The function of the immune system is to defend the body against invaders. Microbes (germs or microorganisms), cancer cells, and transplanted tissues or organs are all interpreted by the immune system as nonself against which the body must be defended. Although the immune system is intricate, its basic strategy is simple: to recognize the enemy, mobilize forces, and attack. Understanding the anatomy and components of the immune system makes it possible to see how this strategy works.

Immune Busters
Lack of adequate sleep
Excessive sun exposure
Stress of any kind
Excessive sugar intake

Important supplements, herbs and nutrients involved in supporting a healthy immune system:
AHCC mushroom extract and more AHCC research information.
Arabinogalactans are getting some attention lately
Colloidal-Silver may be helpful in certain conditions when used carefully
Astragalus herb. You can find Astragalus for sale. Chinese doctors have used astragalus to fight the common cold and the flu.
Andrographis herb. You can buy Andrographis here.
Beta glucan nutrient. Glucans are glucose polymers that constitute a structural part of fungal cell wall. They can stimulate the innate immunity by activation of monocytes and macrophages.
Cat's Claw herb
Citrus bioflavonoid compounds
Colostrum is the early milk produced for a few days after delivery. In cows, it's called bovine colostrum. Athletes may have more energy when taking a bovine colostrum supplement. Cecelia Shing of the University of Queensland in Australia followed 29 male distance cyclists. After taking baseline measurements of the men's performance on a 40-kilometer time trial, the researchers randomly assigned them to drink either a supplement containing 10 grams of bovine colostrum protein or a whey protein supplement every day for eight weeks. During week eight, the men underwent five consecutive days of high-intensity training; their performance was tested before and after the training bout. There were no clear differences between the two groups during normal training. However, volunteers who used bovine colostrum performed at a higher level, with fewer signs of fatigue, during tests taken after the five-day run of intense training.
Cordyceps mushroom influence the immune system. Cordyceps has a broad range of pharmacological and biological actions on the liver, kidneys, heart, and immune system.
Echinacea herb. For more echinacea herb info.
Garlic works against fungal infections and parasites, and that it may increase the body's resistance to viruses, including the common cold.
Olive leaf extract
Probiotics bifido bacteria. Enhancement of immune system in the elderly by good bacteria. The aging process can lead to a decline in immune function. In an article published in the December 2001 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, thirty healthy elderly volunteers (age range 63–84 y) participated in a 3-stage dietary supplementation trial lasting 9 weeks. During stage 1, subjects consumed low-fat milk for 3 weeks as a base-diet control. During stage 2 (intervention), they consumed milk supplemented with bifidobacteria for 3 wk. During stage 3 (washout), they again consumed low-fat milk for 3 weeks. The results showed an increase in the ability of white blood cells to attack organisms or kill tumor cells after bifidobacterium consumption. The greatest changes in immunity were found in subjects who had poor pretreatment immune responses. Dr. Sahelian says: bifidobacteria and other probiotics may be an effective dietary supplement for enhancing some aspects of the immune system in the elderly. These supplements are usually found in the refrigerated section of health food stores and come in liquid or capsules. Tea - Drinking tea appears to boost the immune system. Non-tea drinkers who downed five to six small cups of black tea per day for two weeks appeared to be better able to fight off bacterial infections. As an explanation for tea's benefits, experiments in the lab revealed that an ingredient found in black, green, oolong and pekoe teas boosted the ability of immune system cells to attack a bacterial invader. The experiments used ethylamine, which is produced when the tea ingredient L-theanine is broken down in the liver.
Selenium
Vitamin C supplement
Vitamin E supplement

Natural Immune Enhancers
Deep Sleep is one of the most important ways to boost one's immune system.

Diet, food, nuts
Almonds have the potential to boost immune health and reduce inflammation. Dr. Giuseppina Mandalari from the Institute of Food Research, Norwich, UK, reports almond skins can modulate an immunological response and positively act as novel antiviral agents. Dr. Giuseppina Mandalari evaluated the effects of natural and blanched almond skins on the release of immunological compounds in cells either infected or not infected with the genital herpes virus HSV-2. The addition of natural almond skins to the cells led to a decrease in HSV-2 replication, whereas other extracts did not significantly influence the replication of the virus. The 2009 study was funded by the Almond Board of California.

Common words used to describe parts of the immune system
Antibody: A protein, made by B lymphocytes, that reacts with a specific antigen.
Antigen: Any molecule capable of stimulating an immune response.
Cell: The smallest living unit of tissue, composed of a nucleus and cytoplasm surrounded by a membrane. The nucleus houses DNA, and the cytoplasm contains structures (organelles) that carry out the cell's functions.
Immunoglobulin: A synonym for antibody.
Leukocyte: A white blood cell. Lymphocytes and neutrophils, among others, are leukocytes.
Lymphocyte: The main cell of the lymphatic system, further categorized as B lymphocytes (which produce antibodies) and T lymphocytes (which help the body distinguish self from nonself).
Macrophage: A large cell that engulfs (ingests) microbes after they have been targeted for destruction by the immune system.
Molecule: A group (aggregation) of atoms chemically combined to form a unique chemical substance.
Natural killer cell: A type of lymphocyte that can kill certain microbes and cancer cells.
Neutrophil: A large white blood cell (leukocyte) that ingests antigens and other substances.
Peptide: Two or more amino acids chemically bonded to form a single molecule.
Protein: A large number of amino acids chemically bonded in a chain. Proteins are large peptides.
Receptor: A molecule on the cell surface or in the cytoplasm that fits another molecule like a lock and key

Caloric restriction and immune system
Restrict calorie intake - Limiting consumption of calories seems to boost key infection-fighting cells in the immune system. As people age, changes in the immune system dramatically increase susceptibility to infectious diseases. So-called T cells, which make up an important component of the immune system response, appear to be the part of the immune system most affected by aging. Calorie restriction has been shown to reduce the aging of the immune system in rats. And calorie restriction has also been shown to increase the life span of yeast, worms, flies, zebrafish, and spiders. This same benefit may also hold true for monkeys and humans. Calorie restriction improvesd T cell function and reduces the production of inflammatory compounds. Limiting calories can delay immunological aging, and, in turn, life span maybe increased by providing longer-term resistance to infectious diseases.

Vitamin B6 immune system effect
Vitamin B6 supplementation increases immune responses in critically ill patients.
Eur J Clin Nutr. 2006 Oct;60(10):1207-13. Critical Care and Respiratory Therapy, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, Republic of China.
To investigate whether vitamin B6 supplementation has a beneficial effect on immune system in critically ill patients. The study was performed at the Taichung Veterans General Hospital, the central part of Taiwan. Fifty-one subjects who stayed over 14 days in the intensive care unit completed the study. Patients were randomly assigned to one of three groups, control (n = 20), a daily injection of 50 mg vitamin B-6, or 100 mg vitamin B-6 for 14 days. Plasma pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP), pyridoxal (PL), 4-pyridoxic acid (4-PA), erythrocyte alanine (EALT-AC) and aspartate (EAST-AC) aminotransaminase activity coefficient, and urinary 4-PA were measured. The levels of serum albumin, hemoglobin, hematocrit, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and immune responses (white blood cell, neutrophils, total lymphocytes count (TLC), T- (CD3) and B-(CD19) lymphocytes, T-helper (CD4) and suppressor (CD8) cells) were determined. Plasma PLP, PL, 4-PA and urinary 4-PA concentrations significantly increased in two treated groups. T-lymphocyte and T-helper cell numbers and the percentage of T-suppressor cell significantly increased on day 14 in the B6 -50 group. Total lymphocyte count, T-helper and T-suppressor cell numbers, the percentage of T-lymphocyte cells and T-suppressors significantly increased in the B6 -100 group at the 14th day. There were no significant changes with respect to immune responses in the control group over 14 days. A large dose of vitamin B6 supplementation (50 or 100 mg/day) could compensate for the lack of responsiveness of plasma PLP to vitamin B6 intake, and further increase immune response of critically ill patients. This study was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, Republic of China.

Immune system supplement questions
Q. I have started taking Immutol for immune system per advise of a health conscious friend since I’m a nurse & felt a need to keep my immune system boosted. Are you familiar with Immunol product & what do you think? I have been able to avoid a lot of illnesses recently even though exposed to many.
   A. We are not familiar with Immunol. The immune ssytem is extremely complicated with countless interactions between various immune cells and immunoglobulins, and it is difficult to say whether an initial positive response to an immune system supplement will continue over time or even be counterproductive over time.

Q. Does Acai berry enhance the immune system?
   A. Perhaps although we have not seen specific research regarding acai supplement use and immune system function.

Q. How does whey protein benefit immune compromised patients?
   A. The immune system is very complicated and the term immune compromised is not a specific diagnosis since there are many different ways the immune system can be compromised. There are T cells, B cells, various white blood cell types, various immune influencing molecules and chemicals, etc. Not enough human studies have been done with whey protein to know exactly which aspects of the immune system it effects and what the proper dosage would be.

Does tribulus herb improve the immune system
    We don't think it has a strong influence, especially when used occasionally.

I dont have a scientific study of any sort. I do have an anecdotal affirmation based on personal experience with this product. And, btw, I have NO personal interest in promoting the company which sells Primal Defense. Im just a very satisfied customer. I do cat rescue in northern ca. I have been doing this for about 10 years now. Every year I get in sick kittens. GI problems are very common in young kittens, especially during weaning and in rescue, we get in kittens from all over, exposed to a variety of illness and stresses. Compiled with poor nutrition from often undernourished, and stressed mothers, the kittens have a poor start in many situations. I have used COUNTLESS probiotics, from Benebac and pretty much everything I can find at the local feed stores, to everything sold at the local, human health food market. I have never seen much difference really, many actually seemed to make the runny stool worse, probios being one for example that was really bad. In a recent batch of really sick kittens, I went through 5 different probiotics, with Primal Defense being the final one. This kittens were gravely ill for 10 days, getting SQ fluids, antibiotics, anti-parasite meds, albon to cover potential coccidia infection, etc. Nothing was seeming to work, and slowly these kittens were just fading away. Out of the 4 kittens, I did lose one, which was 2 days before trying Primal Defense. In under 48 hours of administering PD via a purified water suspension, every couple hours, round the clock, in addition to SQ fluids, the kittens stool already was firming up. At first it was pure green, and just water, but slowly it began to get thicker and thicker, and to my amazement they began to eat on their own again. In the 10 days, they had barely eaten anything, and seeing their little bodies wasting was scary. I, personally, do not believe in force feeding kittens who have serious GI problems. It does not seem to do any good as they cannot digest anything anyhow. If anything, its just adds fuel to the fire by creating a more stressful environment. I try to treat them and allow a healing process so that they begin to eat on their own, when the time is right. So, I am a big time believer in Primal Defense. I dont know WHY it works, but I know it does work. I am currently just starting it on another batch of kittens, three, 7 week olds who are being treated for Panleukopenia. Ill report in a few days and let you know how it goes. I am optimistic.

I would like to tell you about Immune XL, a is freshly harvested and extracted from very specific Yew Trees found only in this country (US, Pacific Northwest.) Pacific Yew Tree (Taxus Brevifolia) contains taxanes, naturally occurring compounds scientifically proven to suppress abnormal cell growth and invigorate the immune system. Taxanes in this product work in a very unique way. It prevents the spindle fibers from disintegrating; this in turn prevents the replication of abnormal cells. This product we feel is the ultimate in immune support and support of cellular health. All the studies and research were done at the Hoxsey Biomedical Center Tijuana Mexico. has been using Yew-Immune XL for 10 years with great results. Research shows that the Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia) contains a rich source of beneficial phytochemicals (plant compounds) that are now known to be health-promoting. Several Yew taxanes, in addition to the taxol taxane, were found to exert anti-cancer properties. “Taxol is one of the most promising of more than 120,000 plant compounds tested for anti-cancer properties”, said Charles Bolsinger in his research book titled “Silvics of Forest Trees of North America”. In addition to its taxane content, Taxus brevifolia also contains other important health-promoting compounds such as lignans, which have been found to exhibit significant anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, antifungal, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. Immune XL is available in capsules and tea, they are the same; they are both made from the tips of the needles of the Pacific Northwest Yew Tree, Taxus brevifolia. The capsules go through additional process, the extraction is then more refined.
    We would like to seen long term studies in humans to evaluate benefits and safety.