Immunity & Sleep

 

CASE STUDY: Immunity and sleep

SUBMITTED BY: Sharlene Bennett

PATIENT: Female, 35 years old

INITIAL PRESENTATION

Female, presenting with repeated bouts of immune stress and poor immune health. With a recent history of Covid 19 and suspecting long Covid or onset of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). She is looking for help with long-term immune well-being, alongside sleep issues. She has experienced sleep problems for the last two years, with the onset of anxiety attacks due to work and relationship stress.

HERBAL TREATMENT

Immune Tonic Blend (200mL)

Withania (Withania somnifera) 3:2                           50 mL

Astragalus (Astragalus membranaceous) 1:2        40 mL   

Echinacea (Echinacea Blend 60% STD) 1:2              40 mL

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidium) 1:2                               40 mL

Liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) 1:1                              20 mL

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) 1:2                                    10 mL

Daily Dosage

5mL x 2-3 x daily, depending on need. Take diluted in water or no added sugar apple juice or black currant juice. Shake well before pouring.

 

Sleep Easy Tonic (200mL)

Magnolia (Magnolia officinalis) 1:2                           60 mL

Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) 1:2                        50 mL

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata) 1:2                 50 mL

Lime flowers (Tilia species) 1:2                                   40 mL

Daily Dosage

7.5 mL x 1, 1 hour before bedtime. Repeat dose on waking if required. Take diluted in water or no added sugar apple juice or black currant juice.  Shake well before pouring. Take 5 mL during the day if needed for anxiety support.

ADDITIONAL TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

It is suggested to include NAC 1000mg daily and COQ10 300mg daily (Ubiquinol). Also, using Omega 3 supplementation, for mood support with high DHA, and L-theanine with magnesium citrate 400mg sachets daily, to help support her general well-being during the day.

 

Recommended lifestyle techniques include restoring breathing during anxiety attacks and focus distraction by 5-ten-minute meditation or breathing exercise, inhale and hold and exhale. The 4-7-9 technique see below.

The 4-7-9 breathing technique

Close your mouth and quietly inhale through your nose to a mental count of four. Hold your breath for a count of seven. Exhale through your mouth, making a whoosh sound for a count of nine. Repeat the process three more times for a total of four breath cycles.

Include a regular sleep hygiene routine, same bedtime every night, before 10 pm for optimal rest and deep sleep. Relaxing warm shower or bath with Epsom salts before bedtime. Less screen time 1-hour before bed, to lessen blue light exposure helping with healthy melatonin release. A darkened room to help set up a settled sleep time. Morning or daytime exercise to help with energy levels and sleep routine. Alongside implementing a new hobby, anything that is enjoyed and can be done 1-4 x weekly.

Additional support, for general health, mood, and brain food. Includes a need for increased antioxidants and more variety in vegetable and fruit intake. Focus on organic or spray-free/locally sourced foods where possible, antibiotic-free meat, lean white meats like fish, and eggs for protein.

Add in greens, lettuce, endive, spinach and broccoli, with nuts and seeds over salad and meals or snacks. A typical Mediterranean diet that is plant-based with protein is encouraged. Fresh foods and lean meats such as fish with omega 3, sardines, salmon, or snapper, olive and avocado oils cold pressed over food and salads.  

FOLLOW-UP – after 2 weeks

Experiencing an improvement after two weeks with sleep, waking most nights after a few hours but getting back to sleep once again until morning. Starting to get less anxiety during the day, and only needing to use the herbs every second day, rather than daily for anxiety support. She is enjoying the daytime herbs and finds that they help in establishing a healthy and motivated morning routine. Repeating herbal mixture for both (day and night).

FOLLOW-UP - after 4 weeks

The sleep hygiene routine is helping on most nights, she is starting to notice she sleeps through and is no longer waking most nights and having to re-use herbs. The daytime herbs are helping her with everyday anxiety, is only having to use these a few times a week when anxious at times.

The breathing 4-7-9 technique is starting to help more, and she does this at least once a day to help manage anxiety and feelings of overwhelm. The herbal mixtures are repeated and the next follow-up in 4 weeks will reassess and change the daytime dose and herbs if still noting improvement.

She is still using supplements (NAC and CoQ10) and finding that they are helping alongside the herbal blends.  The L-theanine is no longer used, but DHA every second day and magnesium are used intermittently over the week.