Cause: N/A.

Useful Supplements: Acidophilus, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Zinc.

Useful Herbs: Ashwagandha , Astragalus, Cat’s Claw, Echinacea, Green Tea, Licorice, Ligustrum, Maitake Mushrooms, Shiitake Mushrooms.

Further information: The immune system is responsible for protecting the body against infection. Its major components include lymph nodes, bone marrow, the spleen, the thymus gland, and the tonsils.
The immune system creates antibodies, which react to specific infectious agents. In most cases, an antibody is created the first time that the body encounters a germ. The antibody then remains in the body, preventing a second infection by the same germ.
Some diseases, including HIV and Lupus, weaken the immune system. Antibodies do not form normally, and infections easily overtake the body. In some cases, medications can help counteract weakened immune systems.
The best way to form a strong immune system is through maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Controlled weight, healthy diet, and regular exercise¹ can keep the body in the best shape possible to fight infections. Cleanliness, especially regular hand washing, can also help keep germs from invading the system.
Some foods appear to interfere with the body’s immune function. Sugars inhibit white blood cells in their attempts to destroy bacteria.² Alcohol³ and high dietary fat⁴ also interfere with immune function.
Allergies can also weaken the immune system. Many ear infections are caused by allergic reactions, especially to dairy⁵. In these cases, antibiotics may treat the infection, but it will recur almost immediately.⁶ When allergies are affecting immunity, it may be necessary to discover which food or environmental agent is causing the problem, and avoid it as much as possible.

The following supplements and herbs may be helpful in boosting immune function:

Acidophilus, which is found both as a supplement and in foods such as yogurt, helps the body to fight both bacterial infections⁷ and yeast infection.

Vitamin A helps to strengthen skin and mucous membranes, preventing germs from penetrating these. Supplementation may help prevent infection and speed recovery from certain illnesses, such as measles and diarrhea.⁸

Vitamin C acts as an antiviral agent,⁹ elevating the body’s interferon levels. Even taken in small amounts, it appears to reduce the duration and severity of illnesses.¹⁰ In some studies, Vitamin C has helped reduce the risk of hepatitis infection as well.¹¹

Zinc supplements appear to increase immune response.¹² Taking Zinc lozenges when a cold starts often shortens the duration and severity of the infection. It is unclear whether Zinc also acts to prevent infection.

Ashwagandha works to stimulate the immune system overall,¹³ with many components that promote general wellness.

Astragalus reduces autoimmune response such as that caused by rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.^14,15

Some of the components of Cat’s Claw stimulate the immune system.¹⁶

Echinacea supports immune function.¹⁷ It works both as a preventive measure and to treat infection once it has set in. Echinacea works by increasing the number of "killer white cells", which fight disease.¹⁸ Echinacea works well both by itself and as an enhancer of traditional medical treatments.¹⁹

Green Tea has antibacterial properties and stimulates the production of immune cells.^20,21

Licorice has long been used in Chinese medicine to enhance the effects of other herbal remedies. This enhancing behavior may be the reason for Licorice’s effectiveness at improving immunity.²² Licorice stimulates immunity in several ways,²³ including encouraging the growth of T-cells and interferon.²⁴

Ligustrum fruit has many immune-enhancing effects, including cancer inhibition.²⁵ It appears to increase white blood cell counts.²⁶

Maitake mushrooms enhance immunity,²⁷ and appear especially effective in helping the body to inhibit cancer growth.²⁸

Shiitake mushrooms stimulate white blood cells to produce interferon. They appear to help increase immunity in laboratory studies.²⁹MGN-3 is a natural product isolated from rice bran. It has been shown to improve the natural killer cell function of the immune system response. This may be beneficial in patients with cancer, AIDS, and other immune system deficiencies, although the published studies are limited.³⁰

References:

¹Nieman DC. Exercise, upper respiratory tract infection, and the immune system. Med Sci Sports Med 1994;26(2):128–139.
²Ringsdorf WM, et al. Sucrose, neutrophilic phagocytosis and resistance to disease. Dental Survey 1976;52(12):46.
³Ahmed FE. Toxicological effects of ethanol on human health. Crit Rev Tox 1995;25(4):347–67.
⁴Kubena KS and McMurray DN. Nutrition and the immune system: A review of nutrient-nutrient interactions. J Am Diet Assoc 1996;96(11):1156–64.
⁵Pang LQ. The importance of allergy in otolaryngology. Clin Ecology 1982;1(1):53.
⁶Cantekin EI, McGuire TW, Griffith TL. Antimicrobial therapy for otitis media with effusion (secretory otitis media). JAMA 1991;266:3309–17.
⁷Fernandes CF, Shahani KM, Amer MA. Therapeutic role of dietary lactobacilli and lactobacillic fermented dairy products. FEMS Micro Rev 1987;46:343–56.
⁸Glasziou PP, Mackerras DEM. Vitamin A supplementation in infectious diseases: a meta-analysis. BMJ 1993;306:366–70.
⁹Gerber WF, et al. Effect of ascorbic acid, sodium salicylate, and caffeine on the serum interferon level in response to viral infection. Pharmacology 1975;13:228.
¹⁰Hemila H. Vitamin C and the common cold. Br J Nutr 1992;67:3–16.
¹¹Knodell RG, Tate MA, Akl BF, et al. Vitamin C prophylaxis for posttransfusion hepatitis: Lack of effect in a controlled trial. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34(1):20–3.
¹²Duchateau J, Delespesse G, Vereecke P. Influence of oral zinc supplementation on the lymphocyte response to mitogens of normal subjects. Am J Clin Nutr 1981;34:88–93.
¹³Wagner H, Nörr H, Winterhoff H. Plant adaptogens. Phytomed 1994;1:63–76.
¹⁴Liang H, et al. The effect of astragalus polysaccharides on cell mediated immunity (CMI) in burned mice. Chin J Plast Surg Burns 1994 Mar;10(2):138.
¹⁵Rittenhouse JR, et al. Chinese medicinal herbs reverse macrophage suppression induced by urological tumors. J Urol 1991 Aug;146(2):486.
¹⁶Keplinger H. Oxindole alkaloids having properties stimulating the immunologic system and preparation containing same. US Patent no. 5,302,611, April 12, 1994.
¹⁷Luettig B, et al. Macrophage activation by the polysaccharide arabinogalactan isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea. J Natl Cancer Inst 1989 May;81(9):669.
¹⁸See DM, Broumand N, Sahl L, Tilles JG. In vitro effects of echinacea and ginseng on natural killer and antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity in healthy subjects and chronic fatigue syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients. Immunpharmacol 1997;35:229–35.
¹⁹Steinmüller C, et al. Polysaccharides isolated from plant cell cultures of Echinacea purpurea enhance the resistance of immunosuppressed mice against systemic infections with Candida albicans and Listeria monocytogenes. Intl J Immunopharmacol 1993;15(5):605.
²⁰You SQ. Study on feasibility of Chinese green tea polyphenols (CTP) for preventing dental caries. Chin J Stom 1993;28(4):197–199.
²¹Hamilton-Miller JM. Antimicrobial properties of tea (Camellia sinensis L.). Antimicro Ag Chemo 1995;39(11):2375–2377.
²²Akamatsu H, et al. Mechanism of anti-inflammatory action of glycyrrhizin: effect on neutrophil functions including reactive oxygen species generation. Planta Medica 1991;57:119-21.
²³Chavali SR, et al. An in vitro study of immunomodulatory effects of some saponins. Intl J Immunopharmacol 1987;9:675.
²⁴Shinada M, et al. Enhancement of interferon-gamma production in glycyrrhizin-treated human peripheral lymphocytes in response to concanavalin A and to surface antigen of hepatitis B virus. Proc Soc Exp Bio Med 1986;181:205.
²⁵Sun Y, et al. Preliminary observations on the effects of the Chinese medicinal herbs Astragalus membranaceus and Ligustrum lucidum on lymphocyte blastogenic response. J Biol Response Modifiers 1983;2(3):227.
²⁶Sun Y, et al. Immune restoration and/or augmentation of local graft versus host reaction by traditional Chinese medical herbs. Cancer 1983;52:70.
²⁷Press release. Georgetown University announced effects of maitake mushroom extract on CVD. 1998 Oct 16.
²⁸Nanba, H. Activity of maitake D-fraction to inhibit carcinogenesis and metastasis. Cancer Prev--Ann NY Acad Sci, 1995 Sep. 30;768:243-245.
²⁹Suzuki M, et al. Antitumor and immunological activity of lentinan in comparison with LPS. Intl J Immunopharmacol 1994;16(5/6):463.
³⁰Ghoneum M. Anti-HIV activity in vitro of MGN-3, an activated arabinoxylane from rice bran. Biochem Biophys Res Commun, 1998 Feb, 243:1, 25-9