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Waterfall man
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Woman breathes
in Nature
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Immune System 
A healthy immune system is key to minimising allergies,
avoiding vaccinations
and handling the
possible demise of antibiotics. Peggy O'Mara (posted
25 March 2015, accessed 13 January 2016) says:
'Many
people mistakenly believe that germs cause colds and other infectious
illnesses. The state of our immune system, however, is what really
determines
whether or not we get sick. The specific bacteria or virus is not
nearly as important
as the medium in which it is allowed to flourish.'
She goes on to give various
preventive measures, particularly for care of children.
Here are my tips to boost your immune system:-
- Love. "I
am convinced that unconditional love is the
most powerful known stimulant of the immune system. If I told patients
to raise
their blood levels of immune globulins or killer T cells, no one would
know
how. But if I can teach them to love themselves and others fully, the
same
changes happen automatically. The truth is: love heals." (Bernie
Siegel, MD) [Also see: Self-Love;
Love &
Health; Culture
of Love; Love
- You can Save the World with Love; Choose to Love.]
- Light. Physical and
spiritual light are both so vital to health. See Vitamin D and Solar Culture.
- Vaginal
Birth.
Avoid caesarean sections. Vaginal birth is the optimal way to seed the
baby with its mother's bacteria and complete the baby's immune system.
Vaginal home birth is the ideal; typical-to-you bacteria are
encountered, and dangerous
hospital pathogens are avoided. See here and here.
- Umbilical Cord.
No other animal clamps the umbilical cord when a baby is born. It makes
no biological sense. We deprive the baby of one third of its blood
volume, of stem cells that the baby needs (the placenta is packed with
them). This has long-term effects on immunity. (See Suzanne Humphries, Rumble, 30m14s, posted 2023, accessed 21 March 2025)
- Breastfeeding,
especially extended, confers better infant health and a lifelong
enhanced immunity. See here
and here.
- Good sanitation =
clean drinking water + good sewage disposal. Preferably filtered water.
- Good (but not excessive) hygiene.
See here.
- Exercise. Helps
avoid obesity; important because obesity weakens the ability of the
immune system to respond to infection (see here).
- Eat healthy. Enjoy a
diverse diet - see here.
Minimise added sugar/fructose - see here. Healthy
diet - even more than exercise - helps avoid obesity; this is important
because obesity weakens the ability of the immune system to respond to
infection (see here).
- Fasting. Learn more here. "Fasting is the greatest
remedy, the physician within" (Paracelsus).
- Minimise or Avoid Alcohol.
‘Drinking
copious amounts of alcohol in one
session scuppers the immune system by knocking out proteins essential
for
fighting off bacteria and viruses.’ (BBC,
posted 18 September 2009,
accessed 18 April 2020)
- Avoid antibiotics
as
the primary weapon against common infections. Infection most of the
time is a sign of an effective immune system, that the body is
responding appropriately and ridding itself of virus and bacteria
debris - see here!
Antibiotics destroy our normal gut flora, which is part of our immune system (see Suzanne Humphries, Rumble, 34m34s, posted 2023, accessed 21 March 2025). Try and avoid antibiotics
altogether if possible. Rather use the likes of vitamin C (interesting
article here!)
and other immune boosting supplements (e.g. Echinaforce)
and foods. An alternative to antibiotics
is raw
honey. Also consider chillies,
onions
and garlic.
- Avoid products of the modern lifestyle. This includes: forever chemicals; plastics; synthetic chemicals; drugs; ultra-processed foods.
- Vitamin N,
where N stands for Nature. This is about getting closer to
nature, in
early childhood and throughout life. For example, children regularly in
contact with farm animals have less allergies (Allergy
UK, posted November 2013, accessed 27 August 2014; also see here,
here).
Read: Let
your kids eat dirt, it's good for them; How mud boosts your immune system; (also see
here, here).
Avoid Nature
Deficit Disorder (NDD)!
- Sunshine synthesises
vitamin D, which in turn helps the immune system. See here, here, here
and here.
Sunshine also gets you into nature!
- Sleep well. "Make
sure that you have a good night sleep because it’s during
your sleep that your
immune system builds up but don’t sleep with alcohol or
sleeping pills in your
system" (Deepak
Chopra, posted 5 February 2014, accessed 27 August 2014). Also see here.
- Room Temperature.
The immune system is weaker in cooler temperatures. For example, the
common cold replicates better in a cold nose. Recommended indoor
temperatures are around 18-21 °C,
although I understand the Inuits are comfortable around 15.5-18 °C
(but they are physiologically evolved for the cold with short limbs,
very efficient metabolisms, extra body fat). (References:
BBC;
WHO 1985 PDF Health Impact of Low Indoor
Temperatures; spitbull
post 12 December 2012 2.35pm; all accessed 15 January
2015.)
- Stress Management. Modern
life tends to be so frantic. Chronic
stress weakens the immune system. We are
then vulnerable to the pathogens and viruses that we are continually
exposed to and ordinarily
fight off. Onset of disease is more likely.
Reducing
excessive stress guards against this weakened immunity. Things
like simplifying your life,
writing, relaxation and meditation help with stress
management. Also see: here;
Emotional
Intelligence by Daniel Goleman (pp.172-175).
- Oxygen Therapy.
This uses ozone or diluted food-grade hydrogen peroxide to allow
aerobic body cells to thrive and to kill off anaerobic diseased cells.
Our bodies are 62-71% oxygen, 89% by weight. Oxygen produces 90% of
body's biological energy. This simple, low-cost therapy
could transform health care says Madison Cavanaugh in The One Minute Cure,
available here
as a PDF.
Healthy air and oxygenating breathing practices will also
help.
Breastmilk and especially colostrum have high levels of hydrogen
peroxide to boost baby immunity!
- Deep Breathing.
'Those that engage in deep breathing tend
to have longer telomeres than shallow breathers and longer telomeres
support
cell health and immunity strength. Inhale deeply through your nose into
your
stomach, hold for a few seconds and breathe out slowly. Practice this
often and
especially anytime you feel stress and anxiety rising. When you're
stressed you
naturally go into a shallow breathing state which increases stress
hormone and
blood pressure which compromise immunity.' (Mike Mahler,
16 March 2020
email)
- Safety and Insecurity Issues in
Your Life and Environment.
These disrupt your immune system (cited by Caroline Myss in her audio
taped talk 'The Creation of Health'). So, do your best to create a safe
and secure life.
- Hierarchies in Society.
Whether this is the British class system or the Indian caste system or
whatever, this needs to be minimised. Being at the bottom of the social
heap means we are chronically stressed. It alters the immune system,
compromising physical and mental health (BBC,
posted and accessed 25 November 2016). We need equality
and unity. [Also
see: 'Underclass
& Criminality'; here.]
- Close Relationships Quality.
Research shows that the quality of your close relationships (family,
intimate partner) is hugely influential for immune system function
(and physical and mental health). See here,
here.
- Friendship.
'Maintaining close friendships has a positive impact on cardiovascular
and neuroendocrine health, as well as the immune system, research
shows.' (Isabelle Gerretsen, BBC Future, posted 1 December 2021, accessed 7 December 2022)
- Laughter!!
- Touch. Being touched increases the number of natural killer cells, the frontline of the immune system. See here.
- Dry Body Brushing.
A natural bristle brush is used to lightly brush the dry body.
This strengthens the immune system, aiding the proper functioning of
the lymph system by clearing it of congestion and cellulite. Improved
lymph flow means increased immunity, better health, fewer
headaches/colds/flu/etc. Also, excess water is flushed from
the
tissues, reducing puffiness and bloating. See how here.
- Masturbation. Masturbation improves immune functioning by
increasing cortisol levels,
which can regulate immune functioning in small doses (Spring
Chenoa Cooper &
Anthony Santella, The
Independent, posted and accessed 15 May 2015).
- Altruism. Doing good
boosts the immune system and the nervous system. So do random
acts of kindness,
volunteer, serve, sign petitions. By the way, altruism is not a form of
selfishness, it's just how we social
humans evolved. See here.
It's Win-Win. The good guys finish healthier!
- Ancient Community Practices.
Jacob Devaney writes that the combination of dance, music and
socialising during days of stressful rescue work strengthened
his immune system,
whilst almost all his colleagues succumbed to sickness (Uplift,
posted 3 December 2015, accessed 16 December 2015).
- Singing
is another ancient community practice that bonds us, reduces stress,
promotes happiness, and boosts the immune system. For example, see here.
- Spirituality.
"The practice of ‘Loving Kindness’ meditation (directed to
the self and others) – as well as actively being kind to others
in our lives – reduces the hormones of anxiety and increases the
cocktail of wellbeing hormones. This boosts the immune system, making
you more resilient against viruses and other health threats." (William
Bloom, here of 6 November 2018 or here of 22 March 2019, accessed 16 May 2021)
- Dogs.
'Not only are dogs natural protectors of their home and pack, research
now
indicates that dogs can protect your children’s immune
systems and help prevent
allergies and conditions like eczema. One study by the University
of Cincinnati showed that children who grew up with
dogs and whose
parents had some history of eczema developed the condition at a rate of
as low
as 9%, while households without dogs showed rates as high as 57%. On
the other
hand, having a cat in the house actually increased the chance of
children
developing eczema to as high as 54%. Surprisingly, children who tested
allergic
to dogs as babies actually benefited the most from having dogs in the
house
when they were infants. Nearly two thirds of them who grew up without a
dog
developed eczema and other allergic reactions later in life. Only 14%
who grew
up with dogs did.' (Jon
Bastian, dated 2017, accessed 22 March 2017)
- Home is the place for Birth, Life
and Death. Birth:
see Vaginal Birth
above. Life:
living in a place to which your immune system is highly adapted is
surely best? Work in or near your home. Travel:
slow travel is optimal for the immune system as it minimises pandemics
and slows the associated spread of variants, and it allows the immune
system to acclimatise to new environments in a safer, more gradual way.
Death:
gut microbiota of people in long-term
care
is less diverse than those out in the community; this is correlated
with increased frailty (Nature, 2012 cited
in The
Guardian, posted and accessed 16 May 2021).
- Ancestors/Generations.
Immune fortification begins generations before we are even born. What
our ancestors ate and how they handled their health affects gene
expression. This is the science of epigenetics. Pregnant women
especially are crucial in this transfer. (See Suzanne Humphries, Rumble, 29m14s, posted 2023, accessed 21 March 2025) So, work to make future generations healthier...
Immune
System Explained
Your body has various systems like the nervous system (communicates
data), respiratory system (allows breathing) and the
excretory
system (eliminates waste).
The immune system
combats harmful substances (pathogens) in or on the
body. Pathogens may be viruses, bacteria, pollens, toxic chemicals.
But
remember:-
- Your
body is actually more virus and bacteria than your own
cells! In other words, many of these substances are beneficial, indeed
essential to life and health as with the microbiome (see here,
here, here).
- Pathogens
may only become detrimental, express themselves and proliferate
when the body is under stress.
Antigens
are the part of pathogens which provoke an immune response.
The
immune system uses two primary strategies to neutralise pathogens:-
- The
first and evolutionarily older strategy is the innate
immune system. This is our first line of defence and also
the “clean-up crew”. Inflammation, fever and white
blood cells eat, neutralise,
destroy and eliminate the unwanted matter. The gunk is expelled by
cough,
sneeze, diarrhoea, vomit, snot. The relevant cells are mainly located
in the
interface between body and world (e.g. skin, respiratory and digestive
linings).
This part of the immune system does not learn or have a memory. It does
not
create immunity. But it is always ready to act.
- The
second strategy is the acquired
or adaptive immune system. This is the antibody and
“memory crew”. It will
learn from interactions with pathogens (minimum time of 4-7 days),
creating
specific antibodies for specific antigens. In this way, it better
protects the
body if the pathogen is encountered again. It creates natural immunity
for some
time, if not a lifetime.
Plants,
fungi, insects and primitive multicellular organisms use the
innate immune system as their dominant immune system response. However,
in humans
(and vertebrates) both systems dance intelligently together to create a
strong
lifelong immune system.
This
happens from birth. However, humans are interfering with this
powerful design. We do not allow the immune system to learn about its
environment in many ways:-
- Birth:
Cesarean birth and
lack of immediate baby-to-mother skin contact means the immune system
is not ideally
primed. Also not ideal is that the hospital birth environment is so
unlike the forthcoming
home environment, and possibly has many dangerous pathogens. So,
microbiome
seeding (see
here,
here, here)
is poor.
- Vaccination:
Vaccination aims to
influence the second part of the immune system, creating specific
antibodies,
but as the first part of the immune system was not involved and because
of
other factors (e.g. toxic adjuvants)
the natural way of evolution is disrupted.
Vaccinations rob the naive immune system of essential learning. In the
words of Robert
S.
Mendelsohn: “We are trading the benefit of a
life-long immunity from childhood
illnesses, for a life-long suffering of chronic diseases.”
- Nature:
We lead lives so
removed from nature. This, for example, means that those kids in close
contact
with farm animals, dogs and dirt have much stronger immune systems. The
way of millions of years is the one we need!
- Suppression
&
Medicalisation:
Our medicalised world tends to suppress immune system responses, both
in kids and adults. We don’t want them/ourselves to suffer.
We use drugs to
alleviate fever and pain and to stop the flow of sludge. But the danger
is that
the gunk is not eliminated, but rather accumulates in the body causing
further
toxicity, stress, a weak immune system, ongoing disease. Rather create
a
peaceful environment and support body’s immune processes.
Sources: Is
Your Child Sick, or Demonstrating Health? (Natural Child
Magazine); Coronavirus
immunity: Can you
catch it twice? (BBC); Innate
immune system
(Wikipedia); Adaptive
immune system (Wikipedia).
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Also see:-
Immune System
Quotes
Magic
Bullets for Babies
Vaccinations
MicroBirth
Allergies
Germ Theory
Is
Your Child Sick, or Demonstrating Health?
[external link]
Great
Gut Extinction: Has modern life destroyed our health?
[external link]
Health
articles
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Immune System
