Immune Support Suggestions
I would like to share additional information regarding each immune support topic from last week. If you have not read the March 13, 2020 blog, please do before reading this.

#1 Hygiene - One tool many of you have in your tool kits are essential oils.  Do not use them excessively but put them to good use now.  They will be especially helpful if someone in your house is diagnosed with COVID-19.  Even now as you are still going out to the store and on errands they can be very helpful. Use them to make a hand sanitizer easily by adding 10-20 drops of oils like Tea Tree and Frankincense to a 1 oz spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol and a bit of aloe vera gel.  Hand washing IS best but you will find times when you are out and about that you may want to sanitize immediately (think grocery store carts and PIN pads!)  
 
#2 Adaptogens - Many people are not yet ready to think of this outbreak in the long term view that will be needed.  For those who are not exposed currently and are taking safety precautions, the next most important thing for them is to reduce their STRESS. Stress depletes the body's ability to respond to immune challenges.  As an herbalist we use nervines (herbs that nourish and calm the nervous system) and adaptogens (herbs that strengthen the body's resilience) to help.  Mitigating stress is key RIGHT NOW.  There are a lot of mind/body suggestions out there for calming and I suggested a couple in my last newsletter but if you need additional support for this please reach out.  *Some adaptogens are best not taken when actively ill so make an appointment with your herbalist to discuss your custom remedy and how to proceed if you become ill.

#3 Supporting wei-qi -  Now that you have more time at home implement a daily practice of the Qi Gong routine I shared last week.  Increasing our wei-qi and our lung health is good preventative medicine right now!  

#4 General immune support - Kitchen medicine like eating warm, nourishing soups, garlic, ginger, mushrooms, and citrus fruits are part of a healthy lifestyle.  These are things we can all do and should do. Remember that good health doesn't come in a bottle.  All these little choices add up!
 
#5 Immune stimulating herbs - Many people often reach of elderberry and echinacea to boost the immune system. These are just 2 of the more common ones.  Right now there is information floating around stirring up fears about immune stimulants.  I didn't get too deep into this discussion in the previous newsletter and was possibly too vague as people begin to panic when they read about cytokine storms.  First of all understand that every answer is nuanced so when I say that I might "reconsider" elderberry syrup for those who are ill it does not mean stop.  It means reconsider.  I am going to be looking at whether or not they have already been using it as a preventative and how it has been working for them. Has it been enough? Are there better herbs given their particular needs?  Do I need to move on to my next protocol?  There are many herbs for me to choose from and layers in that decision.   Also as I mentioned previously, herbalists walk a thin line in how we practice so sometimes we have to be a bit vague. We can not come right out and make claims like drug companies can.  With regards to elderberry, in particular, in the last newsletter I shared the perspective from the Science and Art of Herbalism program (the Rosemary Gladstar program that I teach here in Omaha).  I have continued to read what a variety of prominent herbalists have shared.  Here I will also share what my first herbal teacher Nicholas Schnell shared on his page recently.

Elder Berry Safety with Acute Viral Infections
There is much mis-information going around that elderberry will cause a "cytokine storm" if taken during an acute infection. This is simply not true and not based on clinical facts. Elderberry is an immune modulator and anti-viral. It can affect IL-6 to some degree. However, calling this a cytokine storm is misleading. Considering it is one of the most researched herbs for viral influenza, I think it creates more confusion in the public.
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Dr. Eric Yarnell: I already posted about this but here it goes again to quash this nonsense: forget about all the in vitro crap that suggests Sambucus (Elder) would cause a cytokine storm. Look at the human clinical trials in influenza using Sambucus, another disease where we know cytokine storms cause severe morbidity and mortality (PMID 26189369). Sambucus has not caused cytokine storms in influenza, quite the opposite: symptoms improved much more rapidly with Sambucus than placebo (hardly in line with Sambucus causing aggravation and cytokine storms) (PMID 9395631, 15080016).
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#6 - #7 Immune amphoteric and modulating herbs and alteratives -  I defined these herbs a bit and gave some herbs to consider for my more knowledgeable clients and so that clients understand some of what I am considering in my formulations.  If you do not have the individual knowledge of which of these herbs to choose then if you get to the point of needing these items you might want to schedule a consultation with your herbalist. 

#8  My office and client protocols - I will remain open as long as I feel it is the right thing to do for my family and my community.  Starting next week all appointments will be via Skype or phone.  For refills and pick-ups I ask that you be very specific in your appointment notes so that we have the items ready for you. We would be glad to bring them out to your vehicle if you text us when you arrive.  This is especially helpful if you have children.  We will be sanitizing all touched surfaces should you choose to come in.  We can also mail them to you if you note that on your appointment note.   We will bill via Square for purchases so that we mitigate passage of germs in the payment process. We will not be answering questions and or socializing at herb pick-up time. It will be a quick in-and-out process.  If you have questions and are looking for advice you will need to make an appointment.

I am making available a "pro-active" immune support blend and an "active" immune support blend that can be purchased for $40 for 4 oz. to help people be prepared.  If you are a current client and become ill you can email me and I will make a more specific blend, if applicable, and it will be mailed to you.  I will only be making custom formulations related to immune support for CURRENT CLIENTS.  A current client is someone who has had a consultation with me in the last 2 years.  

I am committed to being here for you as I can but I also acknowledge that at some point myself and my staff may have to quarantine.  Many clients may have very mild symptoms and all of this may see over-reactionary but for some of my clients with immune challenges this is the protocol that is required in order to keep them health! 

I will share a quote that was often said when I was in the Army that I find highly applicable right now.  

"Failure to prepare, is preparing to fail!" - Benjamin Franklin

Be well my herbal family!  Your health and vitality is of the utmost importance to me!

-Kate

 I first wrote this piece in 2013 as I was healing from adrenal exhaustion.  Being the rather driven person that I am I can say it has been a real journey to try to slow down and make time for myself.  When you hit bottom though and your body has finally said enough then there is no choice but to learn the lessons.  Slowing down is not something I can say I have mastered at all but at least I have learned to listen to my body better and recognize when to downshift if I can.  I have learned a lot in the process to include changes in mindset, lifestyle changes, and herbs to use to help support the process.  I have been able to share much of what I have learned with my clients who also struggle with the same issues. I understand their journey because I have been there.  For many we have pushed ourselves so hard we don't even know how to take care of ourselves or where to begin.  Or we just need a little inspiration or someone else to tell us it is "ok" to spend time taking care of ourselves.  For those of you who need that nudge I am re-sharing this piece to remind you of the little things you can do to nourish yourself.  It is a blessing to yourself and others to be as physically and emotionally healthy as you can be so that you can continue to be the gift that you are to your family and community.

One of the things I learned this past year is that I was failing to nourish myself.  I was failing to take time for myself.  Things like that tend to happen when you have 3 kids especially when they are young.  The reality is that they need a lot of things!  Help getting dressed. Nudged to brush teeth and get dressed. Food. Help reaching things. Drinks of water. Spills cleaned up. Food. Having their butts wiped. Cuddles. Books read.  Food.  You get the idea. It is never ending and then at one point you realize it is 3:00 and you haven’t eaten your own lunch yet.  As mothers we put ourselves LAST often.  But here is the kicker if we push too hard we end up sick or even worse in adrenal exhaustion and then things come to a screeching halt. Why can’t we take the time for ourselves before we are energetically bankrupt?  Well the answer is often that we don’t think we deserve it until the dishes are washed, the kids are bathed, and life is perfect which it will never be.  So here is a list of things to consider doing to take care of yourself in the coming year.  Pick one or pick 5!  Your mental and physical health and your family will all be the better for it.

1.  Eat regular meals at the same time every day.  Your body will be so happy that you did! It will begin to even think you care about it and honestly will be there for it and listen to it when it tells you things like to slow down when it needs a break or is ill.
2. Drink a nourishing herbal infusion such as nettles or oatstraw.  Your nerves and energy levels will reach new heights.
3. Eat a warm and nourishing breakfast no matter the season.  A warmed up pop tart is not what we are talking about here.  Oatmeal, soup, eggs, something hearty that isn’t just carbs.
4. Squeeze in some time to do 10 minutes of Yoga or Qi Kong every day.  It is amazing what 10 minutes can do for your mood and energy!  If you really want to show your body you care for it consider 30 minutes!
5. Write a thank you card to someone even if it is only in your mind.  When you are grateful for others you begin to appreciate yourself more as well.
6. Try not to give all your energy to activities that fail to nourish you.  This could be a volunteer role that no longer fills your cup or it could be fighting with people on Facebook. Not that I know ANYONE that wastes time on senseless activities like that on Facebook. J
7. Find a new activity that you are passionate about and give yourself the right to spend time to continue to learn and grow as a human being on this divine journey. Maybe it is knitting or maybe it is belly dancing or maybe it is learning about herbs but find something that brings you joy.  *This is not only good for you but it is good for your children to see that learning never ends and there is joy to be had in this world no matter your age. 
8. Find a community to be a part of.  It can be a virtual community or a real one.  Maybe it is a special chat group or maybe it is a group that gets together to share meals but it is your people and you care about them and they care about you.  Keep looking until you find what suits you and if you don’t find what you are looking for then create it yourself. 
9. Learn about adaptogen herbs which help your body deal with stress and our busy lives.  Find one you like and commit to taking it.
10. Take time to journal and reflect on your journey. Or simply to take a quiet moment to reflect mentally.
11. Take a moment to brew yourself a cup of tea every morning or evening and drink it while you are sitting down and doing nothing else.
12. Give and get hugs as often as you comfortably can.  So many people are hungry for love and connection.
13. Speak your truth as often as you can.  Why?  Because you matter and your truth is as valid as anyone else’s.  If you don’t value what you think then why should anyone else?
14. Try to let anger go.  Try to not engage in frustrating activities when you can avoid them. Why?  Because it eats away at your energy yet produces nothing.  Learn to let go of these things as best you can.
15. Commit to spending 15 minutes every day outside.  Walk, garden, sit, do what you choose but do it with intention to nurture yourself.
16. Consider walking outside without shoes on to ground yourself to the earth.  Soak in the energy of the earth and the sun or the moon. 
17. Plant something and visit it regularly and watch as it grows.
18. Get to know one neighbor well. Someone who one day may need you or whom you might need to call upon.  It will give you a sense of peace, security and connection.
19. Make a new friend.  Reach out to someone who you meet and say hello not because you need anything from them but because you recognize their humanity and their beauty as another soul on this difficult journey we call life.
20. Give up measuring sticks.  Quit measuring yourself against all your friends and family and Pinterist.  Mentally burn that stick every time you see it rearing its head.
21. Empower someone.  Lift them up.  Support them in their role. Maybe it is a smile to a fellow mother having a rough time. Maybe it is helping a child fundraise for something they feel strongly about.  Empower someone to feel awesome about themselves and what they are doing and some of that sparkly glitter of love will land on you as well.
22. Love yourself. No matter what you did or failed to do that day.  Simply love you for who you are.  For your spirit and your light.

 
 
 
 
By Kate Bodmann, Land of Milk and Honey Herbs 2013