Menu

Call today:

>>Germs & My Immune System {video}

Please scroll to the bottom for nutritional immune support that you can do**.

Introduction of Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses (How can we enhance them naturally?)

The age old question continues, that is whether germs cause dis-ease or whether they take advantage of it. Perhaps it is both. Does trash make flies or are they attracted because they smell garbage? How do healthy cells repel attackers? How is it that some people recover quickly from an illness and some do not? It turns out that theses immune concepts are simple but the process is very complex. Here is a summary.

Humans have a multi-layer system that is designed to defend against the many microorganisms that have coexisted with us for thousands of years. Many factors affect how one’s body resists being invaded, including pathogenic opportunity, the environment, hygiene practices, the health of the host (and comorbidities), genetics, nutrition, age and of course one’s immune system.

>> Remember that from a natural, holistic health point of view, our goal is to have an optimized immune system that readily fights off any and every potential infection, allowing only mild symptoms and avoiding severe or lasting symptoms and death.

FIRST DEFENSE - BARRIERS

Our body’s initial defense strategy is to limit exposure. It is programed to react and correct any unhealthy situation, for example, swatting a mosquito, sneezing/coughing when something disagreeable has been inhaled or vomiting (even diarrhea) when something unhealthy (microbial or allergic) has been injested. These are natural responses by your body trying to maintain a healthy environment. Although limiting exposure to pathogens by using good hygiene, not smoking, physical distancing and protective equipment (when appropriate) is helpful, it can be overdone. 

It is actually helpful to allow exposure throughout life to the outside world so that one’s immune system can respond and develop a memory against potential microbes. (These memories help our immune system to be protective when exposed later in life.) Our first healthy exposure (an innoculation even) is traveling down the birth canal, then crawling on the ground, being around pets, associating with other children, drinking spring/well water, gardening/touching dirty things, etc. Further explanations can be found in the book for parents Let Them Eat Dirt and other places. Our mother, supports our immune system by exposing us to some antibodies (against foreign pathogens) before birth and then from breast milk afterwards. Some say that our immune system is not very effective until we are several months (or a year) old. Nursing is critically imprortant and can be protective for considerable time after weaning. See Breast Milk Antibody Magic

New immune cells are made and put into memory with initial and each subsequent exposure  (infection). Further, there is some cross reaction from one pathogen to the next (i.e. exposure to one type of virus may cause resistance or possibly sensitivity to another similar virus). More immune exposure and conditioning throughout life makes these memory cells more abundant and effective. This is another way that our bodies stay ready for a future exposure from a similar pathogen. (See more discussion about this phenomena on our Immunity & Vaccine page.)

Our body’s first line of defense against an invasion is a barrier to the outside world. Our skin (epithelium) provides a physical barrier between the inside and outside of our body. This layer is equipped with beneficial bacteria and oils (on our skin), sticky mucus (in the sinus and lung linings), tear enzymes, strong acid (in the stomach) and beneficial bacteria (in our gut) to repel and neutralize invading pathogens. Maintaining a healthy barrier is important. Membranes are helped by vitamins A, B, C, E, zinc, selenium, MSM, NAC, CoQ10, pre and probiotics and healthy dietary oils. Membranes can also be protected by limiting excess sun exposure and avoiding toxins and chemicals from personal care products, tobacco and poor quality food.

SECOND DEFENSE - INNATE IMMUNITY

Our second defense against pathogens is the innate or cellular immune response. This non-specific, automatic, rapid process (within 24 hours) initiates an inflammatory response and calls crucial, white blood cell, first responders to the scene of infection (the wound, respiratory tract, gut lining, etc.). The first responders include Natural Killer cells (NK), Neutrophils, Macrophages and Dendritic Cells. With some overlap, each type of cell has special duties. (Viruses hijack our cells to reproduce, while bacteria and parasites can multiply on their own.)

Dendritic cells and macrophages patrol the body looking for signs of infection. They bind infected cells and expand the cell’s call for help using cytokines (signaling chemicals of which there many types). Macrophages (and NK) in the area secrete interferons (INF) which trigger both infected and uninfected cells to go into anti-viral (or anti-bacterial, etc.) response mode and inhibit replication. INF also calls more macrophages and immune cells such as NK and dendritic cells into action. (It is thought that innate immune cells also have ways to develop a memory to help with future exposure.)

Natural killer cells that have been activated by INF and other cytokines (from macrophages and T helper cells, etc.) evaluate each cell when they arrive on scene. (Glyconutrients help this communication process.) If a cell is healthy, they move on. If not, then NK mark the infected cell for removal and attack and disable it with cytotoxic granules (perforin and granzymes). (Apoptosis is the term for natural cell suicide.) NK also use cytokines (INF, etc.) to amplify the immune response and call more dendritic cells and macrophages into action. Macrophages (and NK) also secrete tumor necrosis factor (TNF) to kill infected cells. Various immune cells (macrophages, monocytes, dendritic, etc.) consume (called phagocytosis) the sick and damaged cells. (Side note: Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a major pro-inflammatory cytokine produced by a number of cells at the site of infection. Balancing it is important. There are many types of interleukins.)

THIRD DEFENSE - ADAPTIVE IMMUNITY

Our third defense is the adaptive or acquired immune response (which takes generally 7-10 days or longer to respond). Bone marrow creates custom made T and B lymphocytes. (T cells are finished in the thymus – which atrophies after age 65). T helper cells secrete INF and other cytokines to boost NK and help both innate and adaptive immunity. The immune system uses cytokine signals to balance and respond where help is most needed. Naive T cells are differentiated by cytokine signals from innate immune cells (i.e. macrophages, etc.) into either T1 or T2 helper cells. (Interleukin 12 influences response towards T1 and IL4 towards T2. Ideally, T1 and T2 immune arms should be in balance.) Helper T1 cells create cytotoxic T cells that identify and destroy specific infected cells. Helper T2 cells communicate with B cells to produce plasma cells which create specific antibodies. These antibodies (Ig M, Ig G, etc.) bind to the pathogens and finish whatever the innate immune system and cytotoxic T1 cells were unable to resolve. (In some cases, the initial innate response is enough to stop the invaders.) Curiously, each arm releases signalling chemicals that prolong that pathway's own activity and dampens the other one. Finally, T cells create memory cells that can rapidly react if this or a similar pathogen returns. Likewise, B cells also create memory (plasma) cells that can rapidly reproduce a specific antibody as needed. While typical T and B cells (and many antibodies) last for weeks to months, some memory cells from both arms are thought to be viable for up to 60 years

(Typical vaccines are expected to stimulate the adaptive immune system to produce antibodies before the host is naturally infected by a given pathogen. See our Immunity & Vaccines page. )

NATURAL IMMUNE SYSTEM OPTIMIZATION - WHAT YOU CAN DO

Many people have immune systems that are weakened and thrown out of balance by stress, nutrient poor and man-made foods, medications, environmental chemicals & pollution, lack of sleep or exercise, electromagnetic fields, and many health problems such as chronic pain, diabetes, obesity or high blood pressure. In fact, Cleveland Clinic reported that in one study only 12% of Americans were considered metabolically healthy - that would include their immune system.

For good health it is important to have an immune system that is both protective and balanced. A healthy system should not be overactive and intolerant (autoimmune) nor should it be unaware and passive (sickness). It should not be too aggressive (cytokine storm) nor should it be timid and ineffective (sickness). A healthy immune system should support a rapid, strong, prolonged response, a pathogen attack that is selective and a balanced, appropriate inflammatory reaction. A healthy system should eliminate invaders while limiting collateral damage and becoming calm again once the fight is over. Prolonged immune activity creates degenerative and autoimmune problems.

**When cytokines are boosted in the circulation, they cause symptoms like fever, sleepiness, lethargy, muscle pain, nausea and loss of appetite. Natural practitioners call this the healing crisis. It is a sign that your body is working to rid your body of a pathogen and it makes you feel compelled to rest and eat less food (diverting healing energy to your recovery). The healing crisis can be assisted with natural remedies, rest, hydrotherapy and good nutrition. It is a response that is also important to monitor and support so that your body can recover without over reacting. (See details on our Cytokine Storm page.)

**Immune function is supported by lowering stress, cold showers, exercise and sleep. Immune system modulators are foods or supplements that help balance (both strengthen and calm) such as: vitamins A, B, C, D, E & K, zinc, quercetin, selenium, calcium, magnesium, colostrum, L-glutamine, L-glycine, ALA, resveratrol, melatonin, NAC, CoQ10 and probiotics (e.g. Lactobacilus rhamnosus). 

**Modulating herbs include: Echinacea, garlic, ginger, turmeric, panax ginseng, Ashwagandha, Cat’s Claw, peppermint, pleurisy root, chamomile and yarrowMany of these are explained in the MATH+ videos on our Coronavirus Update June 2020 and you can look them up individually.

Also consider excellent herbs that help prepare the immune system but maybe should be discontinued during a severe infection: Andrographis, Astragalus, elderberry and medicinal mushrooms (i.e. reishi, maitake, and turkey tail).

This information is for educational purposes and is not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease. 

Please discuss any questions and concerns with your health care provider. Consider the references below.

Immune System Overview and Nutrients that Help It by Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University

Nutrition and Your Immune System by Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University - Good intro to nutrition for your immune system

Simple Strategies to Improve Your Immune Function by Mercola.com - Dec 2020 Vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, selenium, etc

Greener Play Areas (Outdoors) Boosts Children's Immune Systems by The Guardian - Oct 2020

How Your Immune System Responds to Viruses by Harvard Medical School

What Determines T Helper 1 vs. 2 Response by Dr.Been Medical Lectures - July 2020 Technical discussion how Helper T1 and T2 cells are differentiated and activated and how they work to help defend the body and prepare for future infections.

Type 1/ Type 2 Immunity in Infectious Disease - An older technical paper about the balance of T1 and T2 adaptive immune response.

Do Viruses Really Exist or Make Us Sick? by Dr. Tom Cowan by Weston Price - Dec 2022

Strengthening Our Natural Defenses for Modern Plagues by Diane Burnett {video}  of Amazing Discoveries - 2015         Interesting review of God's design of our immune system and ways to optimize it to resist illness.


Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Edinboro Office

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

By Appointment

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonial

  • "I was constatnly getting bad kinks in my back that lasted all day. Headaches came on when the weather changed. After my roomate insisted I go to Dr. Rolland, I no longer get headaches or kinks in my back. I sleep better and am more flexible! I did not realize how much your back links to other health problems until visiting Rolland Chiropractic."
    Amy M. - Beaver, PA