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Imagine yourself
as a sailor in the middle ages, traveling by boat across a great ocean
to discover new lands. As you travel, the skies grow dark and the waters
start to get choppier and the waves grow taller. Soon the light rain turns
to a torrential downpour as your craft is overtaken by a tremendous storm.
The clouds crack with thunder and lightning and your ship sways and buckles
with each toss and turn of the sea. You quickly move from one side of
the ship to the other to slacken and tighten the ropes, busily trying
to steady the vessel for the next rush of wind, the next swell of whitecaps.
In this dangerous and scary experience, you may make a quick but heartfelt
prayer to the god of the ocean, known since antiquity as Neptune.
Working with
the archetype of Neptune means being able to navigate the water realm,
to maintain balance and fluidity in the face of difficulty and trial.
When adverse conditions come our way, the wisdom of Neptune helps us to
bend and flow through problems and maintain a deep resiliency and strength,
no matter what the struggle. In medical astrology, Neptune is connected
to the immune system. The immune system is comprised of a network of lymph
glands and vessels that help protect us from disease and illness. By nourishing
our immune system, we strengthen our ability to throw off toxins and withstand
physical and emotional stress. Like the sailors in the boat, we gain the
ability and skills to navigate stormy seas and travel through difficult
weather.
In part
one of this series, I discussed the use of faith, visualization
and aromatherapy for strengthening the immune system. In this article,
I want to outline some herbal and nutritional ways of augmenting and nourishing
our immune system.
Herbs
for Your Immune System
Echinacea:
Echinacea has become tremendously popular and is one of the main herbs
people buy for first aid throughout the country. Echinacea has antibiotic
and anti-bacterial qualities that make it one of the first herbs people
use at the initial signs of a cold or an infection. Echinacea works in
two different ways. The first way is to fight illness directly by inhibiting
the hyalurinodase enzyme, which causes the spread of bacteria. The other
way is to encourage the growth of white blood cells, which boosts the
immune level and helps the body to fight off illness.
Astragalus:
This Chinese herb has long been known for its ability to strengthen the
immune system and to help fight off colds, flu and disease. This is an
especially good herb for those who are weak and disabled and need a strengthening
and building tonic. Astragalus builds energy levels, improves the digestion
and nourishes the lungs, allowing the body to heal itself more easily.
Reishi
mushroom: This fungus is one of the most powerful immune system tonics
in the world. Known as an adaptogen, reishi helps us to adapt to stress
and ward off its negative influence on our health. Reishi also helps alleviate
allergies and food sensitivities often associated with Neptune. Like Echinacea,
reishi promotes the growth of white blood cells in the body. It is specifically
noted for its ability to help with immune system disorders such as AIDS,
chronic fatigue syndrome and bacterial and viral infections.
Diet
for a Healthy Immune System
In the modern
world, it is difficult to avoid the emphasis on fast food, caffeinated
beverages and sugar. This type of diet, however, leads to some of the
greatest health problems in the world, including cancer and a host of
immune system illnesses. For those of us with a strong emphasis on Neptune
or Pisces (Neptune’s ruling sign) in our charts*, there can be
a greater sensitivity to food that is harmful and injurious to our immune
system. That is why it is especially important to choose a diet that will
help balance and strengthen our immunity. Here are some basic ideas for
a good immune system building diet:
Eat
whole foods, choosing from a variety of grains and vegetables.
Include
seaweeds such as dulce, kelp and hijiki to enhance immunity.
Drink
plenty of uncontaminated water to flush toxins through the system.
Avoid
eating late at night.
Avoid
alcohol and drugs.
Avoid
processed and pesticide-laden foods.
Avoid
caffeine, sugar and other stimulants that depress immunity.
Conclusion
Neptune has
the effect of making us more susceptible to toxins in our diet and in
our environment. Like the sailors overwhelmed by stormy weather in rough
seas, these toxins can leave us weak and unbalanced. To help navigate
these seas, it's important to learn the skills to avoid storms and fight
off bad weather when it comes. With proper care and nourishment, we can
strengthen our immune system so it stays vital and healthy and is capable
of fighting off illness and dis-ease. Using some of the techniques from
the previous article including prayer, visualization and aromatherapy,
along with a good diet and strengthening herbs, we can help optimally
protect and augment our health and immune system. These natural methods
help us to avoid the negative aspects of Neptune while harmonizing with
the positive influences of this ancient sea god. Good health to you!
Notes
*Neptune
may be strong in your chart in terms of your health if it is in one of
the angular houses (the First, Fourth, Seventh or Tenth), or if it is
in the Sixth House of health. Neptune is emphasized if it conjoins or
makes a strong aspect (angular relationship) to the Sun or Moon. Neptune
is also powerful if there are many planets in Pisces in the chart.
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