7 Tips for Boosting Immunity

Strong gut, strong immune system – tips for the cold season from the monastery garden of Hildegard of Bingen

Temperatures just below freezing, runny noses, and coughing fits. When winter is at the door, we should strengthen our immune system. Despite the cold weather, we can use the thousand-year-old healing knowledge of Hildegard of Bingen to naturally boost our defenses.

Gut as a hotspot for a healthy immune system

In the cold season, we are particularly susceptible to colds. Many factors play a role, such as less outdoor activity, stress, and a high-fat diet. Fortunately, herbal powers and healing recipes from nature mobilize our entire resistance. Special attention is given to the gut:

Seventy-five percent of all antibodies are produced in the intestines. It is therefore considered a hotspot for a strong immune system. The gut and immune system are closely connected. If the gut is weakened, the entire immune system loses strength. Conversely, immune weakness can lead to disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract. In both cases, the gut flora becomes imbalanced. To keep the billions of tiny living beings, mostly bacteria, healthy, they are strengthened with a powerful and completely natural medicinal plant mixture.

The infernal duo for gentle intestinal health

Psyllium and Bertram Root are two time-tested remedies from the monastery garden of Saint Hildegard of Bingen for strengthening the immune system in winter.

In this combination, these medicinal plants are unbeatable. The overactive soluble and insoluble fibers in the small husks of psyllium meet the calming bertram root. It is no coincidence that it is one of Bingen's favorite medicinal plants. The almost forgotten spice plant is a mucolytic all-rounder with trace elements such as zinc, manganese, sodium, and silicon. The bertram root ensures smooth absorption of vital nutrients through the gastrointestinal mucosa. In combination with the psyllium husks from Gutsmiedl Naturprodukte, bowel activity can be stimulated. In addition, anti-inflammatory effects are possible through the bertram root. Together, the two natural products are said to bind acids and toxins in the intestines and thus cleanse it. The natural intestinal care can be experienced as beneficial throughout the whole body.

Tip: The best time of day to consume psyllium seeds with bertram is in the morning. Drink half to one teaspoon with enough liquid. Then drink another 100 ml of water. The seeds of the plantain family can bind water five times better than the whole psyllium seed, so adequate water intake is important to avoid drawing too much fluid from the intestines.  

Tip: "Cure-all" bitter substances

The wisdom of the holy abbess about bitter substances with possibly health-promoting properties such as arnica, gentian root, turmeric, and nettle is still fully trusted today and is considered a "cure-all." Hildegard von Bingen recognized about 1,000 years ago the magic contained in the bitter plants.

Bitter substances can have a huge impact on the bioactive functions and metabolic processes in our body. More precisely: bitter substances can promote saliva production and stimulate the activity of the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. This can facilitate fat digestion and increase gastrointestinal motility. The bitter receptors in the intestine can be stimulated by bitter substances and help to reduce acidity in the digestive tract. Bitterkraft Vital from Gutsmiedl Naturprodukte in concentrated form was developed to detoxify the body and restore balance to the stomach and intestines.

Which home remedies strengthen the immune system?

There are some practical home remedies to strengthen the immune system. The most effective are certain habits that can strengthen your immune system in the long term. The four pillars of immune strengthening are:

• Varied and vitamin-rich diet
• Regular exercise (especially 
  Endurance training / Cardio
• Sufficient sleep
• Enough relaxation and little stress

If you follow these four key points, your immune system will be well prepared against illnesses. The optimal starting conditions are in place so that your immune system can fight viruses, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms as quickly and efficiently as possible.

For strengthening children's immune systems, it is also recommended to let the child spend as much time as possible outdoors, observe certain hygiene rules, and especially ensure sufficient sleep.

By the way, the environment should not be too sterile, as our body regularly needs pathogens to be able to train its immune system. Additionally, many illnesses arise in the cold season due to dry heating air: so feel free to take walks!

Which medications strengthen the immune system

Typical preparations for immune strengthening are called immune capsules. These usually contain micronutrients that support the function of the immune system. The following ingredients are quite typical:

• Vitamin C
• Zinc
• Vitamin D
• Lactic acid bacteria

Certain herbal extracts used in alternative medicine to strengthen the immune system include echinacea extracts and some superfoods. Aronia and cranberry are often eaten in winter to protect against colds and similar illnesses.
Which medications can help you can find out from your doctor, as they can address your individual situation and therefore know the optimal preparations for you.

How can I rebuild my immune system?

If you notice that you are becoming more susceptible to illnesses, you must allow yourself to rest. Your body is either overstrained or not being supplied with everything it needs. People usually experience more illnesses when they are going through a very stressful period. So it helps to keep in mind the key pillars for a healthy immune system mentioned above:

• Healthy and varied diet
• Drink plenty of fluids
• Exercise
• Lots of relaxation and little stress
• Sufficient good sleep

If you orient your actions around these points, you should recover quite quickly. Of course, if symptoms persist, you should seek medical advice immediately.

Which globules to strengthen the immune system?

The effectiveness of homeopathy has not been scientifically proven, yet it has many followers. For immune strengthening in homeopathy, the following remedies are often used:

• Echinacea (Echinacea)
• European wild ginger (Asarum europaeum)
• Wild indigo (Baptisia tinctoria)
• Calendula (Calendula)
• Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
• Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis)

Since globules do not contain complete extracts of the listed plants, we recommend high-quality extracts instead. Secondary plant compounds, tannins, bitter substances, flavonoids, terpenes, and essential oils can then benefit you.

What does Hildegard von Bingen say about immune strengthening?

Hildegard von Bingen naturally also left recipes and instructions for immune strengthening in her works. As was typical for Hildegard von Bingen, she mainly focused on specific herbs and their effects.

For example, Hildegard von Bingen wrote down the tip to drink cold remedy teas and bitter teas. Her very famous chestnut honey is also said to support immune strengthening. The holy abbess also recognized that cold feet promote the development of illnesses—she recommends regular foot baths to counteract this.

Otherwise, she recommends a range of plant extracts that should support immune strengthening. Typical preparations include deer tongue extract or plenty of galangal.