Q I am a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher and seem to pick up all the bugs the kids in my class have. I suffer from repeated upper-respiratory problems: sinus infections, bronchitis, colds, strep throat and laryngitis. I take multivitamins, drink lots of water, exercise when I am healthy, wash my hands regularly and eat pretty well. How can I boost my immune system?
AYou seem to be on a good track, but I would also recommend trying my daily antioxidant formula plus the Chinese herbal remedy astragalus, which has antiviral and immune-boosting properties. Take two capsules twice a day. You can take astragalus indefinitely to increase resistance to the kinds of infections you've been getting.
I also suggest adding mushrooms to your diet. Look for the well-studied edible varieties such as shiitake, oyster mushrooms, enoki and maitake. They contain polysaccharides (long-chain sugar molecules) that enhance immune function. You might consider taking my immune-support formula, which has astragalus and mushroom extracts all in one capsule.
People are also reading…
Your diet should include fresh, organically grown fruits and vegetables — several servings daily. And because garlic (raw or lightly cooked) and green tea have immune-enhancing effects, try to get both every day.
Avoid processed and manufactured foods as much as possible. I would avoid cow's milk and all products made from it as well. Dairy products can irritate the immune system and thicken mucus, making one more prone to respiratory infections.
Make sure to get the sleep you need — most of us need seven to eight hours. Insufficient sleep also weakens your resistance. And be sure to keep washing your hands frequently!
Choosing chelation?
QHow does the new oral chelation compare with intravenous (IV) chelation therapy? Could you also tell me what you think of removing metals from one's body as a means of curbing the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
AIn 2005, the FDA approved the drug deferasirox (Exjade), an oral chelating agent for treating chronic iron overload due to multiple blood transfusions. Until then, the only way to treat iron overload was with daily prolonged intravenous therapy.
Chelating agents grab metal atoms, forming complexes that can be excreted in the urine. Their use is standard treatment for heavy-metal poisoning. Many popular but unproven and unapproved "alternative therapies" for cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis and other chronic conditions claim to use the process of chelation.
It would be convenient to have a safe and effective orally active chelating agent, especially for iron. However, on May 22, 2007, the FDA and the drug manufacturer Novartis warned doctors that Exjade has been associated with some cases of kidney failure and other serious medical complications, some of which were fatal. Most of the patients involved had advanced, pre-existing blood disorders; a few had bone marrow failure.
I'm aware that various oral chelating agents are promoted on the Internet for everything from removing mercury from the body to treating chronic fatigue syndrome. There is no scientific evidence for the effectiveness of these products. Intravenous chelation therapy (with a compound called EDTA) is effective but will do nothing for diseases unrelated to toxic metals in the body. Because MS does not have such an association, chelation therapy is not indicated for it.
By the way, I've always been skeptical of claims that IV chelation effectively removes plaque from arteries (supposedly by extracting calcium from it). This issue may finally be settled when the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine completes a five-year, $30 million study of EDTA chelation therapy in patients with heart disease. The study, called TACT (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy), is recruiting volunteers and will conclude in 2009. For more information, go to clinicaltrials.gov/show/ NCT00044213.
Bottom line: Chelation therapy, whether oral or IV, has no role in the treatment of MS.