Immune System

May 1

I am thankful for the immune system. When you think about it, it is an amazing thing. It is at work fighting countless and unknown invasions against our bodies 24/7, while we, most of the time, are unaware of what it is doing. I feel fortunate that I have had a relatively good immune system over the years. I think that may be because when growing up, our family physician did not believe in giving antibiotics or medicine for every little ailment. He believed in enhancing the body's natural defense mechanisms by allowing them to fight the small things and only used medicines in more severe cases. As can be seen with the increasing number of cases of antibiotic resistant bacterial infections being seen today because those bacteria have adapted to fight antibiotics, that was probably very wise of our family physician.

Today's theme follows in the vein of yesterday's Photo of the Day Blog on herbals as related to health. This is echinacea, or the purple coneflower. Some research has indicated that extracts of it may enhance the body's natural immune system and help prevent or reduce the length and severity of symptoms from the common cold and other inflammation. I personally do not take it, so I am not endorsing it, but many people do and there is some scientific literature to support its effectiveness. And it is a good thing if your immune system can be enhanced.

Below is a photo I took in my sister's previous hometown of Georgetown, Texas a few years back:

May 1b

echinacea

can’t be caught from behind

can’t ever fall down

can’t ever have bad luck

it is so very plain to see

because i ate a flower

i now have my immunity.

© rt tulley