Boost Your Immune System Naturally

I get asked frequently about natural ways to boost the immune system. There are many herbs which have shown at least some tonifying effect on the immune system, including Echinacea, Astragalus, Garlic, and Ginseng, I will write about them soon.

Some of my personal  favorites for giving the immune system a boost are mushrooms. Mushrooms are a great low calorie addition to any diet, and have many health benefits, including helping to reduce chronic inflammation.

But there are several varieties of mushroom which have  been held in extremely high regard as immune system tonics for centuries, including Shiitake and Reishi mushrooms.

Shiitake mushrooms are widely available fresh or dried, and found in most supermarkets and health food stores. (They are my personal favorites from a taste standpoint.)


Shiitake mushrooms are delicious added to stir fries, soups, stews, and sauces; pretty much anywhere you would use any other type of mushroom. The stems are extremely woody, so use only the caps in cooking.

Japanese studies have shown that Shiitake mushrooms boost the immune system, as well as inhibit viral replication, two activities which make Shiitake a great addition to your diet. Research in Japan has also developed a cancer treatment based on Shiitake mushrooms.

Reishi mushrooms are immune boosting powerhouses. At one time, these mushrooms were extremely rare, and prohibitively expensive, because they were only found growing in high, remote mountains. The technique to grow Reishi mushrooms was discovered only relatively recently, which has made them much more affordable, you no longer need to be the Emperor of China to afford them.

Reishi mushrooms were thought to increase longevity and so were highly prized..

Modern research has shown them to be high in immune boosting phytochemicals, and to improve production of lymphocytes (lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell, and an important part of the body's defenses against infection). Reishi also seems able to modulate immune response, (this means it can strengthen a weakened immune response, and lessen an overactive immune response), and helps some allergy sufferers get relief from their symptoms. Reishi also seems to have some anti-cancer properties, and is a part of a number of commercially available preparations said to protect the immune system of patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy as part of a cancer treatment regimen. (If you are being treated for any medical condition, please check with your doctor before using any herbal supplements.)

Reishi mushrooms don't seem as widely available as Shiitake mushrooms, although most local health food stores carry several varieties of prepared Reishi supplements, as powders, capsules and extracts, as well as an instant tea concentrate. It's a useful supplement anytime you feel your immune system needs a boost.

I'll have more to say about natural ways to strengthen the immune system in upcoming posts.