6 SIMPLE STEPS TO

Protect Your
Immune Health
Fend Off Infections AND Prevent
Autoimmune Flare-Ups
 INTEGRATIVE PHYSICIAN | BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

I s a a c E l i a z , M D , M S , L A c i s a p i o n e e r i n t h e f i e l d o f i n t e g ra t iv e
m e d i c i n e w i t h m o r e t h a n 3 0 y e a r s o f e x p e r i e n c e a s a ph y s ic ia n
a n d r e s e a r c h e r . H e h a s p a r t n e r e d w i t h s o m e o f t h e n a t io n ’ s
l e a d i n g r e s e a r c h i n s t i t u t e s , i n c l u d i n g H a r v a r d a n d C o lu m bia
U n i v e r s i t i e s . A s a n i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y r e c o g n i z e d e x p e rt in t h e
t r e a t m e n t o f c a n c e r a n d o t h e r c o m p l e x d i s e a s e s , D r. E lia z
embraces a whole-person approach to healing. He is the author
o f T h e S u r v i v a l P a r a d o x, a s w e l l a s t h e o w n e r a n d f o r m u l a t o r o f
E c o N u g e n i c s, a l i n e o f s c i e n c e - b a c k e d s u p p l e m e n t s . H e i s a l s o
the founder and medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic &
Healing Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.

A M I T A B H A W E L L N E S S C L I N IC DRELIAZ.ORG
Your immune system is dynamic and vast, constantly working overtime to prevent
illness and diseases from taking a foothold in your body. This sophisticated
network, made up of cells, organs, proteins, and tissues, is essential to your health.
Daily immune support is therefore vital if you want to look and feel your best —
whether you are in your 20s or 80s.

Despite what you may have heard, you do not need to ‘boost’ your immune system.
While it might make sense to ramp up your defenses to fight off illness, ‘boosting’
immunity can tip your body too far in the wrong direction. This is what happens in
autoimmune conditions — the immune system literally goes into overdrive and
attacks the body. When it comes to immune health, the No. 1 goal is to restore
harmony and balance to your immune system. Here is why: You want your immune
system to mount a proper response — that means neither under- nor overreacting
when faced with threats. You want it to work smarter, not harder.

What Is an Autoimmune Disease?

Autoimmune disorders are on the rise in the U.S.[1] According to the National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 24 million people in the U.S. have an
autoimmune condition, with women more affected than men. The hallmark of an
autoimmune problem is that the body attacks itself. Doctors have identified more
than 80 different autoimmune diseases.[2] Here are a few of the most common:

Psoriasis Lupus
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Type 1 Diabetes
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Celiac Disease
Grave’s Disease Rheumatoid Arthritis
Multiple Sclerosis Sjogren’s

Autoimmune diseases can be difficult to diagnose and manage. Conventional

therapies include anti-inflammatory drugs, immune suppressors, antiviral drugs,
and other medications that focus on controlling flare-ups. While many of these
options may help control symptoms, they do not address the root or cause of
autoimmune issues, and they can also lead to unwanted side effects.

An effective strategy for improving symptoms is to focus on balance and regulation

— this helps re-establish the immune system’s critical biological cycles. Some of the
most effective treatment methods include: following a strict sleep schedule;
engaging in regular exercise; focusing on immune system balance; removing heavy
metals and toxins; practicing stress relief daily; and taking a medicinal mushroom
supplement.

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What Throws the Immune System
Out of Whack?

A healthy, balanced immune system responds to threats, neutralizes them, and

then goes back into “watch and wait” mode. It does not underreact or overreact.
But an immune system that is out of balance simply cannot work properly.

When your immune system under reacts, you fall victim to all sorts of infectious
viruses, bacteria, and other invaders, leading you to get sick more often and stay
sick longer. That is because an immune system that underreacts cannot keep
the bad guys out and cannot defeat them when they cause infections.

On the other hand, when your immune system overreacts, it sets off a dangerous
series of events that are triggered by the body’s primary alarm protein, galectin-3.
In this situation, galectin-3’s alarm signals do not shut down when threats
disappear. The immune system keeps sending out troops even when there is no
real enemy to fight, and those overstimulated immune cells start to attack the
body’s own cells, which can:

Lead to an autoimmune condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis

Cause ongoing systemic inflammation, which can lead to a range of chronic
conditions including type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease
Trigger potentially deadly cytokine storms, which can severely damage the
lungs and other organs [3]

Meet Your Immune System

The immune system is made up of thousands of moving parts that all need to work together
with balance and harmony, including:

Natural killer (NK) cells, which mobilize when your body detects infectious microbes or
cancer cells
Helper T cells, which send instructions to B cells and killer T cells
Killer T cells, which kill off any of your cells that have been infected by an invading
pathogen
B cells, which produce targeted antibodies to fight specific invaders (a common cold
antibody, for example)
Cytokines, which send signals that activate immune responses and inflammation

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Boost vs. Balance: What Is the Difference?
Boosting your immune system — especially if you do it every day — is like giving candy
to a toddler. They get that immediate “sugar high,” supplying energy and stimulation,
but afterwards they either pass out from the sugar crash or go into an uncontrolled
tantrum. Similarly, a constant supply of immune-boosting substances can lead to an
immune system that underreacts (like a sugar crash) or overreacts (like a tantrum).

Balancing the immune system, on the other hand, delivers the protection you want.
When you take steps to keep your immune system in balance, it effectively:

Strengthens your defenses

“Trains” your defensive immune cells to respond properly
Neutralizes pathogens
Controls inflammation
Prevents attacks on your own tissues and organs
Stops dangerous overreactions — like cytokine storms — before they start

A well-balanced immune system keeps you healthy and vital. So, if you are not feeling
your best, at least on most days, your immune system may be letting you know that it
needs help.

5 Signs Your Immune System Needs Support

If your immune system needs support, you want to know it before you catch a
dangerous infection or develop a chronic, debilitating condition. Listen to your body.
It will let you know—loud and clear—if your immune system needs help. Here are
five warning signs that your immune system is struggling to keep you well:

1. You catch a lot of colds, and they last a long time

2. You get multiple or recurrent infections, such as ear infections, sinus infections,
or walking pneumonia during the year
3. You feel exhausted most of the time
4. You are constantly stressed out
5. Your injuries, like cuts and bruises, heal too slowly

Any of these warning signs may indicate that your immune system cannot keep up.
But with the right support, you can get your immune system back into balance and
ready to keep you safe and healthy.

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6 Ways to Balance Immune Function
It is easier to keep your immune system in proper balance than you might think.
By taking these simple steps, you will provide steady, effective support and
nourishment to your immune system — just what it needs to keep you well.

1 Forest Bathing

While it might sound like you would need to go skinny dipping in a woodland lake,
forest bathing really refers to immersing yourself in a natural green setting. Studies
show that spending time in green spaces — like a forest or meadow — helps ease
stress and balance and improve immune function.[4]

2 Yoga

The ancient practice of yoga combines physical postures, focused breathing

techniques, and mindfulness to deliver a variety of health benefits. Studies show
that yoga helps reduce inflammation and improve immune function, especially
with consistent long-term practice.[5]

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3 Meditation

Meditation enhances your awareness and your ability to remain clear, calm, and
focused on your life, while enriching your health and wellness. Clinical trials show
that meditation helps reduce inflammation, improve cellular immunity, and
support antibody response to infectious microbes. [6, 7]

4 Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP)

The researched form of Modified Citrus Pectin supports balanced immune

function in several critical ways[8]:

MCP blocks the alarm protein galectin-3, helping prevent immune system
overreactions such as cytokine storms
It enhances the activity of NK cells, T cells, and B cells so they can work
effectively
It detoxifies heavy metals and other substances to reduce their toxic burden on
the immune system
It helps reduce inflammation and maintain healthy cellular function

Learn more about this formula here.

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5 Tibetan Herbal Formula

For generations, Eastern traditional medicine has made use of a classical Tibetan
herbal formula to treat a wide variety of health conditions and support overall
wellness. This antioxidant-rich formula is backed by more than 30 published
clinical trials. It supports healthy inflammation, balances immune function, and
supports the body’s ability to defend against invaders. Studies show this blend can:

Support healthy inflammation responses by decreasing production of

cytokines
Support immunity against invaders
Promote circulation and cardiovascular health
Provide strong antioxidant protection[9]

Learn more about this formula here.

6 A Botanically Enhanced Mushroom Formula

Medicinal mushrooms act as “trainers” that improve your immune system over
time. They optimize immune responses and help maintain balance, neither
underreacting nor overreacting.

(Continued on next page)

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Medicinal Mushrooms (cont.)

Many medicinal mushrooms also boast powerful antiviral properties, particularly

against respiratory viruses. Medicinal mushrooms—including reishi, cordyceps, and
coriolus—deliver the best results when used together. They work synergistically,
each enhancing the immune-balancing effects of the others.

Botanical enhancement is a cultivation process developed by Dr. Isaac Eliaz, MD,

that grows the mushrooms on a milled blend of immune-supporting herbs, which
makes the mushrooms even more potent and effective. Botanically enhanced
mushrooms, such as those in ecoNugenics MycoPhyto Complex, are cultivated on
a blend of adaptogenic, immune-balancing herbs that enrich the mushrooms with
additional healing compounds. [10]

Learn more about this formula here.

Your immune system faces constant threats—pathogens, toxins, unhealthy

lifestyles, chronic stress, and more. Working overtime to keep you healthy means
your immune system—and your entire body—need nourishment, replenishment,
and care, not overstimulation. These harmonizing strategies can provide the
balancing support you need to optimize your defenses, and your long-term
wellness, naturally.

Sources:

1. https://www.nih.gov/news-events/news-releases/autoimmunity-may-be-rising-united-states
2. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/autoimmune/index.cfm
3. Díaz-Alvarez, Laura & Soto, Enrique. (2017). The Many Roles of Galectin-3, a Multifaceted Molecule, in Innate
Immune Responses against Pathogens. Mediators of Inflammation. 2017. 1-10. 10.1155/2017/9247574.
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33670337/
5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34265577/
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29306937/
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26799456/
8. Eliaz I, Raz A. Pleiotropic Effects of Modified Citrus Pectin. Nutrients. 2019 Nov 1;11(11):2619.
9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23860110/
10. Wasser SP. Medicinal Mushrooms in Human Clinical Studies. Part I. Anticancer, Oncoimmunological, and
Immunomodulatory Activities: A Review. Int J Med Mushrooms. 2017;19(4):279-317.