THE COMPLEX ROLE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
IN THE 4-A EPIDEMICS
IT’S NOT AS STRAIGHTFORWARD AS IT MIGHT SEEM ON THE SURFACE
Many serious diseases occur merely because the immune system becomes
weak, and gives illness an opportunity to flourish. The 4-A disorders are different.
They have a much more complex relationship with immunity. Allergies and
asthma, in particular, are generally caused by overactivity of the immune system.
To overcome them, the immune system must be made to function at just the right
level.
Time To Learn About T-Cells
The particular part of the immune system that can become overactive, resulting in
allergies and asthma, consists of white blood cells known as T-cells. Most people
who suffer from the 4-A epidemics have never heard of T-cells, because it is not
common for doctors to address this aspect of immunity in their treatment of
autism, ADHD, asthma, and allergies. That is unfortunate. Addressing this aspect
of health can really help a great many people.
T-cells are named after the thymus, the hormone-producing gland located behind
the breastbone that helps direct the activity of the immune system. There are
several types of T-cells, including some, for example, that kill cancer cells. One
type of T-cell that helps activate the immune response is called a helper T-cell.
There are two different kinds of helper T-cells: Th-1 (or thymus-helper 1), and Th-2
cells. They work in concert with one another, but have very different functions.
• Th-1 cells: These immune system cells are involved in immunity that is
performed by the cells themselves. They directly attack pathogens, such as
viruses or bacteria, and theyalso send out messages that encourage other
immune cells to attack.
• Th-2 cells: These immune system cells also attack pathogens, but in a
different way. They do not enter infected cells. Instead, they produce messsages
that encourage other immune cells to produce antibodies. These antibodies then
attack foreign substances, including bacteria, viruses, and also allergens.
Because these Th-1 and Th-2 cells work together, it’s important that they stay in
balance. But this doesn’t always happen.
Quite often, in many people, there is a skewing of this balance, with an:
Increase of Th-2 antibody production.
And a decrease in the activity of Th-1 cells.
The causes of this skewing? Stress is one. Yeast overgrowth is another. But the
primary factor that now appears to cause this skewing toward excessive Th-2
immunity is the presence of toxins.
Mercury in the body promotes excessive activity of Th-2 cells. So does lead. So
does aluminum. These heavy metals aggravate and overexcite the immune
system, resulting in impaired immunity, and in autoimmunity, in which the body
attacks itself.
Th-2 skewing makes it harder for people to fight off infections from viruses,
bacteria, and fungi that lie within their cells. It makes them prone to common
illnesses.
Th-2 skewing also results in too many attacks on harmless substances that
don’t need to be attacked, including pollen, and common foods, such as milk and
wheat. The final result, of course, is allergy.
Allergy then triggers inflammation, as the body fights to free itself from presumed
invaders. When the inflammation strikes the airways, asthma can occur.
Inflammation can also heighten the symptoms of ADHD and autism.
This imbalance in the immune system, along with widespread inflammation, is
one of the most important root causes of the epidemics of asthma and allergies.
It is also an important contributor to the epidemics of autism.
We are a Th-2 skewed society.
It’s just one more result of too much toxicity.
Kids with autism and ADHD usually tend to be Th-2 skewed. That’s one reason
why they often have more colds and flu than other kids, and it’s partly why they so
frequently have allergies and inflammation. Allergies and inflammation can
contribute to these kids’ negative neurobehavioral traits, including spaciness,
obsessiveness, lethargy, poor cognitive function, and irritability.
Unfortunately, kids with asthma tend to be even more Th-2 skewed than kids with
autism. Asthma is an absolutely classic consequence of Th-2 skewing, as well as
a lack of immune regulation.
Correcting this Th-2 skewing can be tough. It can require a full-scale program of
detoxification, combined with a rebalancing of the immune system. Generally, a
child must adhere to the Healing Program for an extended period of time to
overcome Th-2 skewing, since this skewing can become so deeply imbedded.
Kids also need to stay away from toxins, which perpetuate the Th-2 skewing.
However, all children must be treated individually, because some autistic children,
in contrast to kids with asthma, are actually Th-1 skewed, instead of Th-2 skewed.
This, too, can cause inflammation.
The key is balance.
There are no easy ways to achieve this balance, and solve these problems.
The Healing Program, however, can ultimately help kids regain this balance.
This can be done. In many children, it must be done.
