StemCell Therapy

The Immune Response Influence On Health

Greg B. Wilson, Ph.D. and James B. Daily, Jr., Ph.D. - "Our health is directly influenced by our immune system. The onset of almost all infectious and degenerative disease is preceded or accompanied by inadequate immune response. With intensifying concerns about the perils of vaccinations and antibiotic resistant organisms, a new weapon against disease is sorely needed.

"The long term effects of the breakdown of the immune system can be seen in increased infections, auto-immune disorders and tumor formation. The body's last ditch effort to compensate for the loss of internal defenses is to hyper activate the depressed immune function. What it may do is over stimulate the immune function, sacrificing the "self" - "not self" regulatory mechanisms.

The defenses then perceive its own organs and systems as "not self" and begin to mount defenses against them. This starts the precipitous march toward auto immune disorders such as SLE, Multiple Sclerosis , Rhumathoid Arthritis and possibly Chronic Fatigue Syndrome."

Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D . - "What does the immune system really do? Immune defense is autonomic, using its own subconscious memory to establish antigens against harmful pathogens. It's a system that works on its own to fend off or neutralize disease toxins, and set up a healing environment for the body. It is this quality of being a part of us, yet not under our conscious control, that is the great power of immune response. It is also the dilemma of medical scientists as they struggle to get control of a system that is all pervasive and yet, in the end, impossible to completely understand. Maintaining strong immune defenses in today's world is not easy.

Daily exposure to environmental pollutants, the emotional and excessive stresses of modern lifestyles, chemicalized foods, and new virus mutations are all a challenge to our immune systems. Devastating, immune compromised diseases are rising all over the world. Reduced immunity is the main factor in opportunistic diseases, like candida albicans, chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus, HIV, hepatitis, mononucleosis, herpes II, sexually transmitted diseases and cancer. These diseases have become the epidemic of our time, and most of us don't have very much to fight with. An overload of antibiotics, antacids, immunizations, cortico-steroid drugs, and environmental pollutants eventually affect immune system balance to the point where it cannot distinguish harmful cells from healthy cells."

"The period once euphemistically called the Age of the Miracle Drug is now dead. And the indiscriminate use of antibiotics is leading us to one of the most frightening eras in recent memory. That is, the return of infectious diseases for which there is no effective treatment. Two decades following the introduction of antibiotics, the medical community began to see a disturbing trend. Bacterial infections that were once treatable no longer responded to antibiotics. Penicillin is effective today against only 10 percent of the strains of Staphylococcus aureus that it used to eradicate easily. Those that did respond often required five to ten times the dose of the drug that previously was effective. One example of this is the resistant strains of gonorrhea that developed as a result of the antibiotics that were used to treat it." Michael Traub, N.D.

Officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have reported that the overuse of antibiotics in medicine has created an epidemic of superbugs that are antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Doctors fear that if antibiotic use is not curtailed, we may soon approach the day when untreatable infections are rampant.

Dr. Lawrence Wilson M.D - "To strengthen the immune system, one must address the needs of the whole body. A strong immune system is essential for health.It is a very complex system of the body, involving the skin, intestines, nasal mucosa, blood, lymph and many other organs and tissues.Factors that impair the immune system include nutrient deficiencies, contaminated air, water and food, unhealthful lifestyles and too much exposure to harmful microbes. Other factors that weaken the immune system are negative attitudes and emotions and the presence of toxic metals, toxic chemicals and biological toxins in the body. Others are sluggish metabolism, lack of rest and sleep, excessive stress or too much exercise.As these causative factors are removed or corrected, the immune system improves."

The human and animal immune system is a truly amazing constellation of responses to attacks from outside the body. It has many facets, a number of which can change to optimize the response to these unwanted intrusions

Towards the end of Louis Pasteur's life, he confessed that germs may not be the cause of disease after all, but may simply be another symptom of disease. He had come to realize that germs seem to lead to illness primarily when the person's immune and defense system, (what biologists call"host resistance") is not strong enough to combat them. The "cause" of disease is not simply a bacteria but also the factors that compromise host resistance, including the person's hereditary endowment, his nutritional state, the stresses in his life, and his psychological state.

The term "autoimmune disease" refers to a varied group of more than 80 serious, chronic illnesses that involve almost every human organ system. It includes diseases of the nervous, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems as well as skin and other connective tissues, eyes blood, and blood vessel. In all of these diseases, the underlying problem is similar--the body's immune system becomes misdirected, attacking the very organs it was designed to protect. The immune system is a scapegoat for a variety of ills in this wide-ranging but tendentious guide to approaching diseases like lupus, Crohn's disease, MS, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Every mother (human or mammal) that breast feeds her baby, passes all of the immunity gained throughout her lifetime on to her infant. A healthy immune system removes toxins and damaged cellular material.

* Remove harmful heavy metals.* Remove daily toxins.* Remove damaged cellular materials.* Destroy foreign substances.

This compelling memoir of a life-or-death struggle with immune deficiency and the medical profession illuminates that dark side of medicine where unfounded beliefs substitute for scientific knowledge. You must read this book if you have unexplained medical problems such as debilitating fatigue and pain -you can't think clearly because of brain fog - your doctor implies that it's all in your head - you want help and inspiration to find the cause and a solution.

" Immune Dysfunction: Winning My Battle Against Toxins, Illness and The Medical Establishment is the personal and compelling story of Judith Lopez and her experiences with medical mismanagement and malpractice. Judith documents her struggle with a mystery malady that was life threatening. All the while her doctors sought to discount chronic fatigue syndrome, yeast syndrome, and environmental illnesses as merely sociogenic problems, the result of a mass hysteria or psychosomatic illness. After a twenty year battle with an illness the medical community proclaimed to be non-existent, Judith finally connected with Doctor Vincent Marinkovich, a Stanford professor and authority on clinical immunology and allergy, who was able to understand and treat her symptoms. Immune Dysfunction is a powerful and engaging medical memoir and highly recommended reading for anyone suffering from any form of environmentally generated illness whose physicians are trying to palm off as a form of hysteria or mental illness, as well as medical students, health workers, and practicing physicians concerned with the proper diagnosis and treatment of the rapidly growing numbers of men, women, and children who are experiencing environmentally driven immune system dysfunctions."

Unprecedented exposure to chemical contaminants, pollution, toxic products and stress has increased unhealthy conditions, from arthritis andcancer to heart disease, and even the symptoms of aging. Its no wonder so many people are suffering from fatigue and chronic illness, as well as chronic infections with viruses, bacteria and fungi.You can learn how to protect yourself from the forces that can damage your body and wear down your immune system

Standard Western Medicine strives to suppress the immune response, working against the body. If there is a fever, lower it, if inflammation is present provide steroids to remove it and of course if Western Medicine thinks a bacteria or virus is present or doesn't know what is wrong, a dose of antibioticsis provided. This way of doing things can be effective in the immediate term, and important in life threatening situations, but potentially devastating in the long term especially when over-used. Because, what eventually happens, is that immune system becomes weak and ineffective or damaged and over-reactive and disease is pushed deeper into the body to come back stronger and more difficult to get rid of at a later date. This is called trading ACUTE disease for long-term CHRONIC disease, and it is one reason why so many of us are chronically ill today. A Holistic health care practitioner will not want to suppress symptoms unless they view it to be absolutely necessary, because those symptoms are a sign the immune system is working and doing its job.

Alexander Fleming, the scientist who discovered penicillin, cautioned against the overuse of antibiotics . Unless the scientific community and the general public heed his warning, Harvard professor Walter Gilbert, a Nobel prizewinner in chemistry, asserted, "There may be a time down the road when 80% to 90% of infections will be resistant to all known antibiotics."

Although the suppressive therapies are hard on the body, they do not compare with the rampant idiocy of using antibiotics for viral infections. Thankfully some measure of sanity appears to be returning to the medical profession. More and more doctors are avoiding prescribing antibiotics for colds and flus. Several critical observations must be made here. First, antibiotics are totally ineffective against viruses. The excuse most often heard for prescribing antibiotics in a viral illness is to prophylactically protect the body against a secondary bacterial infection. This is an idea proven to be false decades ago. In the United States, of the 5 most common antibiotics prescribed, three are broad spectrum. That's a problem!

Second, the basis of antibiotics is mold. Through millions of years of evolution, bacteria and mold have coexisted in nature - in the soil, plants and animals. When one of them developed an evolutionary edge over the other and began to shift the balance in favor of itself, the other must have rapidly learned to defend itself against this new attack. If this were not true, we would only have either bacteria or molds but not both. By using mold, we thought we could slay one step ahead of bacteria in the evolutionary scale because we're so smart. Well, the yolk is on us, the bacteria are winning, and at a record pace. So in our attempt to wipe out bacteria, we forced them into a revolutionary evolutionary change and we damaged our immunity so badly that we become easy prey for viruses. Additional side effects of antibiotics are immune suppression and the increased susceptibility to parasites.

The long term effects of the breakdown of the immune system can be seen in increased infections, auto-immune disorders and tumor formation. The body's last ditch effort to compensate for the loss of internal defenses is to hyper activate the depressed immune function. What it may do is over stimulate the immune function, sacrificing the "self" - "not self" regulatory mechanisms. The defenses then perceive its own organs and systems as "not self" and begin to mount defenses against them. This starts the precipitous march toward auto immune disorders such as SLE, MS, RA, and possibly CFS.

In "Beyond Antibiotics" Drs. Schmidt, Smith, and Sehnert explore the problems presented by the overuse of these drugs. More importantly, they show how to build immunity, improve resistance to infections, and avoid antibiotics when possible. The scientific community and the general public have ignored the insights of the late Pasteur and have ignored the importance of host resistance in preventing illnessmore on Louis Pasteur

Marlice Vonck DVM. - The unfolding events surrounding Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, (SARS) is yet another painful reminder that we live in a crowded world where continents are only a plane ride away. The SARS epidemic is only one of an ongoing series of new emerging diseases. Our best global and personal strategy is to do all in our power to ensure and support our unique abilities of disease resistance and immunity

Dr. Lawrence Wilson -" Factors that impair the immune system include nutrient deficiencies, contaminated air, water and food, unhealthful lifestyles and too much exposure to harmful microbes.Other factors that weaken the immune system are negative attitudes and emotions and the presence of toxic metals, toxic chemicals and biological toxins in the body.Others are sluggish metabolism, lack of rest and sleep, excessive stress or too much exercise. As these causative factors are removed or corrected, the immune system improves."

Your immune system is constantly on the prowl for pathogens and foreign antigen agents of cellular damage, toxicity and disease. These antigens include viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi and even pre-cancerous cells. To neutralize these pathogens, the body needs a ready supply ofglutathione. If it doesn't have enough, some of the invaders will get through, infecting the body and/or contributing to aging, long-term accumulative damage even eventual cancers. We cant avoid illness and aging altogether, but by keeping our intracellular glutathione levelselevated, we also keep our immune system on full alert and fully armed.

Professor Dr. Wulf Droge MD - "The human immune system is extremely dependent on adequate glutathione levels to perform properly. Even a partial depletion of the intracellular glutathione pool has a dramatic consequence for the process of blast transformation and proliferation, and for the generation of cytotoxic T cells." ( T cells are those cells which help the body defend against diseases.) Abstract: - Cysteine and glutathione in catabolic conditions and immunological dysfunction. Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care. 2(3):227-233, May 1999. Droge, Wulf

We have all heard stories of apparently miraculous recoveries from terminal cancer, but are any of these accounts true? Absolutely. Medical journals have published thousands of case histories about seemingly incurable patients who have seen their cancers disappear in the absence of medical treatment. These examples of spontaneous regression demonstrate the power of the human immune system. It can cure cancer.

Studies confirm that the eight essential biologically active sugars can accomplish amazing results. The following are just a few examples of the exciting possibilities of Glyconutrition:

Homeopathy as a properly practiced art, stimulates an accelerated immune system response. Back in the early 1800's homeopathy carved out a reputation for itself with the extraordinary results its treating patients during epidemics. The battle of Leipzig in 1813 caused an outbreak of typhus which Hahnemann treated. Of the 180 patients he treated, only 2 died, the medical profession had a greater than 50% mortality rate. During the winter of 1831-1832 a cholera epidemic broke out in Europe. The homeopathic patients had a 4% mortality rate compared to over 50% with conventional medicine.

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride "...about 85 percent of our immune system is located in the gut wall,she says.This fact has been established by basic physiology research in the 1930s and the 1940s. Your gut, your digestive wall, is the biggest and the most important immune organ in your body. There is a very tight conversation and a relationship going on between the gut flora microbiome that lives inside your digestive system, and your immune system...Your gut flora the state of the gut flora and the composition of microbes in your gut flora has a profound effect on what forms of immune cells you will be producing on any given day, what they're going to be doing, and how balanced your immune system is. Dr. Campbell-McBride is the author of"Gut and Psychology Syndrome: Natural Treatment for Autism, Dyspraxia, A.D.D., Dyslexia, A.D.H.D., Depression, Schizophrenia"

The intestinal lining becomes porous when it is inflamed, oxidized, toxic, and lacking in energy. This is called 'leaky gut.' This allows for "translocation" of toxins and noxious organisms from the intestines to the rest of our body. One of the many problems that result is a priming of the "systemic immune system" to attack molecules and tissues it should not be attacking. This means that the immune system you are more familiar with (white cells, antibodies, immunoglobulins, etc.) is overwhelmed, and confused. This is the main reason why we develop "autoimmune" problems, such as arthritis, lupus, thyroiditis, etc.

"The intricate interface between immune system and metabolism" (J. Trends in Immunology 2004;25:193.) reminds us of the concept of "Metabolomics." By improving our cells' ability to produce energy, we also improve our immune system. After all, it also needs energy to function. This also means that being obese and prediabetic compromises our immune system. By improving insulin resistance improves the immune system.

Enzymes are proteins that facilitate chemical reactions in living organisms. They are required for every single chemical action that takes place in your body. All of your tissues, muscles, bones, organs and cells are run by enzymes. Your digestive system, immune system, bloodstream, liver, kidneys, spleen and pancreas, as well as your ability to see, think, feel and breathe, all depend on enzymes.Systemic enzymes, sometimes called metabolic or proteolytic enzymes , are produced by the pancreas to repair the body ... to build and restore tissues.In fact, they are a necessary component of all other functions in the body besides digestion, and your body is unable to produce enough of them because we eat cooked foods.

Animal studies have shown that an increase in fat intake can decrease the number of natural killer (NK) cells found in the blood and spleen. NK cells are an integral part of the natural immune response to virus infections and certain types of cancer. Researchers at Oxford University now report that fish oil significantly decreases NK cell activity in healthy human subjects.

Their clinical trial involved 48 men and women aged 55 to 75 years. The participants were randomized to receive one of six supplements for 12 weeks. The supplements were all provided in the form of capsules, three of which were to be taken with each meal. The nine capsules (daily intake) contained either a total of 2 g alpha-linolenic acid, 770 mg gamma-linolenic acid (from evening primrose oil), 680 mg arachidonic acid, 720 mg docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), 720 mg eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)+ 280 mg DHA (fish oil) or a placebo (an 80:20 mix of palm and sunflower oils).

All the participants had blood samples taken four weeks before start of supplementation, immediately before start of supplementation, and then every four weeks during the trial as well as after a four-week washout period. The researchers found no changes in killer cell activity except in the group taking fish oil. Here they observed an average decline of 20 per cent after 8 weeks and 48 per cent after 12 weeks. The decline was completely reversed after the washout period. The fact that no decline was observed with pure DHA strongly suggests that EPA was responsible.

The researchers conclude that an excessive EPA intake could have adverse effects for people at risk of viral infections and some cancers. Editor's Note: The British researchers' speculation about fish oils perhaps affecting the effectiveness of NK cells in killing cancer cells is at odds with the results of many other studies. There are at least a dozen studies that show a clear protective effect of fish or fish oil against breast, colon, and prostate cancer. NOTE: This study was partly funded by Unilever. [54 references] Thies, Frank, et al. Dietary supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid, but not with other long-chain n-3 or n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, decreases natural killer cell activity in healthy subjects aged >55 years. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 73, March 2001, pp. 539-48

Its been around for thousands of years. Every traditional healing culture in the world has a ginseng or ginseng-type plant in its medicine chest. Daily ginseng was a necessary matter of life throughout all of Chinas long history. At the turn of the 20th century, virtually every Chinese person used ginseng to some extent for their well being, especially as a wellness tonic. Ginseng was also highly esteemed by every Native American culture.

At the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Jilin Province (where ginseng is grown), researchers in the pharmacology department evaluated the effects of ginseng on immune responses. The immune responses of mice were tested with different dosages of extracts obtained either from the leaf or the root of ginseng. Significant changes in the response of the reticuloendothelial (RES) system were found, especially with moderate doses of the root extracts. Larger doses did not improve the response. RES cells are the immune system components that devour foreign organisms without leaving their original sites in the liver, spleen and other tissues of the body.

Ginseng - the most extensively studied herb on earth! Dr. Lin Yutang, a Chinese research scientist who spent a lifetime learning about ginseng, summed up his work by saying that "The magic tonic and building qualities of ginseng are the most enduring, the most energy-giving, restorative qualities known to mankind, yet it is distinguished by the slowness and gentleness of its action". More modern research has been done on ginseng than all other herbs combined. At the turn of the 21st century ginseng is being intensively studied by athletic performance experts as well as medical science.

According to the British Journal of Biomedical Science,allicin is considered to be the most potent antibacterial agent in crushed garlic extracts. Garlic has been used since the days of the Egyptians to treat wounds, infections, tumors, and intestinal parasites.Several animal studies published between 1995 and 2005 indicate that allicin may reduce atherosclerosis and fat deposition, normalize the lipoprotein balance, decrease blood pressure, have anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory activities, and function as an antioxidant. Garlic has been widely reported to protect against cardiovascular disease by reducing serum cholesterol concentrations and blood pressure and by inhibiting platelet aggregation. Garlic detoxifies chemical carcinogens and prevent carcinogenesis and can also directly inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Allicin, the heart of garlic, stimulates immunity, including macrophage activity, natural killer and killer cells, and LAK cells, and to increase the production of IL-2, TNF, and interferon-gamma.

"Proven throughout history for physical, mental and spiritual rejuvenation, fasting promotes cleansing and healing; helps normalize weight, blood pressure, cholesterol; rebuilds the immune system; and helps reverse the aging process. If we are to get these poisons out of our bodies we must fast. By fasting we give our bodies a physiological rest. This rest builds Vital Force. The more Vital Force we have, the more toxins are going to be eliminated from the body to help keep it clean, pure and healthy." P. Bragg, Ph.D

"There is no family of foods more protective against radiation and environmental pollutants than sea vegetables and can prevent assimilation of different radionuclitides, heavy metals such as cadmium, and other environmental toxins." Steven Schecter, N.D.

A report from the Agronomic Institute, Faculty of Zootechnics, Romania, showed the immune-strengthening effects of bee pollen. According to the report, "Comparative Studies Concerning Biochemical Characteristics of Beebread as Related to the Pollen Preserved in Honey" by Dr's. E. Palos, Z. Voiculescu, and C. Andrei, "An increase has been recorded in the level of blood lymphocytes, gamma globulins, and proteins in those subjects given pollen in comparison with control groups. The most significant difference occurred in lymphocytes. These results thus signify a strengthening in the resistance of the organic system." Lymphocytes are the white blood cells that are the "soldiers" of the immune system. They are responsible for ridding the body of injurious and harmful substances, including infected or diseased cells, mutant and cancerous cells, viruses, metabolic trash, and so on. Gamma globulin is a protein formed in the blood, and our ability to resist infection is closely related to this protein's activity.

As well as its blood purifying properties, echinacea is an effective antibacterial, antiviral and immune system stimulant or infection fighter. For more than 100 years it has proven useful in most diseases due to impurities of the blood. It is excellent for treating the causes of fever, infection, colds and flu and is specific for all glandular infections. Echinacea (pronounced eek-in-asia) is a plant which was first used by Native American Indians to cure snake bites, colds, flu and other fever-related illnesses. Today echinacea is commercially cultivated and is the most popular herb in the world. In Europe, echinacea is used in many cases instead of antibiotics. Golden Seal is claimed by many to be the world's oldest medicinal plant. It is said to promote white blood cell activity, which is an important part of your body's natural defense system.

Oxygen depletion weakens our immune system, which leads to viral infections, damaged cells, growths, inflamed joins, serious heart and circulatory problems, toxic buildup in blood and premature aging. Low oxygen allows damaged cells to multiply and form growths in our bodies because our cells are oxygen deficient. If the cells in our bodies are rich in oxygen, mutated cells are less able to reproduce.

Oxygen shortage in the human body has been linked to every major illness category including heart conditions, cancer, digestion and elimination problems, respiratory disease, inflamed, swollen and aching joints, sinus problems, yeast infections and even sexual dysfunction. Fresh live foods and rain water contain oxygen. Cooked foods and stagnant water has much less oxygen. Oxygen is our primary source of energy. It displaces harmful free radicals, neutralizes environmental toxins and destroys anaerobic (the inability to live in oxygen rich environments) infectious bacteria, parasites, microbes and viruses.

The psychological stressors of surgery deal a blow to the immune system, but this is hardly discussed in the medical community," says Prof. Ben-Eliyahu. "Ours is among the first studies to show that psychological fear may be no less important than real physiological tissue damage in suppressing immune competence." The surprising part of Prof. Ben-Eliyahu's studies is that stress hormones such as adrenaline, which are released before and during surgery, "underlie much of the devastating effects of surgery on immune competence," says Prof. Ben-Eliyahu.

Until now, doctors assumed that the immune system was weakened due to tissue damage and the body's responses to it. A weak immune system is one of the major factors that promotes cancer metastases after an operation, explains Prof. Ben-Eliyahu."Timing is everything after cancer surgery," says Prof. Ben-Eliyahu. "There is a short window of opportunity, about a week after surgery, when the immune system needs to be functioning maximally in order kill the tiny remaining bits of tumor tissue that are scattered around the body."

Let Dr. Appleton show you: (1) A scientific option to Louis Pasteur's germ theory; (2) Why some people get sick and others do not; (3) Why medicines heal some people and not others; (4) Why some people get well without medicines and others do not get well with or without medicines; (5) How your body can resist infectious and degenerative diseases; (6) The true cause of disease, the true cause of healing; (7) Food plans and ways to eat to enhance health and healing.

"Discovering this book was a great delight for me! It provides a good beginning for enlightenment beyond the confines of modern medicine. Its data is both informative and practical. Appleton has taken extremely complex subject matter and made it simple enough for any to understand. I have studied extensively for over 20 years ALL of the material covered by this book. There are no lies within its covers. Consequences today from Pasteur's devious behavior and efforts in the previous century make Adolf Hitler looks like a Cub Scout by comparison!..."

Officials from the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control have reported that the overuse of antibiotics in medicine has created an epidemic of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Doctors fear that if antibiotic use is not curtailed, we may soon approach the day when untreatable infections are rampant.

For many of us it comes as as surprise to learn that bacteria are highly intelligent and adaptable. We have been taught from birth that they are pretty dumb and that, through the use of antibiotics, we are winning a war against them, a war that will end all disease. In fact the opposite is true. Bacteria show behavior that indicate intelligence and they are acting together throughout the world to counter the antibiotics we have invented to kill them off. Bacteria, it turns out, are inextricably intertwined with the formation of the human species and the health of the Earth. One to two pounds of our body weight are bacteria and over eons we have developed a crucial and important symbiosis with them.

See the article here:
The Immune System: The Body's Defense Department

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