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Immune Systems Increasingly On Attack

child, playing outsideIncreases in immune system disasters have greatly increased in recent years. Asthma cases, hay fever, eczema, food allergies, lupus, multiple sclerosis and other afflictions are all on the rise.

Asthma, hay fever, eczema and food allergies are all "allergic diseases" caused by your immune system responding to substances that are ordinarily harmless, such as pollen or peanuts. Autoimmune diseases, which include lupus, MS, Type 1 diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease, also result from your body‘s defense mechanisms malfunctioning, causing your immune system to attack parts of your body such as your nerves,  pancreas or digestive tract.

Experts estimate that many allergies and immune-system diseases have doubled, tripled or even quadrupled in the last few decades. Some studies indicate that more than half of the U.S. population has at least one allergy.

Many researchers suspect the increase has an explanation rooted in aspects of modern living -- including the "hygiene hypothesis," which blames growing up in increasingly sterile homes. Others have pointed to changes in diet, air pollution, and even the rise in obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

One reason that many researchers suspect something about modern living is to blame is that the increases show up largely in highly developed countries in Europe and North America. The illnesses have only started to rise in other countries as they have become more developed.

Sources:

Dr. Mercola''s Comments Dr. Mercola's Comments:

As society in general becomes more “sterile,” it is causing real problems for your immune system, which is becoming increasingly unable to differentiate between real threats and harmless things like pollen and dust-bunnies.

Think about it: how many people do you know who carry a bottle of antibacterial hand sanitizer with them wherever they go? Meanwhile, you’re exposed to antibiotics, in your food and by prescription, while most of the food supply is pasteurized or otherwise treated to remove both good and bad bacteria.

And this is the key: while everyone was so busy killing all of those “germs,” they didn’t stop to think about what this would mean for the future generations. Children are now growing up without being exposed to the bacteria, viruses and parasites that have existed throughout the world -- even in developed countries like the United States -- since the beginning of time.

To some extent, this is a good thing. But to children’s immune systems, which are not being exposed to bacteria and viruses like they were in the past, it results in an excessive immune response against a routine thing, like a peanut, resulting in allergies and autoimmune diseases.

An Overly Sterile Immune System is Not a Good Thing

Simply speaking, your immune system is composed of two main groups that work together to protect you. One arm of your immune system deploys specialized white blood cells, called Th1 lymphocytes, that direct an assault on infected cells throughout your body.

Counterbalancing this, another arm of your immune system attacks intruders even earlier. It produces antibodies that try to block dangerous microbes from invading your body's cells in the first place. This latter strategy uses a different variety of white blood cells, called Th2 lymphocytes. The Th2 system also happens to drive allergic responses to foreign organisms.

At birth, an infant's immune system appears to rely primarily on the Th2 system. But the “hygiene hypothesis” suggests that the Th1 system can grow stronger only if it gets exercise, either through fighting infections or through encounters with certain harmless microbes. Without such stimulation, the Th2 system flourishes and the immune system tends to react with allergic responses more easily.

In other words, the hygiene hypothesis posits that children not being exposed to viruses and other environmental factors results in their not being able to build up resistance. This could make them more vulnerable to illnesses later in life.

A Little Bit of Dirt is Healthy

Numerous studies have provided very compelling evidence that your body actually benefits from regular exposure to dirt. So when a child is exposed to a bit of bacteria, their immune system does what it’s supposed to: develop a tolerance to it. Here’s a summary of what has been found so far:
  • Kids who are overly hygienic are at an increased risk of developing wheezing -- a symptom of asthma -- and eczema. A study in the Archives of Disease in Childhood found that children with the highest degree of personal hygiene -- those who washed their faces and hands more than five times per day, cleaned before meals, and bathed more than two times each day -- were the most likely to develop eczema and wheezing.
  • Kids who grow up in extremely clean homes are more likely to develop asthma and hay fever than kids who grow up on farms or in houses with a little bit of dirt, according to a 2002 study in The New England Journal of Medicine.
  • Children who are raised with pets, or who have older siblings, are less likely to develop allergies, possibly because they are exposed to more bacteria.
What Can You Do?

Well, if you’re an adult who already has allergies, please read through my past advice on how to get rid of your allergies for good. If you are a parent, please realize that the future of your child’s immune system is in your hands. You can help it to build up the resistance it needs by:


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Comment on This Article Community Comments (88)
 
 
Posted On Mar 05, 2008
Interesting hypothesis, but has anyone looked at the amount of vaccinations "required" by school boards and the increase in auto-immune disorders.

Mary

 
mmc88121
Moderator User Moderator User, Joined On 11/2006
mmc88121  
Replied

Bryan - oz4caster
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
Bryan - oz4caster  
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
Mary, I agree.  From what I have been reading, vaccines are probably a major factor in the increased incidence of immune disfunction, since they over-stimulate the immune system.  Another likely major culprit is the gross over-use of antibiotics that often wreck immune function by causing dysbiosis.  And then there are the SAD diet, gross abuse of OTC medicines, and lack of probiotic foods to add to the list.

Let food be your medicine.  Eat like our ancestors ate.  Avoid manufactured junk foods and drugs (including refined sugar, which should really be considered an addicting toxin).


Aaltrude
Moderator User Moderator User Joined On 4/2007
Aaltrude  
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
Auto Immune Haemolytic Anaemia (AIHA) is a disorder where the body produces antibodies that destroy it's own red blood cells. AIHA has been associated with over vaccination in dogs and I know of one human case that was thought to be triggered by multiple vaccinations.


KathieJamisonCote
Savvy User Savvy User Joined On 4/2007
KathieJamisonCote  
 
Posted On Mar 07, 2008
www.vjcorganics.com
a place where one can obtain organic (food grade) household products, skin care and supplements......ONE Group - a fantastically responsible company possessing integrity of products and accountability to our earth..........check it out!

Ask for my friend, Vanessa :)


Charisse
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 10/2007
Charisse  
 
Posted On Mar 07, 2008
ozy ness, You are so right!!!!!...everyone (including me, sometimes) always forgets about those almost automatic parts of our day (showering, washing, soaps, toothpaste, etc.....) MiEssence is wonderful!!!


DRK_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 7/2007
DRK_203  
 
Posted On Mar 07, 2008
This is an excellent comment that was posted to the article above at WashingtonPost.com:



Yes, it seems apparent that the explanation for this problem is vaccinosis. That is a term that animal doctors use to describe a condition they see in animals who have been given too many vaccinations. The result is a severely compromised immune system, leading to all types of medical problems. This condition is not yet recognized in humans. There is too much money involved in the human vaccine program for the subject to even be broached. If a drug company can get the government to make its vaccines mandatory for all children, that's like hitting the Powerball jackpot 100 times over. It is a multi-billion dollar bonanza for the drug company with each and every vaccine that is approved. If researchers were allowed and encouraged to look at the impact of over-vaccination on humans, this big "mystery" would quickly be solved.



Ati Petrov
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2007
Ati Petrov  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

Vaccines are a major insult to our system due to the shock of the procedure for the young child and also due to the toxicity that is introduced directly into the blood stream, bypassing the immune system.

One day soon this problem will be exposed. By then thousands, if not millions of our children will be struggling with some form of immune disease or mental disorder.

There is a solution to this mess, something to do if you suspect your child may be harmed. Sequential Therapy uses safe and gentle homeopathic remedies to remove the effects of vaccine trauma (and other insults to the system as well). It is highly effective in restoring balance in the body, removing toxicity and effectively reinforcing immunity as a result. There are many new discoveries in alternative science that don't make it to mainstream knowledge that are a blessing for those of us who know about them.

For information on Sequential Therapy: www.realmedicine.ca



Julia Owens
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2006
Julia Owens  
 
Posted On Mar 22, 2008

I agree Mary.  Just one more major contributer.  My gut feeling is "all of the above" are contributing factors with vaccinacitions being the straw that broke the camels back.

Julia


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
I agree that the "hygiene hypothesis" holds water, as one of my boys was a total grub when he was an infant - and now is really healthy.

But I also believe that environmental factors play a huge part with regards to attacks on the immune system including but not limited to:-
  • "heavy' metal exposure with it's free radical effects on the body...mercury from amalgam, fish, lead exposure from old paint, leaded gasoline (still have the effects of that even though banned)
  • Stressful lifestyle
  • Food additives such as the coloring, flavors, and flavor enhancers
  • Geopathic stress exposure
  • Electromagnetic stress
  • Microwaved food
  • Irradiated food, and other food 'processing'
  • reliance on grains as a diet staple.
  • Medications, chemicals, pesticides etc
  • etc, etc.
Education - and such places such as mercola.com, are key to getting the immune system back on track.

 
ZPE
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2008
ZPE  
Replied

smannelli_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
smannelli_203  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

Ditto on your post.  In response to Dr. Dave saying probiotics are the immune system first line defense?  I don't think all the probiotics on the planet could manage our immune system assault.  


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
The simple answer to this would be universal pollution .

The AIR we breathe, the FOODS we eat, the WATER we drink and wash with, are all highly polluted, not to mention the use of antibacterial soaps and useless vaccines are all contributors to an overworked immune system.

Clean up the above list and add a good quality PROBIOTIC would go a very long, long way in helping Mr Immune system.....

And top it of with a healthy dose of the below:

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to Almighty God.


 
seg
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 11/2006
seg  
Replied

SpartyOn
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 6/2006
SpartyOn  
 
Posted On Mar 07, 2008
Probiotics are so key.


Dr. David Spitz
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 12/2006
Dr. David Spitz  
 
Posted On Mar 09, 2008
Dear Seg: So glad to see you mention probiotics. I've been recommending them for years. Probiotics are the immune systems first line of defense and many people don't know that. Most Americans are totally deficient in probiotics. Lately I've been recommending FundamentalProbiotic by Fundamental Earth. They are made in the USA and are guaranteed to have 25 billion CFU at expiration date. Too many probiotics on the market are low on strains and CFU. Let me know what you think?

I also agree with you that water is so important. Too many of us drink coffee or tea for breakfast...some soda at lunch and dinner and some water that trickles down our throats as we brush our teeth. I always ask my patients: what do you give your cat or dog to drink? The answer is always water...that gets them thinking.

Dr Dave


Adam W.
Novice User Novice User Joined On 2/2007
Adam W.  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

Jesus is SO key


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
My son when he was about 5 was diagnosed with asthma by a quack, err sorry Doctor. My wife went to the pharmacy to get the prescription of ventalin (sp?) but the pharmacist could see she was distressed, and went totally out on a limb and said to get a second opinion, as he said that that particular doctor was "ventalin" prescription happy.

Long story short, my son was diagnosed by a ND with vaccination damage, and had dairy allergies. The Vax damaged was alleviated with homeopathy and the dairy allergy went away when he went on non-homogenized milk....
And to find non-homogenized milk is almost impossible...but that's another story...

 
ZPE
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 2/2008
ZPE  
Replied

singergrrl
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2006
singergrrl  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

I would Love to know how you can heal vaccine damage, and how this is diagnosed.  Thanks!



nofluvaccine
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 7/2006
nofluvaccine  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

I dont heal my vaccine damage but keep it under control with Chlorella, Krill Oil, and Magnesium.  I am starting on Zeolites to see if it can repair some of the cellular damage I have from the flu vaccine.



GhanimaAK
Novice User Novice User Joined On 6/2007
GhanimaAK  
 
Posted On Mar 23, 2008

Hmmm, that could explain my current dairy allergy. I don't think it showed up until after that "required" tetanus shot in high school. Although finding a fairly inexpensive source of raw milk up here in AK is going to be hard. The only sources I found so far are too far away or require that you buy a share of a cow or goat.


 
 
 
Posted On Mar 06, 2008
I've heard that MiEssence has really good products.  One in particular,
InLiven is suppose to help a lot with the immune system.  They have
others, too, i think.  Also, all their products are organic & good
for the environment, so that it doesn't stress our bodies (or our
world!).  I've tried a couple of their things, & like their
products.  I don't sell for them.  The link i have for them is:





https://vjcorganics.mionegroup.com/home

 
Katee Roux
Savvy User Savvy User, Joined On 7/2007
Katee Roux  
Replied

TXlady
Novice User Novice User Joined On 12/2007
TXlady  
 
Posted On Mar 07, 2008
MiEssence products are quite simply the best I've found, both for personal care and also health.  The InLiven Probiotic Superfood and the Berry Radical Antioxidant Superfood are fantastic.  Okay, so they are a tad expensive (only when compared to store-bought, highly synthetic kinds), but I believe you get what you pay for - "buy cheap, get cheap".

I have been taking InLiven daily now for about 3 months, and Berry Radical every other day.  The positive effect for me is lots more energy and just feeling so good!  A few weeks ago, everyone around me at work started coming down with some kind of flu/stomach bug thing, even my husband got it and was in bed for 3 whole days running a fever, aching bones, headache etc etc.  I escaped it completely - and I put that down to my immune system being in good shape thanks to those products.

I don't sell for the company, nor am I affiliated with it in any way, I just love the products and Vanessa, my representative (vjcorganics.com).  She is a total gem, and I love her!!


LadyPam
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 2/2008
LadyPam  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

I have looked into MiEssence products and even tried some, for instance their sunflower body wash and InLiven. I didn't notice any benefits from using the latter for a couple of months but then I get probiotics from other sources and don't destroy all the enzymes in my food. As to their use of sunflower oil, etc., I have read article on this site warning against even putting these 'paint stock oils' on the skin at all.

Having lived for some years way below the poverty line, I am appalled at their current prices: £28 for a cleanser?? That's nearly US$60 (though I know everything is a lot more expensive in the UK - 'rip-off Britain' - than everywhere else). My suggestion: put some of your organic, cold pressed coconut oil in a clean pot and keep it in the bathroom. A 1/4 teaspoonful is sufficient to shift even the most stubborn eye make-up; wipe it off with a scrupulously clean wet washcloth (buy a big stack, use each one only once then machine wash them hot without fabric conditioners). For greasy skin, wash the oil off with soap and water. That's soap: not a facial wash containing SLS or SLES, or anything else with a small enough molecular size to penetrated the skin's barrier.

A luxury alternative: a small amount of Dr Mercola's wonderful-sounding body butter will surely do the same trick, also at a fraction of the price. (It's on my wish-list :) ).



Amicus Curiae1
Apprentice User Apprentice User Joined On 2/2008
Amicus Curiae1  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

mi essence may have started out ok, but i tried some...ugh. and lady pam re cost, well it got MLM'd a while back, and its the markup thats a killer. 30Au a bottle of shampoo 10is profit to seller, or was when i looked at the site.

water thin, and turned my hair to straw! would,nt use it on my dogs.  laundry soap is as good. :-( and, if i wanted to use salt and lemon essence for my toothpaste, well its already in my cupboard, much cheaper.

check out the site -the aussie one! it may have been redone, it was a bit skew, go to the opportunities page. read it and weep! ex Neways dude is into it too, last i read.



smannelli_203
Novice User Novice User Joined On 10/2007
smannelli_203  
 
Posted On Mar 20, 2008

When did this board become a selling forum?  I have seen multiple links listing products for sale, even with instructions as to whom to ask for when you go to the link.  I have seen a post for a link that I clicked on and the person listing this link lives in the same area, what a coincidence.

Makes me not want to read anymore of this........................


 
 
 
 
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