Two Parts of Your Immune System
I used to tell my patients that it is easier to stay well
than it is to get well. It kind of goes
along with the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” As we know, things like diet, nutrition,
exercise, stress, sleep and exposure to toxicity all affect our overall well being. By managing each of these areas as well as
adopting a model of consistency that actively supports the immune system, we
can maintain good health throughout the year.
We all have an immune system that protects us from foreign
invaders like bacteria, viruses and other pathogens, and by understanding how
our immune system works we can help it help us stay healthy. Although the physiologic functioning of the
immune system is pretty complex it’s easier to understand if we break it down
into the two individual parts that work together to protect us from these
different types of environmental threats and factors.
The first part is called fixed immunity. The first thing I
think about when speaking of fixed immunity is the skin. It makes up a delicate but functional
protective barrier between the outside environment and our inside environment. Our lungs and gastrointestinal tract make up the
rest of our fixed immunity by acting as a barrier to the outside environment as
well.
The second part is called mobile immunity. This part becomes activated when a pathogen
like bacteria or viruses makes it past our fixed immune system and the body
becomes infected. When this occurs,
specialized immune cells mobilize in the blood stream and congregate at the
site of infection to initiate the healing process.
Just as there are lifestyle
factors that can inhibit our immune system, (ie. toxicity, poor nutrition,
inactivity, stress) there are factors or choices we can make to enhance our
body’s immune system. Some of those you may
not have thought of before include:
Maintaining healthy intestinal flora. As we just learned, the
gastrointestinal tract acts as a barrier to outside threats. When it is
compromised, our immune system is compromised.
By insuring there is healthy flora in the intestines, we improve the
strength of that barrier.
doTERRA’s PB Assist+ is the probiotic I
recommend. It is innovatively
encapsulated so that the healthy flora survives the harsh acidic environment of
the stomach and is delivered healthy and whole to the small and large intestine
where it populates the GI tract with healthy flora. It is best to use this product daily, but it
is especially important to use it during times when the immune system may be
compromised.
Diffuse essential oils regularly. Many new studies are showing that
diffusion of essential oils helps clean and purify the air from pathogens and
other seasonal threats. There are many
essential oils and essential oil blends that benefit our immune system when
diffused. Some of my favorites are
On Guard blend,
Breathe blend, Lemon, and Grapefruit. By breathing in these
essential oils, we’re helping protect the other part of our fixed immunity
barrier, our lungs.
Clean surfaces with essential oils.
Surfaces that are touched frequently like cell phones, door knobs, and
keyboards can expose us to harmful particles and should be cleaned. I like using
doTERRA’s
On Guard cleaning products,
but there are many other essential oils that can minimize exposure to these
harmful particles. In addition to being
great for cleaning, essential oils help us to avoid the harsh toxic chemicals
that are abundant in the typical cleaning products that are found in many
homes.
Our immunity is limited by its ability to
function properly. By adopting these and
other healthy tips, and by developing a daily routine of prevention and
maintenance, we can support our immune system and help it function in a way
that will keep us healthy all year long.
Check out this great
study that shows the efficacy and power of On Guard against viruses.
If you have any questions about
how incorporating essential oils into your daily health routine can help you, I
can be reached at
ericdahldc@gmail.com
