During these days of concern over the Coronavirus, it is important that we do everything we can to keep ourselves as healthy as possible and to boost our immune systems. The following outlines ways that we can help ourselves
Stress and the immune system
Stress can weaken the immune system. Stress can remain in our body and subconscious mind for a long time after the event that triggered the initial stress has passed. This ‘held’ stress (or energy) suppresses the immune function which then increases the risk of causing infections, disease, physical pain and psychological issues.
We rely on our white blood cells to defend us against infectious diseases. As they are the army that fights the invaders, we need to help them at all times. Stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and poor sleep all reduce the effectiveness of our white blood cells, but with a little bit of effort, we can help to keep our immune system strong. Here are some ways to help:
Just Breathe
Find time to sit down for a few minutes and just focus on your breathing. This is a good way to quickly relax, reduce tension and relieve stress. Try my short meditation available here: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/reikijane3
Regular Reiki
Working with the Reiki energy brings about a state of relaxation which helps unblock energy that is stuck. This helps to rebalance the mind, emotions, body and spirit.
When Reiki is carried out on a regular basis, it can help to keep the immune system working well. It also brings about self-awareness, so that we can be more mindful of how we are dealing with things in our daily life.
Just for today, do not worry
As with stress, worry sends you into a state of ‘fight or flight’ triggering the brain to produce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline, in readiness for action. As you are unlikely to be able to run away or fight the thing that is worrying you in these precarious times, these hormones are not used and remain in the bloodstream. Over time physical ailments start to appear, together with a lowered immune function.
By carrying out your daily Reiki routine of grounding and protection, self-treatment and meditation, you can bring about a state of calm and relaxation.
Overcome worry with a simple Reiki process
If you notice that you are starting to worry about something:
- Connect with the Reiki healing energy.
- Place your hands in Gassho (Prayer Position) and hold them at the Heart Chakra.
- Take three deep breaths and focus on your Tanden.
- Then place your hands on your Third Eye Chakra – this Chakra is associated with the mind, intuition and psychic abilities. By sending Reiki to the Third Eye you are helping your mind relax and to improve your mood and to help with sleep patterns.
- When you are ready, place your hands on your Crown Chakra – this will help you with the physical issues related to worry, such as headaches.
- When you have finished, bring your hands back into Gassho and ask the Universe for assistance with healing your worries. Trust that everything will be fine.
- Take three more deep breaths and relax.
Meditation
Meditation is a wonderful way to relax and calm the mind. It helps you to experience a sense of peace and even a few minutes sitting quietly will help put you into a more relaxed state. Scientific research has been done on meditation using MRI imaging which confirmed improved brain function following meditation. It has been shown to:
- Improve concentration and self-discipline
- Create a positive mood
- Boost cognitive function
- Provide clarity of thought and focus
- Reduce anxiety and stress
- Help reduce pain
- Improve sleep patterns
- Enhance your self-awareness
- Improve emotional health and your reactions
- Increase attention span
- Boost immune system
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer
- Help to retain youthfulness
It is important that meditation is carried out regularly; daily, every other day or every week and it is easy to incorporate your meditation practise into your daily Reiki routine.
Crystals
Crystals are very grounding when held during meditation or when you just need to re-focus your thoughts. Simply hold the crystal in the left hand with any point facing up your left arm and take some deep breaths. Then focus on the crystal itself and concentrate on its colour, how it feels, the energy that is coming from it and anything else that you notice about the crystal. Often you can notice thoughts that might help the situation you are in.
- Amethyst – relates to the Third Eye Chakra and has a calming influence and will help you with any type of change you might be going through. It is good for absorbing negative energy.
- Clear Quartz – relates to the Crown Chakra and helps with positive thoughts and energy. It also provides clarity to your thoughts. It will help to rebalance you and any feelings of self-doubt.
Affirmations
Affirmations are great at helping you to change your perspective on things that are happening around you. You can use them to put into an EFT (emotional freedom technique) round of tapping so that you can create a different ‘feeling’ about the situation or you can simply choose one of them and say it to yourself until you are calmer and have different feelings and thoughts about your worries.
- I love myself
- I am capable of solving my problems easily
- I am safe
- I always focus on the ‘present’, the here and now
- Tomorrow will take care of itself
- I look forward to each new day with excitement and joy
Immune boosting nutrition
Improve your nutrition by eating a balanced diet with plenty of (green) vegetables and fruit. Include immune boosting foods such as;
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Greens
- Berries
- Spinach
- Yoghurt
- Citrus Fruits
- Turmeric
- Green Tea
- Papaya
- Kiwi
- Chicken Soup
- Sunflower Seeds
- Shellfish
Remove alcohol, coffee, sugar, junk food as these do not help your immune system.
Plenty of exercise
Help your lymphatic system by getting movement into your daily life. The lymphatic system transports lymph (which is a fluid containing the white blood cells) throughout the body, helping to kill off viruses.
Choose something you enjoy, such as:
- Bouncing on a trampoline
- Walking
- Swimming
- Cycling
- Yoga
You don’t need to spend hours doing exercise, 20-30 minutes a day will be fine. Just move!
Thymus tapping
The thymus gland is in the centre of the chest, between the lungs. It is involved in developing the white blood cells.
Gently tapping on the thymus gland can help to boost your immune system as the vibrations stimulate the release of white blood cells.
Tap for around 20-30 times while you continue to breathe normally. Increase the amount of times you tap your thymus if you have an acute illness such as a cold or flu.
Plenty of water
Good hydration is so important. Water helps to carry oxygen to your organs and blood cells. It helps to remove toxins from the body so maintaining good hydration positively helps your immune system.
Hot water with lemon provides a boost to the immune system. It provides Vitamin C and helps fight viruses and bacteria as well as helping digestion.
Do something every day to bring yourself back to a state of peace, calm and wellbeing.
Enjoy!