Salubrious Life

Eight Ways To Boost Your Immune System Naturally

It is that time of year when colds and flu can get the best of you.  Listed below are eight natural ways to boost your immune system so that you can stay well.

     1.  Vitamin C: Most studies show that vitamin C doesn't prevent colds, but if taken at the first sign of a cold it could shorten the duration by a day.  If you take a multivitamin and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables daily, you are probably already getting enough vitamin C.  If not, take a supplement at the first sign of a cold.  If you are not into supplements, then drink more fresh squeezed orange juice or eat half a grapefruit.  If you do take a supplement, don't take more than 400 milligrams.  If you take more, it will just wash out of your system.

     2.  Bitter Greens:  Bitter greens help relieve chest congestion, sniffles, and coughs.  Some research shows that they have antiviral effects as well.  So this winter have salads made with watercress and arugula. 

     3.  Whole Grain Cereals and Breads:  Whole grains are rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin E and zinc, which can help keep your immune system healthy.  The jury is still out on whether taking zinc lozenges or zinc nasal sprays ease cold symptoms.  Eating whole grain cereals and breads is always good.

     4.  Ginger Tea:  Ginger is loaded with virus fighting substances that can act directly against cold viruses.  Steep a tablespoon of fresh grated ginger in hot water for a few minutes.  If you don't have fresh ginger, use ginger tea.  If that is not available use a tea that has ginger in it.

     5.  Garlic:  Garlic is one of the most potent disease fighting foods.  If you can eat it raw, do so.  If that sends your taste buds running, cook the garlic with foods.  That will also do the job.  Have at least 2 servings of garlic per day.

     6.  Saline Nose Spray or Rinse:  Cold viruses gain entry by attaching themselves to a molecule on the nasal lining called ICAM-1.  An easy and simple way to reduce your ICAM-1 levels is to spray your nose with saline.  This could reduce the amount of time you suffer from a runny nose or congestion.  You can make your own saline nose spray by dissolving a teaspoon of salt in a pint of warm water or you can purchase a saline nose spray.  Spray or rinse your nose once or twice a day.

     7.  Avoid Exhaustive Workouts:  We all know that moderate exercise boosts your immune system.  But did you know that exhaustive workouts can suppress your immune system for 72 hours.  So if your are use to running marathons keep doing them, but if you aren't, stick with your usual workout routine during this time of year.

     8.  Be Quiet:  Stress can wreck havoc not just on your immune system but on everything including elevated blood pressure, headaches, backaches, and migraines, just to name a few.  When you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, sit down, be quiet and just breathe.

Acupuncture May Improve Sperm

Source: CBS

An estimated 10% of men are infertile, and the male partner is a factor in up to 50% of infertile couples, write the researchers.

• Why Does Acupuncture Work for Some?

• Can You Boost Your Odds of Getting Pregnant?

• Acupuncture May Cut Pregnancy Pelvic Pain 


(WebMD) Acupuncture may help some men overcome infertility problems by improving the quality of their sperm, according to a new study.

Researchers found five weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the number of structural abnormalities in sperm and increased the overall number of normal sperm in a group of men with infertility problems.

They say the results suggest that acupuncture may complement traditional infertility treatments and help men reach their full reproductive potential.

Acupuncture May Ease Male Infertility

An estimated 10% of men are infertile, and the male partner is a factor in up to 50% of infertile couples, write the researchers. In many cases, the cause of male infertility is unknown.

Previous studies of acupuncture and male infertility have suggested that acupuncture can improve sperm production and motility (a measure of sperm movement).

In this study, researchers looked at the effects of acupuncture on the structural health of sperm in men with infertility of unknown cause. The findings appear in the July issue of Fertility and Sterility.

Twenty-eight infertile men received acupuncture treatments twice a week for five weeks, and 12 received no treatment and served as a comparison group.

Researchers analyzed sperm samples at the beginning and end of the study and found significant improvements in sperm quality in the acupuncture group compared with the other group.

Acupuncture treatment was associated with fewer structural defects in the sperm and an increase in the number of normal sperm in ejaculate.

But other sperm abnormalities, such as immature sperm or sperm death, were unaffected by acupuncture.

The researchers write that acupuncture treatment is a simple, noninvasive method that can improve sperm quality.

Alternative Medicine, 70% of The Over 50 Crowd Use It

A study by Dr. Gong-Soog Hong of Ohio State University concluded that more than 70% of adults aged 50 or older use some type of alternative therapy. Hong and her team interviewed 848 people aged 50 and above about their use of chiropractic medicine, acupuncture, massage therapy, breathing exercises, herbal medicine and meditation. 71% of respondents said they had tried at least one of the six types of alternative therapy. The most popular remedy was chiropractic, used by 43% of older adults. The least popular remedy was acupuncture, likely because few insurance companies cover it, Hong noted.

Growth of Alternative Medicine

Although 36% of US adults use complimentary and alternative medicine services (CAM), expenditures were just 2% of the $1.7 trillion health-care market in 2004.

CAM services are growing at a slightly lower rate than the overall US health-care industry and have been for the past few years.

As CAM gets more insurance coverage and more consumers become exposed to the benefits of safe and non-invasive ways of treatment, this sector is sure to grow.

Services included : Chiropractic, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Massage Therapy, Naturopathy, Ayurveda, Osteopathy, Nurses/MDs, Others