It’s the time of year when we need to start protecting ourselves from catching a cold or flu by boosting our immune systems. I like to start by using elderflower tincture or elderberry syrup that I harvest and make. Elderberries also provide innumerable health benefits and Elderberry syrup is available at many local stores. Echinacea is another great immune boosting herb that increases the infection fighting white blood cells.

To stay healthy it’s important to have a well-balanced life. According to UCI Health, though it seems boring and we’ve all heard it dozens of times, there are seven tried-and-true steps to boost your immune system. These include:

• Eating nutritious meals full of essential vitamins and minerals.
• Drinking plenty of water.
• Getting restful sleep.
• Exercising regularly.
• Reducing stress.
• Preventing infection.
• Getting the annual flu vaccine.

When you look at the list you will see that regular massages can directly help with two of those items; getting restful sleep and reducing stress.