4) Tobacco Abuse - Smoking suppresses the activity of natural killer cells (NK) that fight off tumours.  Smoking leads to low-grade chronic bronchitis, low birth weight infants, and weakened immunity in newborns.  Infants and children exposed to constant cigarette smoke have weakened Immune Systems.  Research indicates that once smokers quit, their immune activity begins to improve within 30 days.

5) Obesity - Extra weight puts you at risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease.  Excess fat cells in your body impair your Immune System by triggering the release of pro-inflammatory chemicals in the body which cause chronic inflammation that damages healthy tissue.

6) Inadequate or Excessive Exercise / Physical Trauma - Inadequate exercise reduces oxygen levels (which fosters cancer cells to turn on), stagnates your lymph system leading to harmful toxic buildup, hinders response time of antibodies, and weakens killer T cells’ ability to destroy invaders.  Excessive exercise suppresses your Immune System by reducing the ratio of immune helper cells to immune suppressor cells.  This increases risk of infection and illness.  Stress from exercise also triggers release of corticosteroids (a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex).  Corticosteroids block the production of substances that trigger allergic and inflammatory actions.  However, they also impede the function of white blood cells.  This interference with white blood cell function yields a side effect of increased susceptibility to infection.  Physical trauma tends to strain your Immune System and increases the risk of upper respiratory tract infections.

7) Radiation - Excessive radiation from diagnostic x-rays of the neck and chest may damage the thymus gland (located behind the breastbone) and is an integral part of your Immune System.

8) Stress - Short-term stress actually boosts your Immune System – the body produces more cortisol to make “fight or flight” possible.  But chronic stress has the opposite effect because the steady cascade of the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline actually suppress your Immune System.

Disorders

A key role of the Immune System is to differentiate between pathogens and the body's own cells. When it fails to make this distinction, attacks against normal cells cause allergic reactions and autoimmune diseases like:

• Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways characterized by coughing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness, affects more than 5% of the population of the United States, including children. A variety of factors may trigger, initiate or worsen an asthautoma attack such as viral respiratory infections, exercise, and exposure to irritants such as tobacco smoke. The physiological symptoms of asthma include a narrowing of the airways caused by edema (fluid in the intracellular tissue space) and the influx of inflammatory cells into the walls of the airways. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 300,000,000 people in the world suffer from asthma.

• Autoimmune Hepatitis triggers the body to attack its liver cells, as if the liver cells were harmful foreign bodies. This means that the liver cells are damaged not only by the virus but also by the body's own Immune System.  Patients with a combination of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and Autoimmune Hepatitis generally suffer from more debilitating symptoms than patients with HCV alone.  Autoimmune Hepatitis is associated with other autoimmune illnesses, such as Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid), Diabetes, and Ulcerative Colitis (inflammation of the intestines).  HCV patients appear to have a genetic predisposition that makes them more likely to develop Autoimmune Hepatitis, compared to HCV-infected individuals without genetic predisposition. It is estimated that approximately 170,000,000 people are infected with HCV worldwide and are prone to developing Autoimmune Hepatities. This is equivalent to 3% of the world's population.
  
  
• Those who have a weak Immune System are unable to fight infections appropriately. Common causes of Immune System deficiency include Diabetes, AIDS, and Cancer.  Symptoms of deficiency may include body aches, diarrhea, fatigue, rash, runny nose, sore throat, and lymph gland swelling.  If a person is born with a severely defective Immune System, death from infection by a virus, bacterium, fungus or parasite may occur.  In severe immuno-deficiency cases, lack of enzyme causes toxic waste build up inside Immune System cells which leads to total devastation of the Immune System.  Lack of Immune System cells leads to another disease called DiGeorge Syndrome, which is the improper development of the thymus gland and thus the diminishing of T cells.
  
  
• Type 1 Diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas.  Lack of insulin causes an increase fasting blood glucose (around 70-120 mg/dL in nondiabetic people) that begins to appear in the urine above the renal threshold (about 190-200 mg/dl in most people).  For the reason, the disease was identified in antiquity by sweet urine.  Glycosuria or glucose in the urine causes the patients to urinate more frequently, and drink more than normal (polydipsia).  Classically, these were the characteristic symptoms which prompted discovery of the disease.  Over the past 40 years, a major increase has been reported in the incidence of Type 1 Diabetes in many European countries as well as in the US. Currently, it is estimated that more than 700,000 Americans (0.4% of the US population) have the disease. The number of new cases in the US has in recent years been increasing by approximately 3% per year. Diabetes affects more than 230 million people worldwide or almost 6% of the adult population. The number of people living with diabetes is expected to increase to 350 million in less than 20 years if action is not taken. The reason for this is unclear, but some research suggests that viral infections may trigger Diabetes in genetically susceptible individuals.

• Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease, wherein the body's Immune System attacks the gastrointestinal tract, causing inflammation.  It is classified as a type of inflammatory bowel disease.  There has been evidence of a genetic link to Crohn's disease, putting individuals with siblings afflicted with the disease at higher risk.  Smokers are three times more likely to develop it.  More so, a higher number of incidence of Chron's Disease is found in western industrialized nations, making environment a major factor for its occurence. It affects between 400,000 and 600,000 people in North America while prevalence estimates for Northern Europe have ranged from 27–48 affected per 100,000 people.  Around 1,000,000 people in the world suffer from it.  The disease tends to reveal itself initially in the teens and twenties, with another peak incidence in the fifties to seventies, although the disease can occur at any age.
  

• The first signs of Ataxia Telangiectasia (A-T) usually appear at the age of two as a lack of balance and slurred speech.  It is a progressive, degenerative disease characterized by immunoglobulin deficiency, thymic deficiencies, cerebellar degeneration, radiosensitivity (sensitivity to radiant energy, such as x-ray), and a predisposition to cancer.  There are about 100,000 people worldwide who suffer from A-T.

• Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) occurs most commonly in people of non-Ashkenazi Jewish, Armenian, Arab, and Turkish background.  As many as 1 in 200 people in these populations have the disease, with as many as 1 in 5 acting as a disease carrier.  FMF is an inherited disorder usually characterized by recurrent episodes of fever and peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal membrane) preceeded by weak Immune System.


• Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a cancer of blood cells, characterized by replacement of the bone marrow with malignant, leukemic cells.  Many of these leukemic cells can be found circulating in the blood and can cause enlargement of the spleen, liver, and other organs.  This blood and bone marrow cancer strikes about 37,000 people worldwide each year.

The H1N1 swine flu virus can be treated by the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.  But not everyone needs these drugs.  Most people have recovered from Swine Flu without treatment.  These people are believed to have maintained a healthy Immune System strong enough to fight the virus.  The severity of cases in the current swine flu pandemic has varied widely, from mild cases to fatalities.  Most U.S. cases have been mild, but there have been a number of deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations.  Flu viruses can mutate so it is good to keep current in regards to developments and ensure your Immune System is as strong as possible.

Ayurvedic Medicine

Ayurveda, the science of life, prevention, and longevity, is the oldest and most holistic and comprehensive medical system available.  Its fundamentals can be found in Hindu scriptures called the Vedas - the ancient Indian books of wisdom written over 5,000 years ago.  Ayurveda uses the inherent principles of nature to help maintain health in a person by keeping the individual's body, mind, and spirit in perfect equilibrium with nature.

India Herbs has a seasoned group of Ayurvedic doctors specialized in Kayachikitsa, one of the eight major specialties of Ayurveda.  It is the branch of Ayurveda that deals with various aspects of Internal Medicine.  Kayachikitsa works to cure disease in a holistic manner by identifying the root cause and rectifying it through detoxification and herbal medicines.  Kayachikitsa prescribes the therapeutic use of herbs and lifestyle changes to remove toxins from the body and reestablish balance between body processes to enhance the capabilities and vigor of your Immune System.

India Herbs' Kayachikitsa doctors combine a proprietary herbal formula based on centuries' old wisdom with advice on diet, exercise, mental training, and relaxation to help you attain optimal health.

1) Reversing Damage - Years of stressful living caused damage to your Immune System. To help reverse this, Immunice releases hundreds of phytonutrients that act at the molecular level to enhance T cell activation, improve proliferation of Lymphocytes, bone marrow cells, and Thymocytes, increase antibody, Leucocyte, Cytokine, and red blood cell production, raise mast cell levels, and stimulate Phogocytosis and plasma fibrinolytic activity in your body.

2) Exercising Regularly - Regular exercise elevates the level of leukocytes, an Immune System cell that fights infection.  Exercise also increases release of endorphins, natural hormones that heighten your sense of well being and improve sleep quality, both of which have positive effects on your Immune System.  Exertion stimulates the cardiovascular system, improves blood flow, circulates antibodies, flushes toxins from muscles and organs, removes germs, and helps keep the kidneys and endocrine system fully functional.

Moderate exercise must be repeated on a near-daily basis so that there is a cumulative effect that leads to a long-term immune response. Getting your heart rate up for just 20 minutes three times a week is associated with increased immune function, and a 30-minute brisk walk five days a week can help reduce your risk of catching a cold. Walking strengthens your cardiovascular system and blood flow. Walk ten minutes, three times a day if you are unable to walk 30 minutes at one time. You can also do both cardio and light weight training to make your body more resilient in fighting off and recovering from illness.

3) Increasing Antioxidants Intake - Free radicals cause cell mutations, damage immune function, and contribute to severe diseases like cancer and heart blockage. They are produced by the body’s own natural processes, toxins, radiation, and poor digestive function. Unlike a stable molecule in which every atom in your cell is ringed by pairs of electrons, free radicals carry an unmated electron that desperately wants to pair up with another. By snaring an electron from a neighboring molecule (which then makes that molecule a free radical), it can set off a chain reaction that leads to unrelentless cellular damage which wipes out cytokine pathways - disorienting immune system activities. The antidote for free radicals are antioxidants. When an antioxidant encounters a free radical, it freely gives up an electron of its own which satisfies the free radical and stops the out of control damage. This makes the antioxidant a free radical because it’s now an electron short. However, the chain reaction is stopped as the newly created free radical made from the antioxidant is very weak and unlikely to do harm. Antioxidants also support body detoxification by boosting Glutathione levels. Glutathione turns on apoptosis - the process in which "bad" mutated cells self-destruct.  

There's a good supply of antioxidants in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, including berries, citrus fruits, kiwi, apples, red grapes, kale, onions, spinach, sweet potatoes, and carrots.  Other immune-boosting foods include fresh garlic (which has antiviral and antibacterial properties) and old-fashioned chicken soup.  Mushroom varieties such as reichi, maitake, and shiitake also have positive influence on immune function.

4) Increasing Beta-Carotene Intake - Beta-Carotene and other Carotenoids stimulate immune cells that fight free radicals and fortify the thymus gland, protecting your body from harmful effects of stress.  It also protects you against cancer by stimulating macrophages calles to produce tumor necrosis factor (which kills cancer cells) and increasing the production of T-cell Lymphocytes and other natural killer cells that attack cancer cells.  Beta-Carotene also reduces the risks of cardiovascular diseases by preventing fats and cholesterol in the bloodstream from forming arterial plaques.  There is no RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) for Beta-Carotene but studies have concluded that at least 3 milligrams of it daily is necessary to reduce risk of chronic diseases.  Good sources of Beta-Carotene include apricots, asparagus, beets, broccoli, cantaloupe, carrots, corn, green peppers, kale, mangoes, turnip and collard greens, nectarines, peaches, pink grapefruit, pumpkin, squash, spinach, sweet potato, tangerines, tomatoes, and watermelon. 

5) Increasing Vitamin C Intake -  Vitamin C helps to increase the number of white blood cells as part of the Immune System arsenal.  It also increases the level of good cholesterol in your body, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases.  The latest research indicates that Vitamin C also lowers the risk of breast, colon, and prostate cancers.  A daily dosage of 90 mg is recommended.  Good supply of Vitamin C can be obtained from berries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, cauliflower, grapefruit, honeydew, kale, kiwi, mangoes, nectarines, orange, papaya, red, green or yellow peppers, snow peas, sweet potato, strawberries, and tomatoes.

6) Increasing Vitamin E Intake - Vitamin E stimulates the production of natural killer cells (immune cells that destroy germs and cancer cells) and B-cells (immune cells responsible for producing antibodies that destroy bacteria). It also reverses some of the decline in immune response caused by aging.  A daily dosage of 100 mg is recommended. Broccoli, carrots, chard, mustard and turnip greens, mangoes, nuts, papaya, pumpkin, red peppers, spinach, and sunflower seeds.

7) Increasing Zinc Intake - Zinc increases the number of infection-fighting T-cells, especially in elderly people who are often deficient in Zinc, and whose Immune System often weakens with age.  Zinc also helps to reduce incidence of acute respiratory infections.  One meta-analysis that compared several studies on Zinc found that taking it within 24 hours after the start of a cold may help to reduce symptoms.  A daily dosage of 30 milligrams is recommended.  If you are a strict vegetarian, you may require as much as 50% more dietary Zinc because your body absorbs less Zinc from plant-based foods.  Zinc is found in oysters, red meat, poultry, beans, nuts, seafood, whole grains, fortified cereals, and dairy products.

8) Increasing Selenium Intake - Selenium is found in nearly every cell in the body, though the highest concentrations are in the kidneys, liver, testes, pancreas and spleen.  It is a potent Immune System booster as it activates hormonal production of the thyroid gland, increases the number of natural killer cells, and mobilizes cancer-fighting cells.  It is known for its antioxidant activities which protect your body against cancer, heart attack, stroke, macular degeneration, cold sores, shingles and lupus, as well as effects of aging.  A daily dosage of 200 cg is recommended.  Among the good sources of Selenium are brazil nuts, tuna, beef, poultry and fortified breads, and other grain products.

9) Getting Adequate Sleep - You may have noticed you’re more likely to catch a cold or other infections when you’re not getting enough sleep. Fatigue increases your susceptibility to illness.  Adequate restful sleep rejuvenates our bodies and refreshes our minds.  During deep sleep, your body produces blood cells and raises oxygen levels to strengthen immune function.  Like stress, insomnia elevates cortisol production which engenders inflammation in your body.  Getting adequate sleep, 7 to 9 hours for adults, is essential for good health.

10) Practicing Relaxation Techniques - Stress reduction lowers cortisol levels and improves sleep quality.  Studies indicate that people who meditate regularly enjoy improved Immune System response.  In one experiment, people who meditated over an 8-week period produced more antibodies to a flu vaccine than people who didn’t meditate. And they still showed an increased Immune System response four months later. Laughing decreases the levels of stress hormones in the body while increasing Leukocytes (type of white blood cell that fights infection).  In fact, even just anticipating a funny event can have a positive effect on your Immune System. A good way to relax is to do yoga stretches for a few minutes daily. Yoga postures calm and relax the nervous system and the slow, deep breathing practiced along with yoga positions invokes a meditative state that relieves stress.

Results: The precise combination of ingredients in Immunice along with a mind-body focus precisely addresses your Immune System vulnerabilities.