Love Naturally

Boost Your Immune System Naturally

Your immune system is your body’s main defense mechanism that helps you fight the unwelcome visitors in your body. It’s an amazing orchestration of different cells each performing vital tasks to help identify and destroy the enemy.

Image from https://studiousguy.com/immune-system-parts-function-and-diseases/
(There’s also a nice article about the immune system to read!)

When your immune system isn’t working as optimally as it should be, these enemies can infiltrate your system a lot easier. I’d like to point out that we all get sick- we come into contact with so many organisms every second of every day- it is normal. We rely on our immune system to fight and get us feeling well again. When you show symptoms (coughing, runny nose, fever, etc.) it’s actually your immune system in full force! It’s doing everything it can to make your body an uninhabitable environment for the unwanted organism and to destroy it. But if we can get our immune systems strong, then maybe we can fight the disease quicker, easier, and more effectively without even knowing that this war is going on beneath the surface! We may avoid all the unpleasantry of the full-force effect.

Here are a few ways you can boost your immune system naturally:

Echinacea
Vitamin C
Zinc
Homeopathic medication

Echinacea: Echinacea purpurea, also called the Purple Coneflower, is one of my favourite immune boosting plants. There has been a lot of research done on it’s effectiveness against microbes which show it’s amazing effects on the immune system (if you like to read the science, check this one out!). It works in many ways on your immune system, including: enhancing immune cell function and enhancing production of immune cells. While it is one of my favourites, there are plenty other plants that are effective as well (hello Olive Leaf!), and using them in combination is a great option! (P.s as mentioned in this post I wrote and the linked research, the quality, strength and dosage of plants plays a big role in it’s effect. Make sure your are using a quality Echinacea to boost your immune system!)

Echinacea purpurea aka Purple Coneflower
Photo by Andreas on Unsplash

Vitamin C: Vitamin C is probably one of the most well-known immune boosting vitamins. Vitamin C enhances the activity of immune cells and generates antioxidants that help to identify pathogens and clear infection sites. It helps your immune cells to replicate so that the numbers increase, and so much more! Check out this very high grade article about Vitamin C and it’s effect on the immune system! You need approximately 200mg daily to actually boost your immune system, but more if you are currently sick (and even more if you are a smoker!).

Photo by Apostolos Vamvouras on Unsplash

Zinc: What a cool little element. It also enhances proliferation and effectiveness of immune cells, but has an extra interesting effect on your immune system. The thymus is a gland that is very important in developing certain immune cells. Zinc is absolutely vital in the functioning of the thymus gland. This article goes into a lot more detail! An interesting fact about the thymus gland is that it’s a lot larger in children and shrinks the older you get. So moms, zinc is an especially wonderful immune booster for your children!

A beautiful graphic showing the lymph system in a child. Note the thymus near the throat.
https://visualsonline.cancer.gov/details.cfm?imageid=9065

Homeopathic medicines: While Homeopathic medicines are usually used on patients who are already sick (because the medicine choice is based on the symptoms you are showing) there is a way to use these remedies as a way of getting your immune system prepared for what’s coming! The idea is that if your immune system knows what to expect then it will be able to fight it quicker, easier, and more effectively if it ever knocks on your door. The amazing thing about the homeopathic immune boost is that it’s a full system boost- taking care of swollen glands, sore throats, coughs, sniffles, body aches, and everything in between.

Happy boosting!

Disclaimer! Always consult your primary care physician before taking medications/supplementation of any kind. Use caution in pregnancy, breastfeeding, and when you are taking certain medications or if you have autoimmune conditions.

Science Behind Plants

I often hear people saying that they can’t see how herbs could possibly have an effect on a person’s health. In fact, just this morning on the radio I heard someone say “that’s just not how science works”. This is an unfortunate belief that many share, but if you dig a little further you’ll see that herbs do have an effect on health, and the effects that plants have on a person’s body is in fact very scientific.

Plants have natural chemical compounds in their composition which may play a part in allowing them to survive by deterring those trying to eat them (animals, insects, etc.). It’s these compounds that have an effect on us when we make use of the plant in our different ways- whether that’s ingesting the plant, or using it topically.

A really nice example of this deterring mechanism is that of chilies. I am the biggest baby when it comes to spicy food. I just can’t handle it. My eyes water, my nose runs, and I just don’t like the burning feeling in my mouth- it hurts! This burning feeling is a result of the chili producing a compound called Capsaicin. Essentially, a lot of animals that eat this plant in the wild would have the same reaction as me and would not eat this plant again! Remember that plants want to survive, but also want to germinate and spread their seeds, and so not all animals are put off by Capsaicin. I will put a fascinating blog post that you can read further about this below! (2)

But how does this relate to healthcare? Well, two really well-known medications that we know today and can talk about are aspirin and morphine. Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-pyretic (meaning it helps with inflammation, pain, and fever). The active ingredient of Aspirin is acetylsalycilic acid which is derived from salicylic acid, which is a compound in Willow species! The opium poppy is a plant with opium compounds such as morphine- which is a very well known, powerful painkiller!

Beautiful poppy painkillers!
Photo by corina ardeleanu on Unsplash

The discussion on the radio this morning was about Ginger and if ingesting a shot of ginger everyday could have health benefits. The simple answer is YES! Ginger will have it’s own compounds and properties that will have it’s own effects. But, to make the answer a little more complicated, like with any medication/supplement the dosage needs to be just right. In a study looking at the effectiveness of ginger in nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, we see that their results were positive with using 750mg daily, as compared to a study cited in their study that had less impressive results at 500mg daily. Dosage is important- how strong the substance is and how often you take it play a huge role in how it can benefit you!

I hope that you now understand the amazing science and chemistry behind the healing power of plants and the powerful effect that plant compounds can have on your health (when used right of course!)!

Resources and further reading

The use of Ginger in nausea & vomiting during pregnancy: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4228518/#__ffn_sectitle

Information on morphine: https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Morphine#section=Experimental-Properties

An amazing read about plant alkaloids: https://www.intechopen.com/books/alkaloids-their-importance-in-nature-and-human-life/introductory-chapter-alkaloids-their-importance-in-nature-and-for-human-life

Really cool information about chilies and their protective alkaloid: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2012/issue131b/

Disclaimer! People often use the terms ‘homeopathy’ and ‘herbal medicine’ interchangeably. Herbal preparations are preparations from the plant substance, while homeopathic medications have been further prepared using certain methods. Homeopaths in South Africa use both homeopathically prepared medications as well as herbal preparations in the form of tinctures in their practice. Naturopaths and phytotherapists train in the use of medicinal plants.

Why Choose Homeopathy?

Homeopathy is a system of treatment that aims to cure disease (not simply put a plaster over the problem) in the fastest, most effective, and most gentle way. It does this by combining homeopathically prepared natural substances with a clever way of thinking about disease!

“Like cures like“- this is the basis for the homeopathic treatment. Essentially what we are saying is that a substance that would cause symptoms in a healthy individual would cure those symptoms in an unhealthy individual.

Let me give you an example: Carapichea ipecacuanha is a plant with plant-chemicals that have emetic properties, among others. This means that when ingested this plant can cause vomiting. Homeopathically prepared, we would use this substance in a patient who reports nausea and vomiting.

Why does this theory actually make sense? The body is plagued with something that is causing it to throw out symptoms (in this case vomiting). By giving the appropriate homeopathically prepared substance the body would “recognize” this substance, and create a stronger immune response to it, and in doing so, cure the actual pathology that is wreaking havoc on the body.

This way of thinking is different to what most people are used to (i.e. ‘opposites cure opposites‘), but different doesn’t mean wrong.

Choosing to be treated with homeopathy means that you are choosing a healthier, more sustainable treatment approach. You are still getting cure, but without the nasty side effects of chemical drugs. Does it have to be an exclusive choice? NO! Homeopathy can be used in conjunction with allopathic (conventional) medicine with great results! Remember that for every health care provider, no matter what their approach is, the goal should always be to help a patient feel better. We can do that using many different approaches, at the same time or separately. It’s your choice, you are the captain of your ship!

If you are interested in knowing more about the thinking behind homeopathy and how it can benefit you, send me an email at Info@DrLornaBlackwell.co.za. Don’t forget to check out my website and book online at www.DrLornaBlackwell.co.za

Disclaimer! When choosing your Homeopath please ensure that they are registered with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa. That way you can ensure that the Homeopath has undergone a quality training program at a quality training facility and is appropriately equipped to handle your case.

Who Am I?

Hi there! Welcome to my blog! In my first post, I thought it might be helpful to introduce myself and my thoughts about disease to you. I also want to share what I hope this blog can be for you.

My name is Lorna. I graduated from the University of Johannesburg with a Masters degree in Homeopathy. I loved those 6 years. You might not know this, but a homeopathy degree in South Africa is quite different to many places around the world. It involved a lot of clinical coursework- pathology, diagnostics, physiology, and anatomy- this is where my passion lies. It is a privilege to know why and how your body works and something I truly endeavour to master (despite the expansiveness of this mission!).

Homeopathy wasn’t something I’ve grown up with. My family has been seen by a General Practitioner for most of my life. Homeopathy only came into my life when I was 17 years old. I was looking into study options, and as a requirement to apply I needed to do a project detailing Homeopathy and what it is. I was hooked! Who knew disease and treatment could be looked at in such a different, yet it-all-makes-sense kind of way!

I went for my first appointment as I’d been suffering from a painful rash between my fingers (changing gears in my car was painful) and received my first homeopathic medication- Rhus toxicodendron (commonly known as Poison Ivy). I was so fascinated by idea that poison ivy- a plant known to cause skin painful skin reactions- could possibly, in homeopathic form, be of help. But I complied, and the rash never came back!

My personal experiences with conventional medicine and the discovery of homeopathy has shaped me into the type of practitioner that I am today. I see benefit in both and love the idea that conventional and “alternative” medicine can be used together. There are different situations where different approaches are most appropriate, and for this reason I prefer to use the term “complementary” medicine. These two different worlds can collide and create a truly beautiful environment for healing.

My “blended” ideas about health paired with my fascination for all things clinical means that I not only love learning but also have a huge passion for teaching! I love it when a patient knows what is going on in their own body (you are the captain of your own ship!) and what they can do to improve their health. That is why the aim of this blog is to share information about disease, tips for health, and empower you as the patient to understand what is happening at the doctor’s office and with your own body!

Empowerment is so important to me, and when you see me as a patient, I want you to feel comfortable and in-control of your health. I want to guide you into making the best decisions for your health, and I want you to know what is happening and what we can do to get you feeling yourself again. I hope you find a little bit of that empowerment through some of the things you read and discover here.

I can’t wait to go on this journey with you!

If you have any questions about me, send me an email at Info@DrLornaBlackwell.co.za. Don’t forget to check out my website and book an appointment online at www.DrLornaBlackwell.co.za

Obligatory disclaimer! All the ideas expressed in this blog are my own. All opinions on both conventional and complementary medicine are my own and are based on my own perceptions and experiences. I do not claim to be an expert in any of the topics discussed and am always open to further learning and suggestions. The information discussed in always sourced from reliable sources and I try to keep it as relevant and up-to-date as possible. Any information, tips, or ideas expressed in this blog are not intended to diagnose or treat any ailments, and it is always recommended to speak to your primary care physician before making any changes to your health.