Immune System

Immune system is found in all ranging from small organisms to human being. Immune system is a collection of organs that perform well defined biological processes within the body to protect against illness by identifying and killing harmful bodies and unwanted growing cells. ^[1]

The immune system actually the basic army for human body and protects the body from potentially harmful substances. First of all it recognizes the harmful substances (living or non living) and then responds against it. The foreign agents that enter in body include viruses, fungi, or bacteria etc are living crowd. While nonliving substances such as toxins, chemicals, drugs, and foreign particles are also harmful for human body provoke the activity of immune system. ^[2] Its immune system’s job to keep these foreign particles out or failing their attack, to seek out and destroy them. ^[3]

Structure of Immune System

The organs of the immune system are positioned throughout the body. They are called lymphoid organs because they are home to lymphocytes that are the small white blood cells. White blood cells are the key players for all sorts of activities of the immune system. ^[4]

The lymphoid organs of the immune system are thymus, bone marrow, spleen, tonsils, lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and skin. ^[5]

The immune system is amazingly complex and essential for living being as it has the ability to recognize and remember millions of different enemies and also able to produce secretions or fluids and specialized cells that specifically match up with that particular enemy and wipe them out.^[6]

As it is said earlier that immune cells found everywhere in body and act as successful natural defense mechanism against harmful substances. The secret of immune system’s success is its Elaborate and Dynamic Communications Network. Once any problem triggers immune system as an alarm, the Millions and millions of cells become activated and begin to produce powerful chemicals. These are white blood cells that are the characteristic of immune system and are arranged in organized into sets and subsets; congregate like clouds of bees teeming around a hive. These chemicals provoke immune response and direct the new recruits to trouble spots. ^[6]

Problems of Immune System

Problem due to Immune Deficiency

Immune deficiency means there is problem or missing in one or more parts of immune system. This may be inherited, acquired through infection, or produced as a side effect by drugs such as those used to treat people during longstanding problems. Condition that inhibits the activity of immune system on temporary basis includes common virus attacks like influenza etc. Immune responses can also be dejected by surgery, malnutrition, smoking, blood transfusions and stress. ^[7]

Problem due to Immune System’s Over Activity

When the immune system start to responds to a false alarm leads to allergies or exaggerated response of immune system. During allergy a normal harmless material such as grass pollen, food particles, mold, or house dust mites are considered as harmful and provoke immune response and leads to fever, cough and sneezing. ^[7]

Nutritional Supplements Having Beneficial Effect to Immune System

Nutritional supplements that show support during problems associated with immune system are mentioned here.

Supplements that Support Immune Health

• Active Hexose Correlated Compound (AHCC) is highly praised for its great effects on defense mechanism of body and provides support to both inborn and acquired defense mechanism of body. ^{[8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14]}
• Spirulina is natural food supplement that helps immune system. ^{[10, 11, 15, 18]}
• Variety of nutritional supplements that include Coenzyme Q10 ^{[0, 11, 18, 19]} and Lactobacillus Acidophilus ^{[11, 18]} also valuable and may boost the activity of immune system.

Herbs Having Favorable Effects on Immune System Health

• Echinacea is a valuable herb that gives favorable effect on immune health. ^{[10, 11, 16, 17, 18]}
• Garlic also supports immune health of individual. ^{[11, 17]}
• Other useful herbs include Aloe, ^{[17, 18]} Ginseng, ^{[10, 19, 18]} Barberry, ^{[17, 18]} Cat's Claw, ^{[10, 11, 18]} and Goldenseal. ^{[10, 11, 17, 18]}

Others—Minerals and Vitamins

Selenium, ^{[10, 11, 17, 18, 20]} Vitamin A (Retinol), ^{[10, 11, 18, 19]} Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid),^{[10, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22]} and Zinc ^{[10, 11, 16, 18, 21, 22, 23]} also give their wholesome effects on activity of immune system.

References

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immune_system
2. http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/000821.htm
3. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSyst
4. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSystem/structure.htm
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immunology
6. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSystem/whatIsImmuneSystem.htm
7. http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/topics/immuneSystem/disorders.htm
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Hexose_Correlated_Compound
9. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shiitake
10. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 14, 15, 32, 33, 54, 80, 92, 95, 98, 138 and 679. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.
11. Marcia Zimmerman, CN & Jayson Kroner, CSN. (2006). 7-Syndrome Healing. Page No. 9, 114, 137, 155, 157, 159, 162,163,164,165, 188, 210, 211 and 231. Chico, California: Nutrition Solution Publications.
12. http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/abstract/137/5/1222
13. http://jap.physiology.org/cgi/content/abstract/95
14. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15194672
15. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/spirulina-000327.htm
16. Kenneth A. Goldberg, M.D. (2001) he Men’s Health. Longevity Program. Page No.91, 98 and 106. USA: Rodale Inc.
17. Michael T. Murray, N.D. (1995) The Healing Power Of Herbs. (Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition) Page No. 34, 92, 100, 100, 122, 123, 165, 166, 167, 168 and 194. New York: Gramercy Books.
18. http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/immune-system-002517.htm
19. Mike Fillon. (2003) Real RDAs for Real People. Page No. 160, 181, 224, 235 and 292. USA: Woodland.
20. Robert R. Barefoot. (2001). Barefoot On Coral Calcium: An Elixir Of Life. Page No. 46, 67, 68 and 69. USA: Wellness Publishing.
21. Georges M. Halpern, MD, PHD (2004). Ulcers free! Nature’s safe and effective remedy for ulcers. Page No. 136 and146. U.S.A: Squareone
22. Dr. Richard Firshein (1998) The Nutraceutical Revolution. Page No. 93 and 308. London: Vermilion
23. Jason Theodosakis, M.D., M.S., M.P.H., Brenda Adderly, M.H.A., & Barry Fox, Ph.D. (1998) Maximizing The Arthritis Cure. (1st edition) Page No. 170. New York: St. Martin’s Press.

Disclaimer

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.

Immune Renew (90 Vcaps) by NOW Foods

ImmPower AHCC(30 vegicaps) by American Biosciences