Boost Your Immunity This Fall with Holistic Support 🌿
As we move into fall, we also move into cold and flu season. I, unfortunately, got my first fall cold this week which has reminded me how important it is this time of year to intentionally focus on our immune systems. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs are organs associated with this time of year and especially susceptible to getting sick. As we spend more time indoors (and kids are in school), we come into contact with lots of viruses. The hope is as we focus on our immune system, that even when we come into contact with those viruses, we don’t get sick or at least we get sick less often.
At Healing with Intention, we focus on a whole body, whole person, integrative approach to wellness, ensuring your body, mind, and spirit are all fortified for the months ahead. Making everyday choices to prioritize your health and wellness can you help you feel your best all season long!
🍂 Why Boosting Your Immunity is Crucial for Fall
The change in weather, combined with more time spent indoors, can leave you more susceptible to colds, flu, and other seasonal illnesses. Strengthening your immune system naturally can help you feel your best all season long, and we’re here to guide you!
🌿 Integrative Medicine Tips for Immune Support:
Seasonal Nutrition: Incorporate immune-boosting foods like dark leafy greens, squash, mushrooms, and garlic to provide your body with the vitamins and antioxidants it needs.
Gut Health: Your gut health is an important part of your immune system. We recommend feeding your gut with prebiotics (compounds in foods that feed the good bacteria in your gut like mushrooms, garlic, onions) and probiotics in fermented foods like kefir and kimchi to maintain a healthy gut microbiome. We also know that eating a large variety of plants including spices is beneficial to our microbiome as well. So enjoy a wide variety of plants and warm spices this season for improved gut health.
Mindful Movement: Regular, moderate exercise like yoga or walking stimulates circulation and strengthens your immune response. Exercise is beneficial for our immune system, our heart and lungs, and our brain and mood… so go for a walk or a bicycle ride and enjoy the fall colors, go to your favorite yoga class, or have a dance party in your kitchen and get your body moving!
Stress Management: We all have stress but we know that stress also negatively impacts our body’s ability to fight off infections. Practices such as meditation, breathwork, yoga, and exercise can help reduce stress and support overall wellness.
Restorative Sleep: Prioritize sleep to allow your body to repair and recharge, giving your immune system the boost it needs. Sufficient and quality sleep is crucial for immune health. Chronic sleep deprivation (less than 7 hours a night) negatively impacts immune function and makes you more susceptible to getting sick. As the days get shorter, fall is a great time to start a new sleep hygiene routine if you don’t one. Intentionally preparing for sleep can help sleep be more restorative. If you want to learn more about sleep hygiene, just reply to this email and I’ll send my favorite tips!
Incorporate powerful medicinal plants into your routine: Herbal remedies can help keep us well and also help us get better and feel better when we do get sick (because it does happen even when we do our best to stay well). Here’s a few of my favorites:
Elderberry: Known for its antiviral properties, elderberry syrup can reduce the duration and intensity of colds.
Echinacea: This herb is often used to prevent colds and may reduce their severity and duration when taken at the first sign of symptoms.
Garlic: With its potent antimicrobial properties, garlic can enhance immune function and ward off infections.
Ginger: Known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, ginger can help soothe a sore throat and boost overall immunity.
Honey and Lemon: This classic combination not only provides soothing relief for sore throats but also offers antibacterial properties that can aid in recovery.
🍂 Ready to Fortify Your Immune System for Fall?
At Healing with Intention Integrative Medicine, I offer personalized, integrative solutions to regain your health and keep you healthy, including taking a deep dive into lifestyle factors affecting your health and vitality, and the whole toolbox of integrative medicine including herbal medicine, supplements, energy healing, and more. My goal is to strengthen your body’s natural defenses so you can thrive, no matter the season.
