The immune system is commonly known as these organs in the image on the left. Cutting edge research has been filling in key players that have been missing to what we previously knew to be the immune system. It is called The Nervous system - Gut - Immune system triad. The image above depicts the connection. This is how chiropractic adjustments (nervous system input) supports the immune system. Research has shown chiropractic adjustments to the spine  increase IL-2, T-Cell, and  CD4+ counts. 

It also explains why what we eat impacts the immune system. Now we know that 75% of the immune system is located in the gut lining because it is the first line of defense between the outside world and our inner world - Food & Drink. If the gut lining is inflamed or damaged due to what we eat/drink/take as medication or because we are under chronic stress, it will impact the efficacy of the immune system. Please see my previous blog on how to Decrease Gut/Overall Inflammation through diet! The immune system in the gut lining is in direct relationship with the essential microbes in the gut - the gut microbiome.

THE AGE OF GERMAPHOBIA IS OVER. The "Germ theory" was hypothesized at the turn of the 1900s, when we first discovered microbes. Then came the time of sterilization of humans and pasteurization of food. However, the paradigm is changing now with the understanding of the human microbiome - showing that we are the home to 3x the amount of MICROBES/GERMS inside our bodies and on our skin than we have Human cells! We are a living ecosystem. What we have learned is that germs are NOT BAD. What's more important is that certain germs need to be in certain places. So, yes, there are germs everywhere, but that isn't necessarily bad. Sure, washing hands and keeping surfaces clean is good, but complete sterilization of germs is just not necessary. This is why there is such great danger in over-prescribing antibiotics (aka anti-microbe medication) to patients. Antibiotics wipe out ALL microbes, not just the ones we are targeting if we have an infection. This is also why we usually have constipation/diarrhea or even fall ill after taking a round of antibiotics. The damage to the microbiome in the gut lining hurts our digestion, immune system and even our nervous systems because they are all connected. If we shouldn't take antibiotics, what then should we do? A post to come about this soon!

HOW TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM:
1. NERVOUS SYSTEM CARE - GET ADJUSTED, Maintain GREAT posture/ergonomics
2. Sleep
3. Hydrate - coffee, sodas and sugary drinks do not count. Drink 1/2 of your weight in ounces. (130 lbs = 75oz water/day)
4. Don't stress - Meditate, go for nature walks, DANCE, listen to music
5. Exercise - Gets lymph and fluids moving through body. Turns over old cells to encourage healthy new ones
6. Eat anti-inflammatory - see my blog post 
7. Eat Vitamins A, B, C, E & Zinc. Google which foods have these
8. Vaginal births & Breast feed babies - both boost baby immune systems
9. Hugs & Dirt - The era of germaphobia is OVER. We need germs We just need the right germs in the right places.

Anti Viral foods/extracts and oils interfere with virus potency because they disrupt the virus somehow - either by way of hurting the outer membrane or another vector. Note: Please do your research to make sure which anti-viral will be best for you. These are all natural however checking to make sure they don't interfere with any medication you are currently taking is important for your maximum benefit and safety.

ANTI VIRALS:
HOLY BASIL EXTRACT - VEG CAPS
GINSENG EXTRACT
ELDERBERRY 
OREGANO OIL 
LICORICE ROOT
FENNEL SEED
CAT'S CLAW BARK
LEMON BALM
GARLIC (+ PARSLEY) 
GINGER
PEPPERMINT (LEAF) 
ASTRAGALUS
VITACOST.COM  -ALL CAPSULES

As my son says, "COMMIT!"
Commit to your health and future. We are a team! Find the challenge in the link above. You can add your name to a column to keep yourself accountable. Link is viewable by anyone with it.

30 Day Push-Up and Squat Challenge 

Let's talk about Food! I Love food. I especially love food that is tasty and nutritious - healing foods. 
First, let's get a foundation of understanding about food and then we will discuss which foods help us heal.

1. All foods are comprised of macro elements: Carbohydrate (sugar), Protein, Fat, and Alcohol. Most foods have varying ratios of Carbs, Pro and Fat. For example, an avocado has a higher ratio of fat and less protein and carbohydrate than a carrot, which has a higher ratio of carbohydrate than protein and fat. However, the avocado still has some carbohydrate and the carrot still has a little protein and fat. 
2. There are certain types of carbohydrate, protein and fat that are healthier for us than others. Quality counts. For example, Omega 6-Fatty Acids are not as healthy for us as Omega-3 Fatty Acids are (which are both found in fats.. in many different foods). 

Now that we understand better about what food consists of, let's talk about what foods cause or decrease inflammation in the body depending on their molecular make-up. 

• Foods that Increase Inflammation
  • Sugar (especially sucrose/table sugar, high fructose corn syrup)
  • Alcohol (yes, even wine)
  • Gluten (= a protein in wheat, barley, cous cous, bran, etc grains)
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, ice cream, creams)
  • Nightshade vegetables (Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, paprika, etc)
  • Eggs & Corn (they have been genetically changing over the years)
  • Coffee (for heartburn and high blood pressure specifically)

These foods spike inflammation in all people, but the degree of which varies from person to person. If someone has a sensitivity, intolerance or allergy to these foods, the inflammatory process will be much worse (diarrhea, hives, throat swelling, itchy eyes, head ache, bloating, redness of skin, body aches, vomitting).  Check out whole30.com/ to learn more about inflammatory foods. 

• Foods that DECREASE inflammation 
  • Food high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids (fish - especially sardines, dark leafy greens)
  • Water
  • Turmeric (get supplements, take daily)
  • Probiotics (get supplement, take daily - it helps nourish the gut lining and decreases inflammation here)
  • Miso/saurkraut/kimchee (act similarly to probiotics)
  • Bone broths (enjoy a bowl of Vietnamese soup - pho!)

Besides food, other great ways to decrease liver and overall inflammation is... GET ADJUSTED, SLEEP & EXERCISE. Sleep, people. And get your spine checked. Sleep is the best weight loss tip and de-stressor for the body and mind. Joint alignment heals the local joint injury and inflammation which allows the immune system to stop making swelling, redness and heat processes from happening. Exercising and stretching squeezes muscles which squeeze lymph fluid into cardiovascular system and allows for blood circulation and renewal. Something to note: when my patients heal through chiropractic adjustments, they begin feeling great in their body and they WANT to exercise more. ;) 

I am neither Pro- nor Anti- vaccine. I, just like any other parent, want to make the best decisions for my child. I have done extensive research on vaccine benefits and side effects. The following are facts about CA Vaccine laws as found on state websites and then I go into my recommendations as a Doctor and health care professional. 

In California these are the 2019 mandated immunization requirements for children to attend schools and day cares (depends on age when enrolling) 18mo-5yrs: (as written by SB277)
3 Polio
4 DTaP
3 Hep B
1 MMR on or after the 1st birthday
1 Hib on or after the 1st birthday**
1 Varicella
​Up-to-date website for CA: https://www.shotsforschool.org/child-care/
Immunization chart for req'ts: drive.google.com/file/d/1ZROhp5MI1lSN8yIe7EHJPNy2oFiGL653/view?usp=drivesdk

CA 2019 Immunizations required to enter child K-12 in detail https://www.shotsforschool.org/k-12/
Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP, DTP, Tdap, or Td) — 5 doses (4 doses OK if one was given on or after 4th birthday. 3 doses OK if one was given on or after 7th birthday.) For 7th-12th graders, at least 1 dose of pertussis-containing vaccine is required on or after 7th birthday.
Polio (OPV or IPV) — 4 doses(3 doses OK if one was given on or after 4th birthday)
Hepatitis B — 3 doses(not required for 7th grade entry)
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) — 2 doses (Both given on or after 1st birthday)
Varicella (Chickenpox) — 2 doses

PSA: DO NOT give vaccines to your child if your child is sick, is taking antibiotics or has eczema. Their immune system is handling a lot already so wait for another time to inoculate. Do not give vaccines to children under 14 months old - their neurological development is at a fragile state and the hard metals (aluminum) in the vaccine can overstimulate the nerve system. 

Immunizations have saved many lives. We also do not understand the safety of giving 1) multiple immunizations at once and 2) giving them to infants. Today in the USA, 2019, immunization schedules are at its all-time high and are being administered at the earliest in life ever. THERE ARE NO STUDIES THAT PROVE THIS TO BE SAFE. 

I recommend being conservative with immunizations. I recommend:

• DO NOT give vaccines to your child if your child is sick, is taking antibiotics or has eczema
• Do not give any vaccines until 4 month check-up 
• Begin giving shots at 12 months
• Only give 1-2 shots at a time to not overstimulate their nerve and immune systems - especially since we are immunizing children earlier than ever before.
• Ask your pediatrician to get blood titers done when going in for a "booster" (a follow-up) shot to see if the one given prior is still activates the baby's immune system. If the blood titer comes back positive, you can pospone the booster until a future date. 

I have made an "alternative" immunization schedule that abides by these recommendations and abides by the CA state laws allowing children to enter schools and day cares. One exception to this is I recommend getting medical exemption for the Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine and instead allowing your child to get the actual disease and keeping them home for a week to deal with it appropriately. The google document that has tabs at the bottom for whether you want to begin immunizing your child at 4 months, 6 months or 12 months.
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BrJ8ypEcFNHR0fu8Voo0Zd7aEGTZlrbtQSZzxWfXbHY/edit?usp=sharing

Ways to boost your baby's immune system, naturally: 

• Vaginal birth (vaginal secretions in baby's orifices at birth boosts baby's immune system
• Give birth at home (baby is already used to mom's bacteria in utero, so having it at home where mom's bacteria is everywhere will help protect baby from big scary bacteria in hospitals)
• Breast feed (baby receives mother's immune factors in milk)
• Let toddlers play in dirt! 
• Don't use anti-bacterial serums and lotions 
• Get baby and children adjusted - boosts immune system
• Feed babies and children bone broth. Castor oil works great too.

More information:
Video by CBS aired January, 2019: fullmeasure.news/news/cover-story/the-vaccination-debate?fbclid=IwAR0QJPROMamFbp-vXRaypRN5WwUCY_MmW54WxdYwqN5uHF9iu3QSfzebhq8

Book connecting aluminum in vaccines to cortical inflammation: How to End the Autism Epidemic by J.B. Handley
www.amazon.com/dp/1603588248/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_gKCuCbHE72KJ7?fbclid=IwAR35YsE1Zogto0zBJsGxiCiBcQl0Onb8rxQlgiMX043GKi9qdXHy2F7OCsU

Don't take it from me; What Dr. Paul Thomas, MD, a renowned Pediatrician in Portland, OR says:
www.facebook.com/paulthomasmd?__tn__=%2CdCH-R-R&eid=ARCvTx54Vqtoa4-iiA-0nzKOf67AbKCiYB6GO5R5d0jCUdb9jtFrvycGPDEpy95L9cD-UDOW5ihWYIne&hc_ref=ARQOsz41J6CpE27iF-qEEIhUb9IKDHZQBqt0G4rQBQYsoP5US2FujD7fHPdsMMyz4Sk&fref=nf