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Drink Your Immunity Tea
Want to know a yummy natural way to protect your lungs and gut?
Interestingly, viruses only survive if they are able to break down the protective barrier that lines the respiratory and intestinal tracts. The inner skin (or epithelium) is a single-cell protective layer that needs to be perfectly balanced in order to effectively protect us from the woes and worries of the outside world.
Coronavirus, like most viruses, has been found to penetrate and dump reproductive material primarily into respiratory tract cells and, secondarily, the skin lining the intestines. Fortunately, the same herbal support works for maintaining a healthy environment for both.
According to Ayurveda, these skin/epithelium-lined protective barriers are governed by vata, which is aggravated by dry and cold conditions. The antidote to vata, and to the most common disorders of the respiratory and intestinal tracts, is to lubricate them with slimy unctuous herbs and foods.
These slimy foods, like oatmeal, chia, and flax, and herbs, like slippery elm, marshmallow root, and licorice root, are also some of the best sources of soluble fiber.
Soluble Fiber + Short-Chain Fatty Acids for Respiratory + Intestinal Health
Soluble fiber is slimy. It attaches to bile and escorts it and its attached toxins to the toilet.2 Microbiomes on the inner skin of the gut and lungs feed on soluble fiber, which is rich in fatty acids.1
Soluble fiber-rich tea has traditionally been used to maintain the proper environment and healthy function of the intestinal and respiratory tracts.3,7 When ingested, soluble fibers are digested, fermented, or broken down by the microbes of the lung and gut microbiomes into essential short-chain fatty acids, such as butyrate, propionate, and acetate.1
Such short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), like butyrate (of which ghee is the highest food source), are thought to be a major player in supporting gut immunity, which makes up 70% of our immune response!4
New studies link the ability for the gut microbiome to break down fiber into immune bosting SCFAs to an enhanced immune response in the lungs. The same SCFAs have been linked to enhanced respiratory and gut immunity. Researchers are beginning to understand how intimately connected these two systems are: how lung immunity may be dependent on gut immunity!5
Butyrate, the main constituent in ghee, has been found to support the lungs’ natural ability to resist irritation and reactive mucus production, which, in excess, can compromise a healthy immune response.6
See also Gut Immunity for Your Ayurvedic Body Type
Lifespa Immunity Tea Recipe
No doubt cooking with ghee and adding a teaspoon of ghee to a tea of soluble fiber-rich herbs would support a healthy immune response in both gut and lungs.
I’ve used three herbs at LifeSpa for decades to support and maintain a healthy environment of the respiratory and digestive tracts.
The ingredients of lung and gut butter tea are:
- Follow instructions for making Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula [ingredients are Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra), Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), and Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis)]
- Add ghee: 1 tsp / cup of tea
At LifeSpa, we call this herbal blend Slippery Elm Prebiotic Formula.
Slippery Elm (Ulmus rubra)
Slippery Elm has been used for thousands of years to support respiratory tract and intestinal lining health.7 In the lungs, studies suggest slippery elm has antitussive (cough-relieving) properties, as well as being soothing the throat, bronchioles, lungs, and entire digestive tract. 3,7,8
In one study, slippery elm was found to enhance proliferation of good bacteria and reduce undesirable bacteria, while significantly increasing production of butyrate9 in the gut. Remember: what happens in the gut is directly linked to the lungs.4-6
Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra)
Licorice has also been shown to boost SCFAs in the gut, while increasing proliferation of beneficial microbes, such as Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Bacteroides, while reducing undesirable bacterial strains. Licorice has been used for thousands of years as a lung tonic.
Licorice has been shown in many studies to independently support healthy immune responses during a series of immune events in both lungs and gut.10
Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis)
Marshmallow root has been used for thousands of years as a powerful immune and lung tonic, as well as a soothing demulcent for the lungs, throat, and intestinal tract. This is backed up by many modern studies.11,12
During times of respiratory stress or during an immune event, sipping a tea throughout the day of slippery elm, licorice, and marshmallow root may provide the immune support needed for a successful immune response.
Remember: Consider blending ~1 tsp ghee into your cup of Lifespa Immunity Tea!
Have you tried our Immunity Tea? Let us know what you think!
Read All My Articles on the benefits of Slippery Elm Prebiotic.
Don’t those 3 herbs also facilitate going number two? I use a capsule for complete elimination that has these herbs but it advises against taking it every night. The product is called Cleanse More, made by Renew Life. I also see that it contains rhubarb and cape aloe leaf. I would love to take this every night because I go every day but not completely and it’s very frustrating. Your advice on this is greatly appreciated. Thank you Kim
Hi Kim,
These products can facilitate with proper lubrication of the elimination system, which can, in turn, facilitate bowel movements, but in a healthy way.
For elimination, it is best to stay away from most products that force elimination like aloe and others as they can cause negative effects when taken on an ongoing or long-term basis.
See Dr. John’s articles here for more information on this:
https://lifespa.com/healthy-alternatives-to-laxatives/
https://lifespa.com/occasional-constipation-gone/
And keep an eye out for Dr. John’s upcoming article about the dangers of laxatives, even “natural” ones.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
I’ve been making a decoction of slippery elm, licorice and marshmallow and it has strengthened my core. I’ve had issues with parasites, leaky gut and little core strength but since taking this for a couple of months my balance has improved due to core strength.
How much tea with ghee do you feel is okay to have each day?
I don’t want my daughter to overdo the ghee
Hi Melanie,
If you are concerned about the amount of ghee, you can make the tea without the ghee.
Otherwise, Dr. John recommends total intake of animal products be about 10% of the total diet. Estimate your and your daughter’s intake of ghee based on the rest of your diet.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Ghee is repulsive to me makes me feel like I am going to vomit.
Would coconut oil work as a substitute?
No in my opinion. Coconut oil, specially C8 has different sort of action. Came as Lecithin? You need protective barrier. Make coffee with ghee mixed with grass feed butter. But first, try different high quality brand. Nobody is testing much food supply in this country, so mafiosi found their “ small” sand box. They hate regulations to. And speed up process with old margarine machinery. Or use some “speedy” enzymes? Or what not? As usual, nonexistent food police is outgunned.
Hi Patricia,
Coconut oil will not have the same properties as ghee (specifically the butyric acid), but you can try it that way if you like. You can make the tea without any oil for very good results.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Is this tea suitable If one follows an intermittent fasting lifestyle (8 hour eating window, ketogenic)
thank you.
Outside the window, will help you in liver bile circulation, when necessary. If not enough fats in circulation, liver is processing old fats, “toxins” and sugars.
Bile is greasing you intestines, which also help agains constipation and SIBO.
Bile is you motor oil. FYI, I am not on ketogenic diet. I need fiber to filter and escort my dirty motor oil (“old “heavy metals, chemicals, soaps, shampoos, &c) so I don’t get to aggressive because my detox system is soo slow. Bile is recycled many times in body, so also toxins ( if you have them). Headache is small sign.
Hi Elizabeth,
Yes it should be fine but you would want to check with your nutritionist or dietitian to be sure.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Hi I am wondering if licorice is ok for Candida?
Also, since we are speaking of gut, does dr John have any links to Candida protocols in his blogs? All the approaches seem so intense
Thanks
Hi Suzanne,
These articles should help you learn more about candida: https://lifespa.com/?s=candida
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
Thanks
I relistened to his Candida/sibo podcast and it was great!
One more question about the tea, in the past I’ve used it and added burdock, dandelion and cinnamon. Will that take away from its healing effects? I see it as adding liver and digestive support, but you have the clinical knowledge
Thanks!
Greetings, I have read that Licorice can raise the blood pressure, so when taking this tea daily one should monitor their hypertension. Any comments?
Hi Deb,
Dr. John has written about this topic and you can read that article here: https://lifespa.com/much-licorice-safe-blood-pressure-whole-licorice-vs-licorice-dgl/
Best,
LifeSpa Staff
So if I am making one cup of the tea per day, should I use 1 tsp of the Prebiotic tea and 1 tsp of ghee? Thanks
Hi Katie,
The Slippery Elm Prebiotic Tea Formula is 1 Tbsp per cup of tea, then add 1 tsp ghee.
Best,
LifeSpa Staff