God created an immune defense which, compared to how often we face microbial threats, only occasionally needs backup. Despite practically non-stop assault, our immune system handles most issues without needing anything more than the basic supplies we have discussed in past articles. However, threats to our immune defenses intermittently arise which require some extra assistance, some outside reinforcements. God has provided various reinforcements both in nature and through scientific progress.
(This is an updated reprint of an article written for Samaritan Ministries Newsletter)
Before turning immediately to pharmaceutical options, consider the natural therapies which God wove into the natural world as means of reinforcing your immune system. We start with the natural options, not because we believe natural is “good” and synthetic is “bad,” and not because we believe all pharmaceutical companies are an evil scam. Those are simplistic straw-men to avoid. All good things come from God, and there is good in both the natural and conventional worlds of medicine (James 1:17).
Instead we start with natural immune reinforcements because they offer both efficacy and relative safety, when used carefully, without nearly as many side effects as medication. They are also easier to access and usually less expensive. Despite a lack of awareness in mainstream medicine, these natural remedies offer considerable benefits early in the defense response and can help avoid over-using antibiotics. They also minimize side effects such as gut dysbiosis with antibiotics, antibiotic allergies, and the development of resistant bacteria. They clearly have a role in our health.
When considering natural options for infections, the first question is whether we are facing a bacterial, viral, fungal, or parasitic issue. Sometimes this will be easier to determine than others. Once we have confidence in the assessment, a targeted therapy can be chosen. When we’re uncertain which of these invaders knocks at the door, a natural therapy which addresses more than one type of invader should be selected. Thankfully, many natural therapies cover multiple types of microbial invaders.
Consider viral therapies for now, given a coronavirus’s current prominence. While minimal focused research money goes towards widely available and inexpensive natural options, we do find research support to label various herbs as anti-viral.
Quercetin is a flavonoid, a particular type of naturally produced molecule found in various fruits and vegetables. Our diet can provide moderate amounts by including certain plaints. In addition to its use as a natural anti-allergy therapy and anti-oxidant, quercetin’s work as an ionophore makes it potentially effective against viral infections. Ionophores open microscopic doors for ions, in this case zinc, to enter cells. The increased zinc inside the cell slows and inhibits viral growth. With a slower growing virus, our immune systems have a better chance to win the battle.
While quercetin has not been approved for use against COVID-19, several prominent doctors advocate its use. It is something we include in our viral protocol at the clinic. I talk more about it in my Immune Prepper Course available for purchase.
Olive leaf extract stands out as another natural reinforcement that we can add to our immune arsenal. While most recognize the benefits of olive oil in heart disease, not everyone realizes that the leaf extract has considerable anti-viral research behind it. Research has shown that it raises the level of anti-viral immune cells, called natural killer cells, and immune messengers like interferon gamma that optimize anti-viral defense. Research has also demonstrated some efficacy against other viruses include mononucleosis (EBV), herpes, and hepatitis besides activity against several infectious bacteria and yeast.
The broad activity of olive leaf against multiple viruses and multiple pathogen types makes it very useful in the immune defense back up weapon arsenal.
We aren’t limited to such near-direct attacks on viral invaders. We have also natural options which simply augment our natural defenses against any invader. Echinacea and elderberry probably get the most attention in this group.
Echinacea, which has been used in native American traditional medicine for centuries, comes from the purple cone flower indigenous to North America. Different studies demonstrated effects of echinacea on raising or lowering different cytokines that our immune system uses. In those studies, immune cells were sometimes increased as well. The researchers hypothesized that these effects lie behind the apparent benefit of echinacea for viruses such as herpes, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus (the common cold virus), and flu viruses.
Echinacea finds itself in many immune boosting combinations given its efficacy and safety. Despite accusations against it as an agitator of autoimmune disease, no proof of a causal connection with autoimmunity or autoimmune disease exacerbation has been found.
Elderberry, another well-known immune booster, also finds itself in a number of immune boosting products. Coming from the Sambucus nigra plant and a long history of use in folk medicines, the active ingredients appear to come from anthocyanidins. Various research looked at the effects of elderberry extracts on viral infections and how different cytokines changed. Inflammatory cytokines, or immune system messengers, significantly increased in one study against influenza virus. In several studies, the extract worked against flu and other upper respiratory viruses.
Besides remembering to bring some home from the store when facing infection challenges and symptoms, we should remember that only the extract is safe. Elderberries without processing can be dangerously toxic. Nature needs some human help in this case.
Without going into detail, several other natural reinforcements deserve consideration pre-emptively or once their need is evident. Garlic stands out as another broadly effective therapy, with demonstrated efficacy against bacteria, viruses, and parasites.
Monolaurin, a particular oil from coconut oil, also addresses a few different conditions. It has shown anti-viral and anti-fungal properties. This very safe oil can be ingested orally or applied topically depending on the targeted invader.
If faced with a suspected parasitic invader, we may want to consider options beyond the ones above. Artemesinin from wormwood offers efficacy against intestinal parasites leading to its inclusion in many anti-parasitic therapies and so-called cleanses. This treatment should definitely be monitored and pulse-dosed. Long-term use both increases its breakdown and increases risk of blood cell suppression. Taking this supplement in shorter courses repeatedly appears to work better. As proof of its efficacy, the natural compound has been harnessed to produce a pharmaceutical version that won a Nobel Prize for its efficacy against malarial infections.
As an additional anti-parasitic, one often finds clove in those anti-parasitic combination therapies with artemisinin. Some of its sub-components show efficacy against various parasites.
Besides knowing when to start one or more of these therapies, one must also know when to stop and when to move on. Continuing to take a natural therapy despite your symptoms worsening could lead to less than desirable outcomes when you should be seeking medical attention and possible pharmaceuticals. Continuing to take a natural therapy when the battle is over could result in side effects that could have been avoided.
If a few days go by and symptoms do not improve or the symptoms worsen significantly, one should consult a medical provider for help. At times, another natural therapy may still help, but at times a pharmaceutical may be more appropriate. Self-treatment can be reasonable with mild and early disease, but continuing to do so with clear lack of success could lead to long term problems.
With these natural options in your arsenal, your immune system can receive the extra help it needs when it needs it. Just don’t forget to keep your immune system well supplied with nutrients like vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin C, and more. Sending reinforcements when the real problem is low supplies will not be as fruitful. Once these supplies are in place, natural therapies can help us recover from many problems without the need for pharmaceuticals.
(Disclaimer: This educational article does not constitute personalized medical advice. You are responsible for choosing or not choosing to apply these remedies to your own care. Please consult your physician before starting a new therapy, especially if pregnant or breastfeeding.)
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QUERCETIN
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OLIVE LEAF
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ECHINACEA
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Taylor JA, Weber W, Standish L, et al. Efficacy and safety of echinacea in treating upper respiratory tract infections in children: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA. 2003;290(21):2824-2830.
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ELDERBERRY
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Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael MD, Li D, Alberte RS. Elderberry flavonoids bind to and prevent H1N1 infection in vitro. Phytochemistry. 2009;70(10):1255‐1261. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2009.06.003
Zakay-Rones, Z et al. “Inhibition of several strains of influenza virus in vitro and reduction of symptoms by an elderberry extract (Sambucus nigra L.) during an outbreak of influenza B Panama.” Journal of alternative and complementary medicine (New York, N.Y.) vol. 1,4 (1995): 361-9. doi:10.1089/acm.1995.1.361
GARLIC
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Bayan, Leyla et al. “Garlic: a review of potential therapeutic effects.” Avicenna journal of phytomedicine vol. 4,1 (2014): 1-14.
Li, Wen-Ru et al. “Antifungal activity, kinetics and molecular mechanism of action of garlic oil against Candida albicans.” Scientific reports vol. 6 22805. 7 Mar. 2016, doi:10.1038/srep22805
Liu, Qing et al. “Antibacterial and Antifungal Activities of Spices.” International journal of molecular sciences vol. 18,6 1283. 16 Jun. 2017, doi:10.3390/ijms18061283
Lu, Xiaonan et al. “Investigating antibacterial effects of garlic (Allium sativum) concentrate and garlic-derived organosulfur compounds on Campylobacter jejuni by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and electron microscopy.” Applied and environmental microbiology vol. 77,15 (2011): 5257-69. doi:10.1128/AEM.02845-10
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Nantz, Meri P. et al. Supplementation with aged garlic extract improves both NK and γδ-T cell function and reduces the severity of cold and flu symptoms: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled nutrition intervention. Clinical Nutrition, Volume 31, Issue 3, 337 – 344
Shang, Ao et al. “Bioactive Compounds and Biological Functions of Garlic (Allium sativum L.).” Foods (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 8,7 246. 5 Jul. 2019, doi:10.3390/foods8070246
Uzun, Lokman et al. “Antimicrobial Activity of Garlic Derivatives on Common Causative Microorganisms of the External Ear Canal and Chronic Middle Ear Infections.” Turkish archives of otorhinolaryngology vol. 57,4 (2019): 161-165. doi:10.5152/tao.2019.4413
Wallock-Richards, Daynea et al. “Garlic revisited: antimicrobial activity of allicin-containing garlic extracts against Burkholderia cepacia complex.” PloS one vol. 9,12 e112726. 1 Dec. 2014, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0112726
MONOLAURIN
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Goc, A et al. “In vitro evaluation of antibacterial activity of phytochemicals and micronutrients against Borrelia burgdorferi and Borrelia garinii.” Journal of applied microbiology vol. 119,6 (2015): 1561-72. doi:10.1111/jam.12970
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Strandberg, Kristi L et al. “Glycerol monolaurate inhibits Candida and Gardnerella vaginalis in vitro and in vivo but not Lactobacillus.” Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy vol. 54,2 (2010): 597-601. doi:10.1128/AAC.01151-09
Wang W, Wang R, Zhang G, Chen F, Xu B. In Vitro Antibacterial Activities and Mechanisms of Action of Fatty Acid Monoglycerides against Four Foodborne Bacteria.
ARTEMESININ
Bridgford, J.L., Xie, S.C., Cobbold, S.A. et al. Artemisinin kills malaria parasites by damaging proteins and inhibiting the proteasome. Nat Commun 9, 3801 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-06221-1
Elfawal, Mostafa A et al. “Dried whole plant Artemisia annua as an antimalarial therapy.” PloS one vol. 7,12 (2012): e52746. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0052746
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NOBEL PRIZE Chen, Wei-June. “Honoring antiparasitics: The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.” Biomedical journal vol. 39,2 (2016): 93-7. doi:10.1016/j.bj.2016.04.002
CLOVE
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Luna, Emanuela Coutinho et al. “Active Essential Oils and Their Components in Use against Neglected Diseases and Arboviruses.” Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity vol. 2019 6587150. 7 Feb. 2019, doi:10.1155/2019/6587150
Sanctuary Functional Medicine, under the direction of Dr Eric Potter, IFMCP MD, provides functional medicine services to Nashville, Middle Tennessee and beyond. We frequently treat patients from Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, and more... offering the hope of healthier more abundant lives to those with chronic illness.
Dr. Eric Potter graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School and then went on to specialize in internal medicine (adult) and pediatric care, spending significant time and effort in growing his medical understanding while caring for patients from all walks of life.
