Optimizing your immune system
Optimizing your immune system We are all living in this humanitarian crisis. Obviously, as with any damage to our health, some will be more affected than others and some better prepared. The strength of our immune system can have a positive impact in order to counter the reproduction of a virus in our body. I am sometimes asked here in Montreal if osteopathic care can help the immune system? We will see some possible applications while taking into account that any form of bodily tension and damage to health reduces the protective efficiency of the organism because they require an amount of energy or ATP to maintain them. Osteopathy is always a great way to optimize all of the body’s systems. Repairing the digestive tract and relaxing the organs is particularly important since the immune system is affected by a deterioration of the intestinal membrane and a good osteopath can prevent a deterioration in health. I recently listened to a podcast by Dr. Matt Cook, a specialist in infections and immune system in California who offers avant-garde treatments to treat Lyme disease and various serious health problems, among others. I’ve included in this text some relevant information from his speech. How does the immune system work? In fact, the immune system is divided into two, an innate system and an adaptive system. The first is the response to a viral infection or antigen that makes you feel sick. The fever and the various associated symptoms which generally last between 7 and 10 days are the consequences of the innate immune system which defends itself with its different cells and inflammatory responses to take over the invaders. Then the adaptive immune system keeps in memory specific proteins of this viral or bacterial attack and the next contact with this attacker is entirely taken care of by the adaptive system and we have no symptoms of disease. The response of the first immune system, by the response of the fighting cells, is crucial for healing and the presence of fever is in itself a sign of healing and not a sign of disease which must be suppressed with drugs according to Dr. Thomas Cowan , an expert in immunology. It is good to consider that 60% of the immune system, IS, seems to find itself at the border of the digestive tract. So the microbiome and the integrity of the digestive tract is essential in order to prepare a solid foundation for the IS. Adding bone broths and colostrum with their glycosaminoglycans and a whole arsenal of molecules essential to the functioning of the SI seems to be an excellent asset in order to maintain the integrity of the intestinal wall and strengthen the IS. The repair of the digestive tract in itself is a whole subject that would come in a future blog. How does a virus reproduce? A bacteria is said to be invisible to the human eye. If the bacteria had eyes, a virus would be invisible to them. These more than tiny organisms seek to survive inside a host, an animal cell, and hack into DNA transcription mechanisms so that the cell can reproduce their own. Thus viruses can multiply and transfer to neighboring cells. When a cell, or a set of cells, is hit, the immune system sets in motion and sends its fighting cells to the scene to stop the invasion. Edema is created, through the dilation of the arteries, and the ground becomes the site of inflammation. A variety of molecules are secreted to carry out this process and some are pro-inflammatory like cytokines nf-kappa-b (nuclear factor kappa B) and Tnf and some are anti-inflammatory like Nrf-2 which decrease the inflammatory response when the area is under control. However, when the inflammation gets out of control, there is what is called a cytokines storm, when these pro-inflammatory molecules are constantly secreted and perpetuate the general inflammatory. This was the case during the Spanish flu of 1918, which in this particular case rather affected children and young adults, perhaps because older people had passed through the epidemic of the Russian flu to the late 19th century. There was a chain reaction of cytokine production which led to excessive inflammation and possibly dramatic consequences in the lungs, sometimes leading to death from sepsis as well. The same is true for Corona Virus, according to Dr. Matt Cook. The epithelial cells of the lungs, the surface cells, are affected and go into apoptosis, or cell death, which creates even more inflammation. There is edema and less exchange with the outside and therefore less oxygen in the blood and possibly, sepsis and death for some. Boosting the immune system We will see several tips tactics to stimulate and optimize the immune system. You are also invited to do more research to deepen these means and be able to apply them healthily. 1. Stimulate the lymphatic system The lymphatic system involves a circuit of fluids which circulate thanks to the movement of the body and under the action of muscles and joints. These fluids carry back waste and serve as transport for the immune system. Without movement, there is stagnation and therefore a possibility of developing various symptoms linked to the accumulation of toxins and cellular waste. Jump, bounce, move and exercise 10 minutes a day, you can jump and bounce, shake the body, dance and engage in physical exercise daily. Massage Massage has been known for millennia to circulate the lymph. A Deep Tissue massage will seek therapeutic relaxation while activating the lymphatic system. However, if you are already with symptoms of low immunity or fighting a viral attack, refrain from massage or Deep Tissue which will put more toxins in circulation in the body. Osteopathy Osteopathy is a great way to release internal tensions that block the path of the lymph in order to accentuate the cleaning of cellular waste. A good osteopath will create more mobility in the thoracic frame where several important lymph nodes are
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