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The human immune system is a complex world made up of microscopic cells functioning to defend and protect your body from disease, infection and other potentially harmful foreign agents. It’s actually a superbrain–identifying, recording and remembering foreign substances and incoming menaces. A strong immune system will respond to invaders quickly and efficiently and be able to maintain health in the whole organism, even when exposed to toxins, chemicals and other oxidative stress.

A lifestyle that promotes ready-to-act immunity is critically important. Standard or conventional medicine (including pharmaceuticals) can effectively alleviate illness and treat diseases by fighting them on an external level. However, drugs and surgery do little or nothing to strengthen natural, built-in defences. What frequently ensues is successive illness. Optimizing your body’s ability to ward off offenders and fight disease on its own leads to an increased level of health and well-being.

One trillion cellular guards (white blood cells) that arise in bone marrow patrol every inch of the circulatory system, bathing cells. The immune system, comprised of 10 times as many cells as in the entire human nervous system, manufactures about 40 different immune agents. It’s elaborate and finely tuned and is controlled not by a central organ such as the brain, but rather by a complex information network operating among the individual members.

Organs of Immunity

There are five "immune" organs in the human body:

• The thymus gland is involved in the formation of T-cells.


• The tonsils and adenoids distinguish invaders that may need destroying.


• The spleen is the organ that filters blood and distributes T-cells and B-cells.


• The lymph glands form and store white blood cells.


• The bone marrow is where B-cells are produced.

Proper nourishment–unprocessed, whole foods that are easily digested and assimilated–provides fuel for the body. A diet rich in whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables is essential in maintaining a resilient immune defence which can respond efficiently to offenders. A high-sugar diet puts undue stress on the body and has been associated with a higher risk of illness and a shortened life span.

Routine physical exercise is also an important factor. Moderate physical exercise enhances immunity and leads to fewer illnesses and disease states.

Nutrients Strengthen Immunity

When confronted with the fact that herbal and "alternative" medicines have become popular in Europe and the USA, the reason given is that they prevent disease and boost the immune system. Botanical and herbal medicines have been used for centuries for this very purpose. As well, a regular supply of antioxidants ensures protection from damage caused by oxidation and helps to maintain health. Some antioxidants are:

Daniel T. Wagner is a natural and clinical pharmacist, herbalist and botanical medicine researcher. He lives in Wildwood, Pa.

Source: alive #227, September 2001