Lifestyle Tips
Working Out
Working out regularly can mobilize your T cells, a type of white blood cell known to guard the body against infection. In a 2006 study of 115 women, participants who engaged in moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) for an average of 30 minutes daily for a year had about half the risk of colds as those who did not work out routinely.
Regularly engaging in intense, vigorous activity like running, on the other hand, may weaken your immune function and leave you more susceptible to viral infections. However, animal-based research suggests that supplementing with the antioxidant quercitin could reduce flu risk among athletes.
Stress
Stress can have a profound weakening effect on the immune system, cortisol a hormone, which is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress, actually suppresses the immune systems activity.
Finding ways to combat stress such as Ti Chi, yoga and meditation can have a profound effect on the immune system. Research has proven that meditation actually increases T- cell count, and helps to restore the balance between the three different T cells, which control our response to bacteria, allergies, viruses and cell mutations.
Herbs
Herbs such as liquorice, and Rhodiola are particularly beneficial, supporting the adrenal glands during times of stress, balancing cortisol production and lessening the effect stress has on the immune system.
Clean
Keeping surfaces clean, especially your hands are good ways of avoiding spreading bacteria and viruses.
Tea tree with its anti-septic, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal should be part of everyone’s first aid and/or cleansing kits.
Tea Tree is native to Australia and the name is derived from its use as a herbal tea, although the Aboriginal people have been using it widely as a remedy for centuries. The leaves are distilled to produce the oil and re-grow naturally after each harvest and so provide a naturally renewable resource.
Many people know of Tree Tea oil for just one or two of its common properties, however they are probably unaware of its multitude of uses.
It is this versatility, which makes it a useful oil to have in the house and for travel, especially where there are families with children to soothe life’s knocks and ailments.
For those summer and winter chills: With the Swine Flu epidemic in the news at present Tea Tree is a good oil to diffuse in the house or office as prevention against the chills that come with winter.
A few drops on a tissue before you leave the house will also help as you can inhale this throughout the day.
For a natural alternative to anti-septic Wipes: If you’re mixing with people who are ill, it’s a good idea to make up a spray to wipe areas such as door handles and light switches where germs are easily spread. Try mixing 40 drops of oil to 200 ml of water in a spray bottle to wage war on bacteria.
