Taking Control of Your Health – The Stern Chiropractic Newsletter
BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Referral Corner:
The Greatest Compliment my Patients Can Give is the Referral of Their Friends and Loved Ones. Thank You For Your Trust. This month, I would like to thank the following people for their trust: Jordan Cramer, Michael Kupperman, Al Roskin, Christina Vennette, and Michael & Gayle Perper.
Charity Corner:
During November & December Stern Chiropractic will be collecting non-perishable food for the Vernon Township Food Pantry as well as collecting contributions for The Lake County Meals on Wheels. A matching contribution up to $500 will be made by Stern Chiropractic. Please join me in helping those needier then ourselves.
Topic of the Month : BOOSTING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
Will mom’s chicken soup really help that cold? Well maybe not but don’t tell her I told you that. As the cold weather approaches, so does the cold and flu season and while cold weather does not cause colds and flu it is the time when schools are back in session and people are inside for more of their day sharing their germs with their friends, family and co-workers. People don’t necessarily get sick because they were exposed to a germ. For example, I am sure you have gone somewhere, been exposed to something and gotten sick yet your friend who was in the same room did not get sick. Why?
There are 3 main factors that determine susceptibility to disease:
1. Impaired defense system
2. Genetic Factors
3. Age
Impaired Defense System – Many people have ongoing system impairment due to things like diabetes, hypertension, depression, a cut in you skin, or “just” the stresses of daily life. What you need to understand is that as physical, mental and emotional stressors are piled on, you body’s resources attempt to handle these stressors and this leaves your body weaker more susceptible to catching these diseases.
Genetic Factors – some people were born with a stronger immune system.
Age – infants and seniors have less effective immune systems.
How Does the Body Fight Off Disease?
The body has 2 types of defenses against disease:
1. Innate (Nonspecific) Immunity.
2. Adaptive (Specific) Immunity.
Innate Immunity (as an aside, please talk to me about Innate, it goes much deeper and does much more than just immunity). Innate immunity provides four Barriers to Disease:
1. Mechanical – skin, mucus, fluids (tears, …)
2. Chemical – antiviral substances, low pH, …
3. Phagocytic Cells – Natural Killer Cells & Macrophages Major component of white blood cells that guard against invading pathogens)
4. Normal Flora – normal bacteria in your gut (competes for food with invading pathogens)
Adaptive Immunity – 2 parts
1. Cell Mediated – T Cells
2. Antibody Mediated – B Cells (B cells produce antibodies)
Adaptive immunity requires 1 previous exposure before it starts. The body forms an immunological memory then responds with specific weapons to specific invaders (whereas the Innate system is a generalized response to any invading organism).
Both systems work hand-in-hand to protect you from disease with one system activating the other.
What Can I Do to Increase My Immunity?
1. Get Adjusted Regularly – not only does this provide a temporary (48 hr.) boost to your immune system (release of monocytes from bone marrow) but it also helps to free up your bodies resources that were being used to compensate for nervous system and joint dysfunction.
2. Having Your Meridians Balanced – this also frees up your bodies resources (Qi – Life Force) to allow the body to protect and heal itself.
3. Eat a Good Healthy Diet – give your body the nutrients and energy it needs to heal and be healthy.
4. Supplementation as needed to make sure you have a full spectrum of nutrients for your body (i.e. Vitamins A,C,E, B6, and Folic Acid as well as minerals such as Zinc support much of the body’s innate immune response).
5. Exercise Regularly to maintain health, decrease weight and alleviate stress
6. Happy Home Life – your family is the greatest support to your daily healing (you know this inherently every time you look into the eyes of your spouse, children and/or loved ones).
7. Stress Reduction Activities such as meditation, Tai Chi, Yoga, Exercise, …
8. Eliminate the things that are slowly killing you i.e. smoking, etc…
The bottom line is that outside of being blessed with a strong immune system good healthy living, getting adjusted, and acupuncture help you stay healthy.
Flu Shots
Flu shots are only recommended for seniors and immuno-compromised people because these people risk more serious complications when they contract the flu. If you do not fall into these categories, you do not need the shot and you risk getting flu-like symptoms from the shot.
NOTE: Although the Flu shot is recommended for these populations, research demonstrates it is completely ineffective for these populations and the toxicity in the shot causes GREAT CHALLENGE to the immune system.
Products of the Month : ESBERITOX, SAVENTARO (for those with Autoimmune problems) and, VITAMIN C 1000
Esberitox is a combination of 3 very powerful herbs (Echinacea, White Cedar and Wild Indigo). This product is extremely effective in boosting the body’s immune system and helping to ward off as well as shorten the length and intensity of the common cold and flu. Saventaro is the sister product to esberitox for those of you with autoimmune diseases. Both of these products work wonders for boosting the appropriate mechanisms of your immune system to fight off these viral infections. I would be remiss if I did not also include Vitamin C as a product of the month. Vitamin C is well known for its antioxidant effects and for its support of the immune system.
I hope this information helps you take control of your health and your life! If you have any questions, feedback or have any suggestions for future topics, please call or email me.
If you know someone who would be interested in receiving this newsletter, if you would like to receive this newsletter via email, or if you would prefer to no longer receive this newsletter, please let me know.
Don’t forget the importance of maintaining your health with regular chiropractic and acupuncture care.
Sincerely,
Gregg Stern, D.C., FICPA