practitioner
- Minister
- Energy Medicine Practitioner
- Herbalist
- Homeopath
- Personal Trainer
- Meditation Guru
- Art Therapist
- Hypnotherapist
- Make sure the humidity in your home stays close to 50%. In cold air our mucous membranes (lining of your respiratory tract) get dried out, which can lower our body’s defense to illness. Their job is to trap those pesky bacteria or viruses we don’t want so we can sneeze or cough them out. (Mercola, 2014)
- Play outdoors. Good ol’sunshine and fresh air! If you’ve had a recent physical, then your medical doctor has probably checked your vitamin D level. Direct sun exposure for 15 minutes without sunblock is still the best way to allow your body to absorb vitamin D. (Vitamin D Council)
- Hydrate on a cellular level. Those are fancy words for drinking water. Not just any old water, though. pH balance and mineral balance have an effect on cell uptake of water and hydration appears to be linked with immune function that starts in our saliva. (Adams) If you’ve got good well water- fantastic! If not, research options for quality filtration and consider electrolyte supplementation when appropriate. I like to avoid bottled water when possible, but there are bottled waters that provide trace minerals and a healthy pH.
- Laugh! Why does Snoop Dogg use an umbrella? For Drizzle! But, seriously, laughter is the best medicine. Laughter will reduce the stress response in your body, boost your immune system, relieve pain, and improve your mood. (Mayo Clinic, 2016) I hear we have some new comedy acts coming up here in Flemington…
What actions can you take for prevention during exposure to an illness or during a time-period of high stress?
Take all the above and add a few immune boosting tweaks:
- Ask your family chiropractor if it is appropriate to increase your care during this time. If you’ve been under a Wellness Care Plan it might be time to return to a Condition Based or Corrective Care schedule. If you haven’t been under care, now is as good a time as any to start.
- Vitamin C, Zinc (supplements/throat sprays/lozenges), Monolaurin (an anti-viral supplement from coconut), and Olive Leaf Extract are among the supplements I’ll use. There are many, many more: Echinacea, goldenseal, elderberry, and so on. The best people to ask are the staff at Basil Bandwagon!
- Hydrogen peroxide rinse for your ears; especially if you notice your ears are itchy.
- Keep your sinuses hydrated with a natural saline spray.
- Focus on Gut health! Certain foods will suppress digestive health while others will support it: Check out this article. (Palevsky, 2006)
- Essential Oils – almost all are anti-viral and anti-bacterial. Ask me for resources to practitioners who can teach you all about their many benefits. You can even diffuse them in your home or work place. (Pattnaik, 1996)
- Rest! Remember you are a human Being, Not a human Doing.
Last but not least, what to do to reduce your symptoms and shorten their duration:
- Safely increase your supplements at the onset of your symptoms.
- Ask for herbal remedies and treatments from your community acupuncturist, herbalist, ayurvedic practitioner, or naturopath.
- Utilize homeopathy – while available at Basil Bandwagon, working with a practitioner to prescribe a remedy specific to you can be more potent than using blends or trying to guess yourself.
- Rest!!! Really!!! Stay Home!!! Not only will you help yourself recover quicker, you’ll be taking care of your community by not sharing whatever it is with everyone else.
There you have it, my friends! With a clear nervous system, quality nutrition, rest, recreation, exercise and hydration, you can achieve greater heights in your health. If you do start expressing symptoms, support your body to do what it knows how to do via your immune system and you’ll be well in no time. Snuggle on the couch and watch your favorite comedy shows while someone pampers you. And, if you don’t have someone to pamper you, call me – I’ll grab a healthy soup from Basil Bandwagon and bring you a care package fit for an Olympic Champion!
Dr. Michele Gardner is a Holistic Chiropractor whose focus is on wellness and preventative care for families and individuals facing physical, mental and emotional issues. She specializes in prenatal care and pediatrics. Her passion is to educate and inspire everyone to achieve the best possible health without drugs or surgery. Gardner Family Chiropractic is located in the Old Egg Auction complex at 84 Park Avenue, Suite G105 in Flemington,www.drmichelegardner.com, 908-782-7470, gfctasks@gmail.com.
References:
Adams, W. e. (n.d.). Immune Function: Basic Considerations of Exercise and Hydration. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Korey Stringer Institute: University of Connecticut: http://ksi.uconn.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1222/2015/04/Immune-Function-and-Hydration.pdf
Brennan, e. a. (1991). Enhanced phagocytic cell respiratory bursts induced by spinal manipulation: Potential Role of Substance P. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics , 399-400.
Gleeson, M. (2007). Immune function in sport and exercise. Journal of Applied Physiology , 693-699.
Mayo Clinic. (2016, April 21). Healthy Lifestyle: Stress Management. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-relief/art-20044456?pg=1
Medicine Net. (1999, October 14). water soluble vitamins vs fat soluble vitamins article. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Medicine Net: http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=10736
Mercola. (2014, January 13). Effects of Low Humidity on Health. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Mercola.com: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2014/01/13/low-humidity-health-effects.aspx
Olson, E. (2015, June 9). Expert Answers on Insomnia. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/insomnia/expert-answers/lack-of-sleep/faq-20057757
Palevsky, L. (2006, December 1). A Holistic Perspective on the Digestive System of Infants and Children. Retrieved August 15, 2016, from ICPA: http://icpa4kids.org/Wellness-Articles/a-holistic-perspective-on-the-digestive-system-of-infants-and-children.html
Pattnaik, S. e. (1996). Antibacterial and antifungal activity of ten essential oils in vitro. Microbios , 237-46.
Segerstrom, S. C. (2004). Psychological Stress and the Human Immune System: A Meta-Analytic Study of 30 Years of Inquiry. Psychological Bulletin , abstract conclusion.
Takeda, Y. e. Long Term Remission and Alleviation of Symptoms in Allergy and Crohn’s Disease Patients Following Spinal Adjustment for Reduction of Vertebral Subluxations. Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research , 4 (4), 1.
University of Utah. (2014, August 15). Your Changing Microbiome. Retrieved August 14, 2016, from Learn.Genetics. Genetic Science Learning Center.: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/microbiome/changing/
Vighi, G. e. (2008). Allergy and the gastrointestinal system. Clinical and Experimental Immunology , abstract.
Vitamin D Council. (n.d.). How do I get the vitamin D my body needs? Retrieved August 15, 2016, from Vitamin D Council: http://www.vitamindcouncil.org/about-vitamin-d/how-do-i-get-the-vitamin-d-my-body-needs/
Yates, e. a. (1988). Effects of chiropractic treatment on blood pressure and anxiety: a randomized, controlled trial. Journal of Manipulative & Physiological Therapeutics , 484-488.
