While plenty have stockpiled their toilet paper supply in response to the nationwide spread of COVID-19, others are taking a more holistic approach by purchasing items that might help boost their immune systems.

Tom Suskiewich, owner of Mt. Man Nutrition in Waynesville, said he saw a considerable uptick in customers the week of March 16. The same was said by other local store owners who stock vitamins, herbs, remedies and similar items believed to help the human immune system.

Vitamins

Vitamin C has been studied over the years as a means of protecting against bacteria and virus in the body, said Ellen Selm, owner of Middle Path Nutrition and Wellness in Canton.

“Vitamin C it is a key nutrient in connective tissues in our organs, such as our lungs, and may help protect them from invading pathogens,” Selm said. “Vitamin C also helps the body properly alert the white blood cells to protect the site of infection.”

Vitamin D can also help the body fight off infectious agents.

“At our latitude and longitude here in Western N.C., approximately 20-30 minutes of full sun exposure on at least our face and arms with no sunscreen on can give us a heaping dose of vitamin D3 through our skin,” Selm said. “Otherwise, consider supplements.”

Suskiewich said zinc is another immune booster, and many people have zinc deficiencies.

Herbs

Elderberry is recognized by many as an everyday immune booster and spring-summer allergy reliever, said Kate Kasun of Zoolies Natural Food Market in Waynesville.

“A teaspoon in the morning and a teaspoon at night helps with immune boosting,” Kasun said. “But if you feel like you’re coming down with anything, I think you’re supposed to stop the elderberry and start up with oil of oregano and olive leaf extract.”

Another plant product that people are buying for mental health and stress relief is CBD, a legal marijuana plant.

“CBD is also something that’s helping people, people know when they come in here that we know what we’re talking about,” Kasun said. “If it’s on our shelf, it works — we don’t put anything on our shelves that doesn’t help us, we test it ourselves.”

Andrographis is a plant with a long history of use in Chinese medicine, and is thought to have antiviral and antioxidant properties, Suskiewich said.

“It’s one that you don’t hear too much of,” Suskiewich said. “It’s used for preventing and treating the common cold and flu.”

Gut health

“Your gut is one of the major immune-boosting systems in the body,” Suskiewich said.

Eating healthy is an important part of staying healthy, the store owners agreed.

“People want to eat their sweets because it’s comfort food,” Kasun said. “A healthy gut is a healthy immune system, so stay away from sugar.”