IMMUNE BOOSTING HERBS AND FOODS

In trying to overcome a parasitic infection, it is extremely important to support the immune system.  Below are some of the things that I use to support my immune system, especially when doing a parasite cleanse.  One thing that I do not use is synthetic Vitamin C powder (this includes ascorbic acid and sodium ascorbate).  I believe that getting all of the bioflavonoids and phytochemicals is better than isolated and/or synthetic vitamins.  It has been shown that many other nutrients that are found in whole foods enhance the effects of vitamin C as well as being powerful antioxidants on their own.
 
I do not use each of these herbs and other items listed here each and every day. 
It varies based on how I am feeling.  Bonus: There are a few of these that have anti-parasitic benefits as well.

 Herbs:

• Echinacea* – tincture, tea
• Goldenseal* (Hydrastis canadensis) – tincture
• Cat’s Claw (Uncaria spp.) – tincture
• Elderberry (Sambucus spp.) – tincture, tea, or berries in season
• Astragulus Root – tincture
• Andrographis (also potentially anti-parasitic°) – tincture
• Chamomile¹ (Matricaria)
• Mint (Mentha sp.) – tea or tincture
• Ginger Root

Wild Plants (Herbs) That I Collect Wild:

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) – tea or tincture
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) – tea or tincture

Foods:

• Raw Bell Peppers ... very high in Vitamin C.  Red, orange, and yellow preferred over green bell peppers. One cup of chopped, raw bell peppers has over twice the Vitamin C and about half the calories of 1 cup of orange slices.  The Master Herbalist, David Christopher, recommends a half dozen bell peppers for the high doses of Vitamin C to boost the immune system.  Bell peppers can be juiced as well.  
• Extra Garlic and Onions (anti-parasitic° as well).
• Pumpkin Seeds (one ounce 125 calorie serving has 19% of the US-RDA of zinc, 10% of US-RDA of copper, and 5% of the US-RDA of iron, all three minerals are essential for proper immune function¹. Other seeds like sesame, squash, and watermelon seeds are all high in these minerals, along with magnesium and each have notable amounts of other essential minerals.
• Other anti-parasitic foods that are high in Vitamin C include Papayas, Pineapples, Grapefruits, and Lemons.
• Crucifers like Broccoli & Cauliflower (I prefer lightly steamed, as raw crucifers are highly goitrogenic - that is, they lower thyroid function.  This, I consume with a sprinkle of Dulse or Kelp (see my “Favorites” page) ... sea vegetables that are high in iodine and other trace minerals.  NOTE: "[H]igh consumption of cruciferous vegetables was associated with thyroid cancer among women with low iodine intake," according to an 2010 research study.²
• Probiotic rich food including organic (non-homogenized) grass-fed whole milk plain (unsweetened) Kefir and Yogurt, Sauerkraut, Beet Kvass, Coconut Water Kefir, etc.
• Raw cacao.  Plus a small square of organic pure dark chocolate (85% -100% only) is super delicious and health prompting.  The only ingredients should be cacao, cocoa butter, and vanilla beans (no sugar, if doing a parasite cleanse).   Avoid cheap chocolates that use soy lethicin or sunflower lethicin as an emulsifier.  Lethicin is a cheap alternative to cocoa butter, which is derived from the actual cacao beans.  Sunflower lethicin is preferred to soy lethicin, due to the other issues with soy: most is genetically modified, one of the top 8 allergens, highly estrogenic, and high in phytates (phytic acid) which reduce the bio-availability of important minerals like zinc, copper, iron, magnesium, and calcium).  WARNING:  cacao is highly caloric and addictive to its stimulant containing compounds like caffeine.
• Camu Camu powder (1 teaspoon of this powerful superfruit has over 900% of the US-RDA of Vitamin C!).
• Schisandra Berries
• Oats²² (organic whole oats.  Also oats should be sprouted, soaked, and/or fermented to reduce the phytic acid, which is an enzyme inhibitor and reduces important immune supporting minerals like iron, copper, and zinc, as well as calcium and magnesium)
• Rose Hips - a wild food that is available throughout the winter.  It is not advised to eat the seeds. 

Teas:

• Chaga
• Pine Needle
• Echinacea
• Elderberry
• Chamomile
• Rose Hip
• Immune boosting tea blends (many companies make nice blends … see my “Favorites” page). 
• Green Tea

Other:

• Propolis – tincture
• Bee Pollen
• Schisandra – powder or tincture
• Medicinal Mushrooms: Cordyceps, Chaga, Turkey Tail, Shitake, Reishi, Lion's Mane – tincture, tea. Also mushroom broths or cooking with various types of mushrooms will help with immune support³,¹¹.  Mushrooms also have other notable health benefits that will be covered in a future post. 
• Colloidal Silver
• Fire Cider (easy to make homemade … I will post a recipe, if anyone is interested)

References:
°Raj KR. Screening of indigenous plant for anthelmintic action against human Ascaris lumbricoides: part II. Indian J Physiol Pharmacol. 1975;19:47–50. [PubMed- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1158424]
¹Sherman A.R. (1992). Zinc, Copper, and Iron Nutriture and Immunity. Journal of  Nutrition, 122(3), 604–609.
²Truong, T., Baron-Dubourdieu, D., Rougier, Y., & Guénel, P. (2010). Role of dietary iodine and cruciferous vegetables in thyroid cancer: a countrywide case-control study in New Caledonia. Cancer Causes & Control, 21(8), 1183–1192. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9545-2
³Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal. 2014;13(1):32-44.
¹¹Kozarski M, Klaus A, Jakovljevic D, Todorovic N, Vunduk J, Petrović P, Niksic M, Vrvic MM, van Griensven L. Antioxidants of Edible Mushrooms. Molecules. 2015; 20(10):19489-19525.
²²Cerci, Celal (December 1, 2008). "The Effects of Topical and Systemic Beta Glucan Administration on Wound Healing Impaired by Corticosteroids". Wounds. PMID 25941894. These results indicate that systemic and topical beta glucan improve (Wistar albino rat) wound healing that has been impaired by corticosteroids, and that systemic administration is more effective than topical application.

Additional Sources:
Bastyr University's "Seven Herbs to Support Immunity" http://health.bastyr.edu/news/health-tips/2014/08/seven-herbs-support-immunity
“Supporting Immunity at Home,” a talk in the fall 2011 Living Naturally Lecture Series at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle. 

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC):
Echinacea: http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/Echinacea
Garlic: http://www.umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/garlic

*Herbs that are anti-parasitic as well.
**Herbs that are potentially anti-parasitic as well.

Thanks for reading!  :)