What is the best all natural immune system booster from a health food store?

7 Comments

1. SkepDoc 2.0 says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   "Immune boosting" is a bogus concept common to many different kinds of altmed, but in particular the Naturopathic crowd, who seem to embrace every kind of silly treatment

   There really is no such thing in terms of supplements. Your body’s immune system consists of various kinds of white blood cells, immune globulins and something known as complement whose roles in fighting disease and infection have been worked out in some detail. You can read up on clinical immunology on your own, but it is quite complicated.

   Your immune system does become a bit stressed when you are critically ill, but recovers quickly with time, rest and proper nutrition.

   Probiotics on the other hand supposedly replace your bodies stock of intestinal bacteria that may become depleted when being treated with anti-bacterial agents. The most common example of this is women who tend to get vaginal yeast infections after a course of antibiotics. There is alos an opportunistic gut infection called Clostridium difficile that can cause a nasty diarrhea typically in frail elderly patients on antibiotics in a hospital setting.

   There actually is some fair evidence that probiotics, yougurt culture, acidophillus etc may help return you body’s normal flora, but the vast majority of otherwise healthy people who take antibiotics don’t need them…your body recovers pretty quickly on its own. The best way to avoid problems like this is not taking antibiotics for inappropriate reasons, like viral infections (most colds, coughs, sore throats, ear aches etc) and I spend half my time explaining to patients that they DON"T need them

   There was also a recent study on the use of probiotics in the setting of people recovering from pancreatitis that their use INCREASED infection, complication rate and death. So they are not a completely "benign’ entity either.
2. Jen D says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   Echinacea and a good probiotic are excellent for boosting the immune system, especially after a course of antibiotics.
3. inverse_mushroom_cloud says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   Astragalus is a good general immune system booster too.

   And probiotics are an excellent idea, especially after antibiotics. Check this link for good brands:

   http://www.consumerlab.com/reviews/Probiotic_Supplements_Including_Lactobacillus_acidophilus_Bifidobacterium_and_Others/probiotics/
4. Lady Bern says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   To the best of my understand:
   Vitmen C is good
   Echinecia is a little better
   Echinecia and Goldseal is better still
   and Oil of Oregano is the best possible. A good health food store might well have a suplement with all of the above ingredients listed.
5. MyselfandI says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   I like using probiotics after being on anitbiotics, and there are many out there to choose from. They can be kind of pricey, though. Yogurt is a good way to "reseed" your gut after anti-b use. Look for brands with "active cultures" right on the label, because if it’s not there, there aren’t any beneficial bacteria in there! Dannon has a line of yogurt and drinks that purport to have more active cultures in them. They would be a good route to start on if you don’t want to invest the $20 (or more) in a bottle of probiotic capsules.

   I also take elderberry concentrate for immune system boosting. Here’s a link about elderberry: http://www.elderberry.net/medical.html

   Hope you feel better soon!
6. hecla 1 says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   Probiotics are excellent for keeping the body populated with good bacteria. Protein drinks offer nothing in terms of immune system enhancement. Other good choices are Oil of Oregano, Olive Leaf, Vitamin C, Green Tea, and a good multivitamin. A healthy diet and exercise are important also, as is drinking plenty of water, avoiding sugar, alcohol, and nicotine.
7. oldtimekid2 says:

   November 27, 2009 at 9:37 pm

   Some of the most popular natural products for boosting the immune system are Colostrum, Mushrooms (Maitake, Shiitake, and Reishi), IP-6 (Inositol Hexaphosphate), Beta Glucans, Elderberry, Echinacea (should be taken short-term only), and any antioxidants.

   As far as Probiotics, that’s the beneficial bacteria that lives in your intestinal tract. If you are taking antibiotics for a short time, you should get some good Probiotics to take after the antibiotics are completely finished. If you take them together, the antibiotics will kill the Probiotics before they can be beneficial and it might lessen the potency or effect of the antibiotics… but you’ll need the Probiotics to replenish your intestinal flora after the antibiotics have killed them all off.
   Protein powders are just protein (like a hamburger)… they don’t directly impact your immune system at all.
   Good luck!