How can I strengthen my immune system?

Hi
I can really sympathise with you as I was the same before I qualified as an aromatherapist.
The essential oils I use have active ingredients that are often copied and used by drug companies. Since qualifying and using the oils on a regular basis I hardly get a cold and if I do its shorter and less intense than everyone elses.
A great essential oil for boosting your immune system is Lemon. I usually put it in an oil burner or diffuser and let it run through out the day. Sometimes I'll add lime as this is uplifting or bergamot as this is calming and soothing without making me feel sleepy.
To kill any microbes Lemongrass is great. Again this can be put into an oil burner/diffuser or a couple of drops put on a tissue so you can smell it throughout the day if you're at work. This oil blends really well with mandarin which is a beautiful sunshinny aroma and is great in those cold winter months. I will add that Lemongrass is really only effective for this use for 4 weeks after it has been opend. As the chemicals in the oil combine with the oxygen in the air it becomes less effective. So an old bottle will not work as well.
For when you have the cold a number of essential oils work really well however an over the counter remedy called Olbas oil has all the essential oils I would use ready made up and I admit I buy this rather than mess around creating my own blend. When I'm feeling rotten and sorry for myself I admit I take the easy route.
A great book to read is called 'The Fragrnat Pharmacy' by Valerie Ann Worwood. She gives great recipies and explains all the ways that the essential oils can be used from compresses to bath oils to inhalations. If you want more advice please feel free to contact me on 07825 076 935. I'm happy to chat and as a highly qualified aromatherapist you can be confident of the answers I give.
Good luck and I hope you sort this issue out soon.
Kind regards
Mia

I am Julia Rhodes of West London Colonics .
I notice you taking inputs into your system , i.e. supplements. Worth considering how to optimise outputs from the system too! Perhaps try out series of colonics; in my experience they can be helpful to boost the immune system ( peters patches in the abdomen ) .

Loads of good suggestions already, and as some pointed out, the most likely scenario is not actual cold viruses, its an underlying reason altogether which is either related to your lifestyle (i.e. stress) or something medical (i.e. weak immune system, due to lack of nutrients). In any case, see a doctor and get professional medical advice. I wish you well.

To function well your immune system requires balance of many factors like, for example, diet, exercise, age, psychological stress, herbal supplements. Bear in mind that your immune system is unique and your physiology can respond differently to different factors.
Some simple, general healthy-living ways of boosting your immune system are:
-Add an orange and a carrot to your diet to ensure you have daily recommended vitamin A and C requirements
-Wash your hands before cooking and eating meals
-Do moderate exercise regularly as this will stimulate your breathing and enhance your metabolism
-Control your blood pressure

be wary of Echinacea when you are actually ill, it is a very misunderstood herb and is known amongst medical herbalists to give "more of the same", so if you are ill it keeps you ill, take it as prevention.
As everyone else says take a good Vit c up to 5g a day and also zinc to boost immunity and also I recommend seeing a Kinesiologist to get a good boost!

Hi I use Echinacia and zinc and vitamin c when Im feeling a bit run down and at the onset of a cold /flu shouldnt take echinacia for more than 6 weeks at a time but it wont harm to take vit c and zinc on a regular basis to boost your immune system a healthy diet lots of natural vit c in fruits ect is good too but sometimes you need a little extra .drinking tea or coffee directly after a meal can sometimes rob you of vitamins from your food .
the zinc and vit c and echinacia usually stops things developing further keep taking them for a couple of weeks

Hello, some great answers for you here.
I am thinking that as you say you suffer at least once a week that the likely hood of it actually being a cold virus is very slim. You can't really catch a cold and deal with it and get rid of it all within a week. So if you are symptom free then suffering on a weekly cycle it may be any number of things:
Stress at the top of the list!! can mimic cold and flu symtoms,weaken the mucous membranes then make them more susceptible to your own, or others bacteria so you may get a secondary infection (nose,chest etc).
Allergic Rhinitis :either an allergen(particularly mould) or stress related. I suffered from this for years during a stressful marriage. I could sneeze at least 1000 times a day, which made me weaker and more depressed.It was my body saying "hello,something's not quite right here!". Now I am divorced and happy I no longer suffer- at all.
You may have a Strep. infection kicking around in your throat due to being low.
There are a number of systemic issues that would need to be ruled out too so I would go to see the Doc first.
BUT have an open mind about conventional medicine as you know your body better than anyone.
Aromatherapy oils are amazing.Thyme and rosemary as an inhalation if you are infected- watch what time of day and your BP! - as you know I'm sure.
Fresh fruit and veg are essential!!.
Echinacea is good but must not be taken continually.
VitaminC is awsome (acerola is supposed to be the best). You cant OD as your body just uses what it needs but 1000mg per day would be good when under par.
You sound to me like maybe it is just a phase in your life. You need to regroup,rebalance and put yourself first. It is ok to think about YOU. XX

Hello, some great answers for you here.
I am thinking that as you say you suffer at least once a week that the likely hood of it actually being a cold virus is very slim. You can't really catch a cold and deal with it and get rid of it all within a week. So if you are symptom free then suffering on a weekly cycle it may be any number of things:
Stress at the top of the list!! can mimic cold and flu symtoms,weaken the mucous membranes then make them more susceptible to your own, or others bacteria so you may get a secondary infection (nose,chest etc).
Allergic Rhinitis :either an allergen(particularly mould) or stress related. I suffered from this for years during a stressful marriage. I could sneeze at least 1000 times a day, which made me weaker and more depressed.It was my body saying "hello,something's not quite right here!". Now I am divorced and happy I no longer suffer- at all.
You may have a Strep. infection kicking around in your throat due to being low.
There are a number of systemic issues that would need to be ruled out too so I would go to see the Doc first.
BUT have an open mind about conventional medicine as you know your body better than anyone.
Aromatherapy oils are amazing.Thyme and rosemary as an inhalation if you are infected- watch what time of day and your BP! - as you know I'm sure.
Fresh fruit and veg are essential!!.
Echinacea is good but must not be taken continually.
VitaminC is awsome (acerola is supposed to be the best). You cant OD as your body just uses what it needs but 1000mg per day would be good when under par.
You sound to me like maybe it is just a phase in your life. You need to regroup,rebalance and put yourself first. It is ok to think about YOU. XX

Hello, some great answers for you here.
I am thinking that as you say you suffer at least once a week that the likely hood of it actually being a cold virus is very slim. You can't really catch a cold and deal with it and get rid of it all within a week. So if you are symptom free then suffering on a weekly cycle it may be any number of things:
Stress at the top of the list!! can mimic cold and flu symtoms,weaken the mucous membranes then make them more susceptible to your own, or others bacteria so you may get a secondary infection (nose,chest etc).
Allergic Rhinitis :either an allergen(particularly mould) or stress related. I suffered from this for years during a stressful marriage. I could sneeze at least 1000 times a day, which made me weaker and more depressed.It was my body saying "hello,something's not quite right here!". Now I am divorced and happy I no longer suffer- at all.
You may have a Strep. infection kicking around in your throat due to being low.
There are a number of systemic issues that would need to be ruled out too so I would go to see the Doc first.
BUT have an open mind about conventional medicine as you know your body better than anyone.
Aromatherapy oils are amazing.Thyme and rosemary as an inhalation if you are infected- watch what time of day and your BP! - as you know I'm sure.
Fresh fruit and veg are essential!!.
Echinacea is good but must not be taken continually.
VitaminC is awsome (acerola is supposed to be the best). You cant OD as your body just uses what it needs but 1000mg per day would be good when under par.
You sound to me like maybe it is just a phase in your life. You need to regroup,rebalance and put yourself first. It is ok to think about YOU. XX

--Please continue taking supplements: Time Release Vit C, Echinacea, Multi Vitamin
--Eat Plenty of Fruit, Vegetable, herbal tea
--join a health club with gym, steam and good showers.
Regularly, after exercise, go to steam room for 5 to 10 minutes. Then
take cold shower, back in steam room for 5 to 10 mins.
Regularly, do this routine. When you leave the health club, wrap up
warm, shawl, hat and coat.
After a few months, your body will become stronger, your immune system
will become stronger. You will not catch cold and slowly, you will become
a lot stronger and no colds for years and years.
--I have clients who can confirm this routine has worked for them.

A cold week is very extreme. I would suggest firstly you need to see your GP.
Immune systems are unique to each person and there is a lot of factors that could affect them. One of the biggest problems I am regualarly seeing is people who are over sanitising everything in there lives. Yes we do need hygene but our immunity comes from antibodies built up as a result of encounters with the bad guys.
To help you overcome things faster you need a good diet (a well balanced diet should contain everything your body needs) and exercise and above all keep positive believe me positivity goods a long way.
Hope this helps but please do contact your GP
Paul

Echinacea is perfect but how and when you take it is crucial, as is the format. I'd recommend a 50ml bottle of the tincture four times a year. Take it as a preventative measure by putting 5ml into water every morning until the bottle is empty (10 days), repeat this at 3 month intervals. This way of taking Echinacea is preferable to taking daily tablets as the immune system can build immunities around it, by adding it in every 3 months you will get the full benefit. I also echo Nigel’s advice too, nothing like a good varied diet to make sure your body gets all it needs and sleep is when your system repairs itself. Hope this helps, wishing you well, Kelly of Wellness Therapeutics.

To understand how to strengthen your immune system, it is important that you first understand why your immune system is not your body's first line of defense... and exactly what is.
The human body comes from the womb with everything it needs to fight almost any disease that can attack it in this world. Obviously this doesn't include man-made insecticides, auto-exhaust and other contaminants that causes various diseases.
It is important to understand that we are a self-sufficient entity equipped to survive on this earth.
When you consider the human body our first line of defense is:
A. Proper hydration
B. Proper vitamin and mineral intake
C. Proper oxygen intake
When either of these 3 factors is either lacking or deficient your body will activate your immune system to fight off pathogens.
Of course, proper rest and some exercise are desirable to maintain an optimum body and mind, but the 3 I mentioned have been proven by medical science to affect long=term health and some medical scientists believe that serious lack of any of the 3 can also result in a worsening of health in your later years.
Oxygen is so important that it is used every minute of every day by health professionals at the first sign of ill health. It is the first drug you are administered when you report to a hospital with a health complaint.
A lack of oxygen has also been reported as contributing to many of the 'new' and rampant digestive and respiratory diseases we see today. Diabetes, COPD, asthma, GERD are all improved when more oxygen is added to the body.
So, in conclusion, I would suggest that you drink plenty of water, eat more raw foods (fruits and vegetables) that will give your body the energy it needs and find a good oxygen therapy program.
This will prevent the onset of many opportunistic diseases and give your immune system a well-deserved respite.

Having a balanced diet boosting it with good quality multivitamins and minerals that your body doesn't pick up in food alone unless you over eat would really boost your immune system.
I used to catch colds and other illnesses very easily before I started to supplement with these.
Feel free to contact me for a free wellness evaluation or have browse at the below website for more information.

Hello,
A weak immune system can indicate a sluggish Lymphatic system!
Id recommend a manual Lymphatic Drainage massage & already have a number of clients who use it as an effective way to detox & give their immune systems a kick... !
Lymphatic Drainage Massage £45 (60 min) £55 (90 min)
A delicate form of massage that stimulates the body’s lymphatic system, improving the metabolism, helping the body to eliminate waste & toxins & providing a boost to the immune system.

Massage or many relaxation therapies are good at taking you into a state of rest & repair, allowing your body to rebalance and improving the immune system.

One of the best ways to strength the immune system is to take probiotics, as 80% of the immune system is bases in the digestive system. Stress, processed food and antibiotics can all negatively affect the bacteria in your gut.
Strengthen the digestive system with the use of probiotics in supplement form and you can boost your immune system. You would be better off taking a high strength multi mineral and vitamin such as one a day from Nutri.
You can’t just supplement you way to better health diet is so important what you eat and what you don’t eat can both enhance and affect your health and subsequently your immune system
Boosting immunity through your diet can be very helpful, as a diet rich in fruit, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, pulses, lean meats and fish can strengthen your immune defences. Research has found that chicken broth helps to clear congestion and contains drug-like compounds very similar to the ones found in over-the-counter cold remedies!
It is often documented that vitamin c is vital for a fully functioning immune system, but so too are vitamin A and E. Ensuring your eats fresh fruits and vegetables such as carrots, , peaches, mangos, sweet potatoes can boost levels of vitamin C and A. Vitamin E can be found in oily fish, nuts seeds and their oil . Selenium and zinc are two minerals needed for the developing immune system, zinc is found in all meats, eggs, oily fish and oats to name a few food sources. Selenium is found in shellfish, Brazil nuts and wheat germ.
Fresh or frozen fruit smoothie with natural yogurt and ground nuts can ensure he has a good dose of nutrients to start the day.
. Supplements should always be given with food and not on an empty stomach. Solgar, Bio care, higher nature and Nutri are all supplements companies that I would recommend.

Hi there,
If you haven't already, I would suggest that you visit your GP as there could be a medical reason behind your regular colds. Perhaps natural supplements would work for you to help gradually build your immune system; brands like Vitabiotics (no affiliation to me, I have used some of their products and they have worked for me) are popular.
To help prevent colds; I am sure you already carry tissues and sanitiser with you and use when necessary to clean your hands of bacteria, especially if touching lots of things when travelling/commuting. Your colds may be brought on by stress. Regular Reiki treatments (in person and/or by distance) can be very helpful in strengthening the whole body and improving your general 'energy' health. Contact me for more information about Reiki (I am a Reiki Master/Teacher).
To help when you have a cold; there are various meditation techniques that can be excellent to use to support your breathing which can become laboured with regular colds; try diaphragm breathing (breathe in slowly, let the stomach expand fully, breathe out slowly) as you get a deeper breath compared to breathing in/out through the chest. Contact me for more information about meditation as I run comprehensive home study courses on many aspects of meditation.
If Berocca/Echinacea work for you, use these consistently (there should be guidelines on the packaging). If you use these just when you feel the symptoms coming on, it may be that your body doesn't have the time to build up a resistance to the cold. Whatever you do, keep in mind that it is best to have a variety of treatments/therapies to hand and apply them as necessary.
I hope this helps! Get in touch if you need more information.
Best wishes, Daniella
Daniella Gordon
Life Coach, Personal Development Coach, Reiki Master/Teacher

Tea Tree essential oil is one of the best aromatherapy oils for boosting the immune system. Add 6 drops to a nice warm bath and agitate the water. The smell of tea tree isnt the best so add a couple of drops of lavender too if you really dont like the smell. ! :) Alternatively you can burn 6-10 drops of tea tree oil in a burner so the whole family can benefit ! Also pop some tea tree in a spray bottle and add water. Spray round the house to boost your immune system but also to kill any viruses etc that may be lurking !! :))

Hi
Stress management is essential for keeping a healthy immune system as stress will weaken your immune system. Also sometimes when you get alot of cold your body is in fact trying to detox .....Reflexology would be abeneficial treatment for you.
Please look at my web site http://www.intouchtherapies.co uk to find out more.
Morag x

I advice you see your GP, there are may causes of low immune system, I can refer for you eat a lot fruits and vegetable, these foods are very health, helps balance your immune system.

There are too many fresh herbs and super foods out there, pomegranate, ginseng, alo vera, fresh gnger and lemon will do the job, but you should have regular basis before you feel symptoms coming when you feel symptoms you already get it and there is nothing to help you.
and also regular exercises and breathing part of the chain.
Murat Gecmen
Sports science

I take a supplement from Patrick Holford's Advanced Nutrition Range - Vitamin C Plus. You can either take it continually or take it as I do, which is whenever exposed to anyone who is ill. I have been taking it for almost a year now and have not had one cold or flu - despite everyone in my house having at least 6 colds in that period. If you want, I can post some you. The cost is £19 for 80 tablets. It contains 1,000 mg of Vitamin C and 500mg of citrus bioflavonoid complex.
Recommended for body health and immunity, especially those who suffer frequent colds, infections, bleeding/tender gums, nosebleeds, easy brusing, slow wound healihng and lack of energy. If you want more information, please email me at rejuve90@yahoo.co.uk

Catching a cold once a week is rather too frequent!
Are you eating properly? Do you get enough exercise and fresh air? Are you overly stressed? These are issues to deal with straight away.
Any relaxing therapy will help you reduce your stress levels and then that in turn will help boost your immune system however:
The treatments I would first recommend would be Lymphatic Drainage Massage as it works on the lymph which is an important part of your immune system.You can read more about it here: http://www.lorrainedoron.com/content/treatments/lymph-drainage/
in 2nd place I would recommend regular Reflexology treatments. http://www.lorrainedoron.com/content/treatments/reflexology/
I hope that helps and you get better soon.
Contact me if you need any more advice

Vitamin C - at least 3g a day of good quality one - with Bioflavenoids or Rosehips (Higher Nature or see my website) and echinacea every day for the moment. However, if you are getting one a week your spleen is clearly in need of support. My best recommendation is to see a kinesiologist who can treat the whole of you (emotionally, chemically and structurally) and test to see the supplements which would best suit you.

eat plenty of fresh fruit & vegetables , sleep with an open window and do regular exercise outdoors.