Initially I thought I was having normal fever, and it did goes off after 1 day, however, the fever keeps on coming back. As you may know, fever is a body reaction where our body secretes a hormone to temporary increase body temperate so that our immune cells able to fight those bacteria and virus more effectively. As most bacteria and virus activities are low at higher temperature, thus a fever is a sign that your immune system is at work, fighting the intruders inside your body. A viral infection is a disease that can be caused by different kinds of viruses, of which the influenza-virus is best known. A viral infection can be in different places in the body, some viruses are mainly in the intestine, while others prefer the lungs and airways. With a viral infection you usually have a fever, but other complaints can range from abdominal pain and diarrhea to coughing and shortness of breath. The symptoms that I encountered was come-and-go fever and coughing, and shortness of breath. (more info read here: Viral Infection) Medication Prescribed by Doctor
Above were the 3 medication prescribed by doctor, I had summarised in the table below:
To read more about the above medication, please refer:
It is very clear that those medication prescribed by doctor has their side effects, and each of them may have more than one side effects. Imagine what will happen to my body if I taking these medications without second thought. Please read carefully the "Uses" column, each medication has their own purpose. However, there is one common thing that these medication shares, which is treat symptoms! Yes, all these medication can relieve my symptoms of coughing, fever, and stuffy nose, but there is one thing you must remember, the reason why you coughing is your lungs are trying to remove bacteria/viruses from respiratory system! The reason why you have stuffy nose is because the nasal mucus are actually trying to stop bacteria/viruses from entering your inner respiratory system.
Your body behave such because of its natural protecting feature, which protecting you from getting sick. And medication are actually trying to stop your body to do its jobs! Furthermore, taking medication will increase the burden of our liver and kidney as these two organs main features are detoxification. This is why I didn't take medication when I got viral infection.
How Our Immune System Combat Virus Attack?
Do you know that, our immune system is actually the best doctor in the world?
During the days where I was infected by viruses, I make sure that I consumed more Polysaccharides, as well as Antioxidant and Phytochemicals, these 3 nutrients are the fuel for stronger immunity, based on Nutritional Immunology.
Indeed our immune system is the best doctor in the world! Read more about our immune system by clicking here --> Understand Your Immune System
Now you have learn how our immune system works, how do we keep our immune system at its best condition? Scientists has discovered the key to keep our immune system healthy is by consuming plants foods which are high in antioxidant, phytochemical and polysaccharides. Read more by clicking here --> What is Nutritional Immunology?
American Ginseng (Panacis quinquefolis) root was once worth its weight in gold. Entrepreneurial Jesuit missionaries cultivated and exported the herb from North America to China in large amounts during the 18th century, selling it for an extraordinary profit. At that time, little was known about American ginseng except that Native Americans were using it to treat nausea and vomiting.
Initially viewed as a highly prized traditional medicine, the nutritional value of American ginseng root is gradually finding scientific explanation and credibility. It is packed with fiber, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, vitamin C, B vitamins, and other less common nutrients such as ginsenosides.
Ginsenosides
Ginsenosides are a group of phytochemicals that are present only in ginseng. They are the most active components of ginseng, and although they have similar molecular structure, they have different function. The amounts and types of ginsenosides in each type of ginseng vary, For example, ginsenosides Rf is present in Asian ginseng but not in American ginseng, and American ginseng has more Rb1 than Asian ginseng. It is possible that ginsenosides that appear to have no function help to make "active" ginsenosides easier for the body to absorb.
American ginseng extract contains more than 30 ginsenosides, including Rb1, Rb2, Rb3, Rc, Rd, Re, Rg1, Rg2, Ro, and F2. Of these, Rb1 and Re make up more than 75% of the total ginsenoside content in American ginseng. Rb1 is an antioxidant that can prevent ulcers, help the body to cope with stress, and increase rates of learning. It also enhances nerve regeneration.
In addition, Rb1, Rg1, and Rh1 acts as weak phytoestrogens in the body. Phytoestrogens are plant hormones that encourage healthy cell growth while inhibiting tumor growth. By binding to cells where human estrogen typically binds, phytoestrogens mimic the positive roles of human estrogen without harmful side effects. Hence, American ginseng has often been recommended for relieving menopausal symptoms.
Rb1 suppresses and Rg1 stimulates the central nervous system. Such combinations of opposing functions within this wonder herb contribute to American ginseng's use as an adaptogen that normalizes bodily functions to balanced states.
Wondrous Immunity-building Properties
American ginseng is not just an energy herb. It also helps to strengthen the immune system in a variety of ways, one of which results from its polysaccharides. Polysaccharides are long chains of sugars that help balance the immune system and enable tit to destroy existing cancer cells and viruses.
A study reported that polysaccharides in American ginseng may stimulate multitasking immune cells called macrophages to secrete cytokines, chemicals that summon immune cells to deal with bacteria and viruses. American ginseng also builds immunity by stimulating the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an immune chemical used in fighting viruses.
American ginseng may be good news for people prone to colds. Researchers discovered that by consuming American ginseng root extract in a moderate dose over four months reduces the number of colds, the severity of colds, and the number of days they last, possibly preventing respiratory tract infection. Studies also show American ginseng to have potential protective effects against breast and ovarian cancers.
Completing the Package with Antioxidant
There is more antioxidant activity in American ginseng than in Asian ginseng. The free-radical scavenging activity of American ginseng can reduce oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), otherwise known as bad cholesterol. LDL that has gone through oxidation contributes to atheroclerosis, which may cause heart attacks. The antioxidant property of American ginseng can also slow down again because its antioxidants reduce free radical damage in some tissues.
What is Immune System?
The immune system is an amazing, proactive defense mechanism. Its complex network of white blood cells, antibodies and other immune chemicals and organs offers us around-the-clock protection against invaders. When there is a cut on the skin, the immune system works actively to heal it and stop the entry of microbes like viruses and bacteria. As our cells continuously reproduce, a strong immune system also helps to detect and defeat cell mutations that could lead to cancer.
Most diseases are the result of a malfunctioning immune system. The immune system may malfunction in one or both of the following ways:
A Weak Immune System
You may have come across someone who constantly gets sick – be it with flu, a cough, cold or even stomach discomfort. Have you ever wondered why some people recover quickly while others take longer or just never fully recover? The answer lies in our immune system.
The air we breathe, the food we eat and the surfaces we touch are always teeming with disease-causing dust, pollutants, fungi, parasites and germs like viruses and bacteria. Once our body is weak, these toxic agents will easily overwhelm the immune system and cause illnesses.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one example of a disease linked with a weak immune system. Once AIDS sets in, the immune system is critically compromised and unable to effectively combat dangerous germs. Cancer is also a sign that our immune system is weak. Chemotherapy, a type of radiation treatment for cancer, further weakens the immune system – this is why cancer patients are easily afflicted with flu, coughs and colds.
A Hyperactive Immune System
The immune system can be also malfunction by over-reacting of turning against the body’s own cells. This often leads to allergies or autoimmune diseases.
An allergic reaction, such as a respiratory allergy, skin allergy or food allergy, occurs when the immune system reacts against non-threatening agents, such as plant pollen, animal fur, dust and some types of food.
An autoimmune disease occurs when our immune system mistakenly attacks our body’s own healthy cells. Rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, diabetes mellitus and systemic lupus erythematosus are all examples of common autoimmune diseases.
Doctor treats allergies and autoimmune diseases by prescribing drugs to suppress the immune response. Such treatment usually results in a weakened immune system, thus, leaving us more susceptible to diseases. And usually, such drugs only stop the symptoms, such as swelling or pain. They do not completely cure the disease. In addition, medications result in a wide array of harmful side effects. Immune Organs
The first line of defence – skin: When invaders are sighted, Langerhans cells sound the warning bell. Antibacterial substances within our sweat and sebum trap bacteria while tears and mucus membranes secrete enzymes to break down the invader’s cell wall.
Soldier Factory – Bone Marrow: Bone marrow creates red blood cells and white blood cells, the soldiers of the immune system. Every second, about 8 million blood cells die and the same number are regenerated here.
Training Ground – The Thymus: Just as soldiers train for war through the navy, infantry and air force, the thymus assigns T cells their duties in fighting illnesses. The thymus also secretes immune-regulating hormones.
Battlegrounds – The Lymph Nodes: Lymph nodes are little pockets of battlegrounds with billions of white blood cells. When fighting infections, lymph nodes swell with foreign invaders and immune cells to the point where you can actually feel them. Swollen lymph nodes are a good indication that you have an infection and your immune system is hard at work. As the army’s drainage system, lymph nodes filter the lymph fluid, which carries away waste products like viruses and bacteria. The body contains about four times more lymph than blood.
Blood Filter – The Spleen: The spleen is a blood reservoir. It filters the blood by removing dead blood cells as well as engulfed viruses and bacteria. It also activates B cells to produce large amounts of antibodies.
Throat Guard – The Tonsils: The tonsils maintain constant vigilance against invaders that gain access to the body through the nose and mouth. People who have had their tonsils removed show a marked increase in getting Strep throat and Hodgkin’s disease – indicating the importance og the tonsils in upper respiratory tract protection.
Immune Assistant – The Appendix: The appendix assists with B cell maturation and antibody (IgA) production. It also acts like a traffic coordinator, producing molecules that direct the movement of white blood cells to other parts of the body. The appendix also exposes white blood cells to the invaders present in the digestive tract and helps suppress potentially harmful antibody response while promoting local immunity.
Intestinal Guards – Peyer’s Patches: Like the appendix, Peyer’s patches react to invaders in the intestines. They are vital to the control of microbial invaders in our food.
Immune Cells
Specific Fighters – B Cells & Antibodies: B cells provide humeral immunity – protection via antibodies circulating in our bodily fluids like serum and the lymph. B cells are soldiers who fight invaders by producing antibodies specific to them. Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, are our enemy-seeking missiles. They track and lock onto assigned invaders before triggering immune responses to destroy the invaders. Some B cells become “memory” cells. So, if the same invader attacks again, they are quickly identified and antibodies are immediately produced to fight against them.
Non-Specific Fighters – T Cells: T cells give the body cellular immunity. They provide non-specific immunity by seeking and destroying enemies regardless of type. Helper T cells are the commanders of the immune system. They rouse and issue orders to other soldiers through chemical messengers. Cytotoxic T cells and NK cells are lethal snipers who shoot holes into invaders. Once the infection is controlled, suppressor T cells regulate antibody production and call an end to the war.
Enemy Eaters – Phagocytes & Granulocytes: Phagocytes, such as monocytes and macrophage, are large cell eaters that engulf and digest the enemy. Macrophages are multitasking immune cells. Apart from cleansing the body of debris and aged blood cells, they also secrete chemicals to bring other immune cells to where the invasion is taking place. Granulocytes, like neutrophils, eosinophils and basophils, destroy invaders through potent chemical granules. For example, pus from a serious infection contains dead neutrophils and other war debris.
