Whether speaking about colds, flus, similar viral infections, or COVID-19 specifically, you will want to strengthen your immune system by eating healthy foods (non-GMO, organic or biodynamic), drinking properly filtered water (public water supplies and bottled waters are often filled with numerous toxic chemicals and pharmaceutical contaminants), and exercising regularly where there is good air quality, preferably in a healthy natural setting.
As a good starting point, here is a sensible list of healthy lifestyle tips given out by the Harvard Medical School which comes, of course, from the materialistic, natural scientific worldview, and thus addresses a part of the whole:
- Don’t smoke.
- Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
- Exercise regularly.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- If you drink alcohol, drink only in moderation.
- Get adequate sleep.
- Take steps to avoid infection, such as washing your hands frequently and cooking meats thoroughly.
- Try to minimize stress.
Why try to minimize stress? Do it. Do whatever you need to do so. As is now commonly known, stress has debilitating effects on the mind and body, greatly increasing our susceptibility to infection.
Then there are the super-physical dimensions of the human being and of the biosphere in its cosmic, human and planetary aspects to consider. These have a direct, highly significant effect on our overall health and well-being, one that modern science with its methods and instruments is unable to detect and measure.
Medicines today are available to us in the following forms:
- Organic and biodynamic foods and herbal remedies
- Alchemical (Chinese, Indian, Western Esoteric)
- Synthetic pharmaceutical drugs
A superbly wise, knowledgeable and insightful doctor will know how and when to select from each type of medicine to treat a patient on multiple levels.
Licorice Root
Today let’s take a look at the herbal medicine licorice, which has long been highly regarded in the major medical traditions across the world:
Scientific Name: Glycyrrhiza glabra
Ayurvedic Name: Yashti Madhu
Chinese Medical Name: Gan Cao
Licorice has beneficial effects on multiple organ systems and all tissue types (In Ayurveda: plasma, blood, muscle, fat, bone, nerve, and reproductive).
Contraindications
We will begin with contraindications so that if the reader suffers from these conditions, he or she should only take this herbal medicine in consultation with a competent medical professional:
- Inhibits absorption of calcium and potassium (not for sufferers of osteoporosis),
- Increases water around the heart (not for sufferers of hypertension).
Preventive and Curative Effects
For this article, we will focus on the preventive effect of licorice root in boosting immunity and its therapeutic effect in treating cold and flu symptoms.
Licorice has documented anti-oxidant and anti-viral effects, and increases interferon and antibody production. Dr. Axe has the following to say about recent studies on the effects of licorice root for the immune system:
“Licorice is emerging as a prominent player in the search for treatment and prevention for diseases like hepatitis C, HIV and influenza. The triterpenoid content has been confirmed as an antiviral, making licorice extract a potentially strong partner for the immune system. One study published in Food Chemistry described licorice as having “antioxidant, free-radical scavenging, immuno-stimulating properties.”
Since time immemorial, Licorice has been effectively used in the treatment of coughs, colds, flus, bronchitis, sore throat and laryngitis in traditional medical systems such as Ayurveda, Chinese Medicine and Western herbalism.
An additional super-physical benefit of licorice is that it calms the mind and nurtures the spirit. Thus, Licorice root contributes to reducing stress levels by strengthening several body systems, the mind and the spirit. This serves to protect us from infection and allows us to meet daily challenges with more clarity, equanimity and vitality.
Joseph Michael Contrada
(Re-)Sources:
Harvard Health Publishing / Harvard Medical School, “How to boost your immune system”
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Dr. Dietrich Klinghardt, MD, PhD, “Dr. Klinghardt’s Advice: The Corona Virus”
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/how-to-boost-your-immune-system
Dr. Josh Axe, “Licorice Root Benefits Adrenal Fatigue & Leaky Gut”
https://draxe.com/nutrition/licorice-root/
Drs. David Fawley and Vasant Lad, “The Yoga of Herbs”
Karta Purkh, Singh Khalsa, and Michael Tierra, “The Way of Ayurvedic Herbs”
© 2020 Heilpraxis Contrada, Joseph Michael Contrada, Owner and Heilpraktiker