If You're Getting Boosted ~ Supporting Your System Post Jab

With the fall weather coming and school just beginning, talk of new variants, masks and lock downs has surged once again. And while I'm not a proponent of them, I know some of you may be eagerly awaiting your fall booster. 

If you're planning to get boosted, there are some things you can do to help mitigate possible side effects and support yourself through the inevitable immune system crash that comes with it. 

When mRNA vaccines were first being designed, they realized that our innate immune systems were not allowing the foreign mRNA protein to enter the cells as needed. They decided to 'quiet' the immune response by modifying the RNA code to put several of our toll-like receptors to 'sleep' for more effective uptake. 

What are toll-like receptors? They detect both foreign organisms (viruses, bacteria, proteins) as well as molecules from local dying cells and damaged tissues and initiate the immune response sequence.

By putting these toll-like receptors to sleep, our body's innate immune system can become temporarily handicapped and much more vulnerable to viruses and bacteria. This includes those viruses and bacteria the body may be exposed to in those early days and weeks after injection including streptococcus, but also those that may be quietly lingering in the body including shingles, Epstein-Barr, Candida, Hand Foot and Mouth Disease and more, leading to new flair ups.  And while we are still unsure of how long that handicap lasts, it seems to be measurable for at least several weeks. 

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are type I transmembrane receptors that form the early defence mechanism against foreign organisms. They recognize specific molecular patterns associated with pathogenic species and can sense nucleic acid sequences. TLRs are the important mediators of inflammatory pathways in the gut, which play a major role in mediating the immune responses towards a wide variety of pathogen-derived ligands and link adaptive immunity with the innate immunity. They can recognize both invading pathogens and endogenous danger molecules released from dying cells and damaged tissues. TLRs signal through the recruitment of specific adaptor molecules, leading to activation of the transcription factors NF-B and IRFs, which dictate the outcome of innate immune responses.

So, if you are looking to get boosted, I suggest being aware that your immune system may not be functioning at its best for some time and keeping your distance from people who might be infectious with any virus for several days or weeks. Also, it would be wise to pay attention to any immune responses occuring in those first few weeks (and even months) including pain, inflammation, racing heart, headaches and more. If you notice any of these symptoms, report them to your doctor and inquire about Post Covid Vaccine Syndrome. Your doctor is required to submit a report to VEARS on your behalf so the CDC and FDA can properly track any possible reactions. 

As the latest data is also showing high amounts of volatile organic compounds and other toxins in most new masks, and a build up of harmful bacteria being trapped as we use them, it may be wise to only wear them when absolutely necessary. If you do need to wear them, be sure to air out new masks for at least 30 min before applying and giving yourself plenty of breaks with unrestricted, fresh air. Remember, our lungs are one of our five detox pathways so we don't want to be hindering that process more than necessary.

You can also support your system by increasing your consumption of immune boosting herbs and foods (listed below) and incorporating healthy practices before and after your booster that can help to support your immune system, regulate your nervous system and keep your detox pathways clear.

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LIFESTYLE PRACTICES

• Sauna 3x/week followed by shower (don't use harsh soaps)
• Exercise (work up a good sweat) followed by shower
• Being outside and breathing clean air
• Grounding which regulates the nervous system
• Breath work practices that calm the system and oxygenate the blood
• Cold water therapy to increase your tolerance for stress (build this practice before injection)
• Consuming foods that are both anti-viral, bind to toxins and keep your digestion moving
• Drinking enough water or consuming enough watery fruits and vegetables to stay hydrated and urinating frequently
• Lymph massage before injection
• Sleeping well is key!! Check out our blog post here.

Getting these practices going several days or weeks BEFORE you get your booster will help increase your body's ability to navigate through it more easily. 

For menstruating women, it might be best to avoid getting boosted just before or during menstruation as the immune system is at its weakest at the that point and possibly more susceptible to Post COVID-Vaccine Syndrome. 

Also, be sure to ask your health care practitioner to aspirate the needle (making sure they're injecting into muscle tissue, not hitting a vein) as a lack of this practice has been reported by many and can be quite dangerous.

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IMMUNE BOOSTING HERBS

• White Pine is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It opens the lungs (a detox pathway) and contains suramin which blocks the spike-protein receptor. This is a great one before and after vaccination.
• Plantain is soothing to the mucus membranes, astringent, helps to draw out infection and contains suramin. 
• Elderberry is a wonderful immune tonic. It's not overly stimulating so it's safe to take daily before, during and after injection and throughout the season.
• Clove, Garlic, Ginger, Turmeric, (kitchen spices) are all warming, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and increase blood flow to the digestive system to improve that the function of that detox pathway. 
• Echinacea is a great immune stimulant to be taken for up to 10 days at a time when exposed to viruses or bacteria. It works to stimulate the immune system but also by stimulating the lymph (part of our immune system) to move toxins, viruses and bacteria out through our kidneys and liver. 
• Holy Basil / Tulsi is a wonderful and delicious adaptogenic herb that soothes the nervous system and tones the immune system by increases our capacity to manage stress - this includes emotional stress, immune stress and mental stress.

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IMMUNE BOOSTING FOODS + SUPPLIMENTS

• Fermented foods (kimchi, sauerkraut, kefir, yogurt, lacto-fermented pickles)
• Cruciferous vegetables
• Zinc
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin D
• Ginger + Garlic 
• Protein 
• Citrus
• Berries
• Sweet potatoes

Avoid processed foods and refined sugar as much as you can. And remember to focus more on what good foods you can include vs what foods you should avoid. The more good stuff you eat, the less room you have for the unhealthy foods. We also know that gut bacteria determines food cravings so the more good food you eat, the more healthy bacteria can flourish and impact your future cravings... so start now :)

"The major nutrients whose influence on the immune system reviewed was vitamin-C, A, E and D, iron, zinc, folic acid, probiotics, and prebiotics. These nutrients if consumed from natural source can provide a long-lasted immune system. Cabbage, cauliflower, mushroom, garlic, ginger, turmeric, holy basil, seeds, Brazil nuts, black and brown rice, millets, chlorella, and spirulina have been observed to contain high nutritional properties. These can be formulated to make immune boosting diet for fighting against COVID-19."
~ Food nutrients as inherent sources of immunomodulation during COVID-19 pandemic

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EMOTIONS

Beyond food, beyond herbs, beyond viruses and bacteria and toll-like receptors, we have this other huge area to look into. If we rip the lid off and see what emotions are linked to Covid and other lung/respiratory viruses and illnesses, we can find a lot of fear.

In German New Medicine, the lungs point to a shock conflict of 'fear of death' and so through that lens, it's no surprise that the when word spreads of a new virus or variant, the lungs are easily effected. It's also interesting that the most common place for cancer to spread after initial diagnosis is the lungs. In GNM we're encouraged to find that original fear and work through it in a healthy way.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the lungs hold grief which can also be at play when we have lock downs, separation, loss of normalcy and safety. And while most would argue that emotions are not a main contributing factor,  the more I work with people one on one, the more I would argue otherwise. 

If you feel a cold or flu coming on, or want to prepare yourself pre-flu season, I would examine both fear and grief and work through those in a holistic way (This is something I do with clients if you want assistance).

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In conclusion, I recommend cleaning up your diet, avoiding processed sugar, conventionally grown foods and other toxins, boosting your intake of good fats and immune supporting foods and herbs and work through some trapped emotions. Whether you're getting boosted or not. 

Consider this an opportunity for a cleanse, physical and emotional. 

Questions? You can review our resource guide below or reach out to chat. 

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SOURCES

The decrease in sensitivity of TLRs that interact with this transfected modified mRNA is likely due to the ablation of TLR3, TLR7, and TLR8 activity, decreasing cytokine production.

A recent study of over 50,000 healthcare workers found that the more doses of the mRNA vaccine received by the individuals, the higher their risk of contracting COVID-19. It may be thus hypothesized that vaccination with mRNA-based vaccines causes dysregulation of innate immune responses, and that the consequences of this effect for protection against SARS-CoV-2 cannot be fully compensated by the induction of adaptive immune responses.

Reactivation of Varicella Zoster Virus after Vaccination for SARS-CoV-2. Seven immunocompetent patients aged > 50 years old presented with herpes zoster (HZ) infection in a median of 9 days (range 7–20) after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2.

ICAN V-Safe Covid Vaccine Adverse Health Impacts Data 

Herpes zoster following BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases: a case series 

The BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 reprograms both adaptive and innate immune responses

COVID-19 vaccination and leprosy-A UK hospital-based retrospective cohort study

Suppression of the toll-like receptor 7-dependent type I interferon production pathway by autophagy resulting from enterovirus 71 and coxsackievirus A16 infections facilitates their replication

Crosstalk between Toll-like receptor 3 and Notch signaling contributes to CD14⁺ monocytes activity in enterovirus 71 infected hand, foot, and mouth disease

CDC Quietly Removes COVID-19 Vaccine Adverse Events Collection From Website 

Measuring the quantity of harmful volatile organic compounds inhaled through masks 

 
Functional foods prevention of non-communicable disease can be translated into protecting against respiratory viral infections and COVID-19.

Foods fortified with vitamin D, functional foods, encapsulated foods with bioactive compounds and plant-based foods have shown immense potential to be consumed for fighting against COVID-19. Some clinical trials and retrospective cohort study shown improvement in oxygenation index and reduction in severity of COVID-19 patients with relation to plant-based diet, vitamin D and C doses, probiotic, and zinc salts application.