By Nicholas Corrin,

Special to the Journal

Spring on our island can be a long, drawn out affair.

Wintry spells show up suddenly like an unwelcome guest. Small wonder June has been re-named “Junuary”.

Such behavior on the part of nature may upset our immune systems. Springtime can be prime time for catching colds. On top of that, many of us will have to deal with pollens and allergens. Allergies and infections may easily combine together to make our lives miserable.

But there is still more our lungs have to cope with. For example, clouds of mercury vapor wafting over the Pacific from Chinese coal furnaces; and toxins from chem-trails over our skies. The air looks clean but isn’t always what it seems.

So, what should we do to safeguard our health at this time of the year? Here are a few guidelines:

— Eat plenty of clean fresh foods. During the spring, the body naturally tries to detox itself, so you want to encourage it by what you eat and drink. Avoid processed or microwaved foods as much as possible.

— Get sufficient sleep. The immune system will weaken when we don’t get a good night’s rest. Melatonin levels also protect us against cancer.

— Consume regular amounts of good quality Vitamin C, which can only be stored by the body for about 4 hours. The best plant source for Vitamin C is a tropical fruit called Camu-Camu.  You could also take a buffered Vitamin C powder mixed with purified water. By far the best one is called Bio-Energy C.

— You will need plenty of Vitamin D to maintain a strong immune system.  Most people are deficient in their blood levels of D3. It is advisable to take D3 as a supplement every day. Usually 5,000 IU daily is a good target.

— Consume plenty of fermented foods such as sauerkraut, kimchee, kombucha kefir, yogurt or miso. These will all support your immune response. Sauerkraut will provide a lot of Vitamin C and the cruciferous vegetable family will also protect you against cancer. In brief, if you consume a lot of probiotics, you will not need to take antibiotics.

— Take herbs that strengthen your lungs or herbs that protect you from allergies, asthma or coughs. For example, Desmodium Andescens is a plant that will do all of these things.

What should you do if you get sick?

One thing many people are starting to notice is that germs are getting stronger and more drug resistant. This has become a serious global problem, due to the overuse of antibiotics, many of which are now failing.

Fortunately, many plants have antimicrobial properties and do not trigger further mutations in microbes. Herbal medicine can treat bacteria, viruses, mycobacteria, mold and yeasts all at the same time and may work where antibiotics have failed.

Staying in tune with nature is always the best path to take.

— Editor’s note: Nicholas Corrin, author of “The Power of Letting Go: Transforming Fear into Love,” is director of Friday Harbor Holistic Health.