In a previous post I wrote I gave some helpful advice on how you can boost your immune system. But what about our precious little ones? How can we keep their immune systems strong and healthy while they are still building an immune system in the first place?
What’s special about a child’s immune system? Well, we are all born with a defense system to keep us safe from the things we encounter- this includes physical barriers (like your skin, your nasal mucosa/lining, etc.) to help trap or physically prevent enemies from invading your body. But if the enemies are able to breach these physical barriers, the body unleashes chemical defenses (like enzymes in your saliva!) and cells that are already present aimed at seeking out and destroying what shouldn’t be there. This we call innate immunity- you are born with it. However, there is another type of immunity called acquired immunity which works a little differently. This type of immunity is learned once the body comes into contact with a new enemy. It identifies it, destroys it, and then stores the memory of it and how it destroyed it in the memory bank. It does this so that it can fight it faster and more efficiently next time it comes around!
In a child, they have that innate immune system, but are still building up their “enemy repository” as they haven’t had that long on this Earth yet to encounter all the enemies! It’s the reason people say “Oh let Jimmy play in the dirt- he needs to build up his immune system” or “Let Stacy lick the handrail! Her immune system needs it” (form your own opinions of this! 🙂 ). It’s also the reason kids bring home all sorts of bugs from daycare. They are in an environment where they are sharing all the bugs with each other, and most of them haven’t even encountered them yet!
We want our kids to build up a strong immune system so that they can acquire their repository of immune defense protocol but to do so in the most efficient way. That is why parents like to boost their children’s immune systems. However, it’s not always easy to know what is safe for our little ones and what’s not recommended. Here are some tips on how to boost your child’s immune system:
- Breast milk
- Zinc
- Probiotics
- Herbal formulations
- Gemmo-therapeutic formulations
Breast milk: Breast milk is an amazing thing. Did you know that as a breastfeeding mommy some of your own antibodies and other substances are passed on to your child? Amazingly, your breastmilk differentiates between your baby’s good bacteria and bad bacteria- which means that your child will still have all the benefits of the good bacteria such as a healthy gut- and it also fights the bad bugs without causing an inflammatory response which is responsible for much discomfort when you are fighting an infection! You can read this awesome article to learn more about how cool breast milk is.
Zinc: We have spoken about the amazing benefits of zinc in previous posts. Zinc activates all sorts of cells in the immune system so that they can fight bad bugs effectively and efficiently and it works strongly on the thymus gland- a gland that is at it’s biggest when you are a child. Between 10mg (for under 6 month-olds) and 20 mg seems to be an effective dosage.
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Probiotics: Remember that what we put into our mouths is a primary way that the “outside” enters the “inside”- so our gut is very sensitive to the bad bugs. We have bacteria in our guts for a reason: they keep the balance of good vs bad bacteria. Having good bacteria keeps our guts healthy, happy, and inflammation-free. Studies have shown that probiotics (good bacteria) can have a massive effect on the workings of the immune system. Sometimes we just need a little help in introducing these good bacteria. Check out this really cool article researching the different bacteria in your gut and their correlation with different diseases.
Herbal formulations: As with adults, many herbs have amazing immune-boosting properties. One of my favourite herbals for adults and kids is Echinacea. Echinacea, the Purple Coneflower, works by not only enhancing immune cells, but also helping it produce immune cells.
Gemmo-therapeutic formulations: I love using gemmo-therapy on children. These herbs are prepared in a special kind of way- they are made my using the baby form of the plant (so it’s got a few extra chemicals that are helping the plant grow) and are macerated in alcohol and glycerine. We are only using a few drops at a time, so the alcohol won’t make your kids drowsy or anything like that (you can also warm it up a little and let the alcohol evaporate if you are worried). The glycerine gives in a really nice sweet taste- so kids don’t fight with you about taking their yucky medicine! My favourite gemmo for immune boosting is Ribes nigrum, or Blackcurrant.
In the very young we need to be cautious about what we supplement with- many herbs and supplements have not been studied effectively for safety in these ages. When in doubt, breastmilk, probiotics, and zinc is a good bet. With older children we can introduce certain herbals as well. Remember that homeopathy is completely safe for children of all ages (yes, even newborns!) and breast-feeding moms.
Stay healthy, little ones!
If you want to know more about how to keep your little one healthy, then pop me an email at Info@DrLornaBlackwell.co.za or visit my website and make a booking online!
Disclaimer! Always consult your primary care physician, or paediatrician, before taking or giving medications/supplementation of any kind. Use caution in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and when you are taking certain medications or if you have autoimmune conditions.
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