Protection Against Disease
As we embark on Week 12 of the Wellness Revolution, our focus shifts to another formidable threat to our health and well-being—disease-causing mechanisms. This chapter delves into the primary pathogenic factors and investigates the intricate elements within our bodies that serve as a bulwark against disease. We will explore strategies and practices that empower us to promote and enhance our overall health and well-being.
Immunity
Immunity is your body's natural protective system, representing its ability to resist or defend against infections, diseases, and other potentially harmful foreign substances. This intricate and highly coordinated system involves a multitude of cells, proteins, and mechanisms working in harmony to safeguard the body from pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms, as well as abnormal cells like cancer cells. Immunity carries out two primary functions: defence and tolerance.
Defence
Your immune system acts as a formidable defender against external invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, parasites, and moulds. It also diligently patrols your body to identify and combat internal troublemakers, such as cancer cells.
Tolerance
In addition to defence, your immune system plays a crucial role in regulating your tolerance to potential environmental triggers. This involves discerning between harmless and harmful substances, ensuring that your body does not overreact to benign elements in the environment.
When your immune system performs both defence and tolerance optimally, it contributes to maintaining your overall health. However, if your immune defences falter or your body's tolerance level becomes too low or overwhelmed, it can render you more vulnerable to infections, increase the risk of developing cancer, lead to autoimmune disorders, and even elevate the likelihood of experiencing mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and, in severe cases, psychosis.
The immune system is responsible for recognizing and identifying foreign invaders like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other pathogens. It does this by detecting specific molecules on the surface of these invaders, known as antigens.
Identifying External Invaders
In addition to dealing with external threats, the immune system also monitors the body for internal abnormalities. It can recognize when the body's own cells are malfunctioning, such as in the case of cancerous cells or cells infected by viruses.
Identifying Internal Cells or Tissues that are Misbehaving
White blood cells, including neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, are the foot soldiers of the immune system. When the immune system detects a threat, it sends signals to recruit these cells to the site of infection or abnormality. These white blood cells play various roles, such as engulfing and destroying pathogens or infected cells.
Recruiting White Blood Cells
The immune system has a multi-faceted approach involving identifying and targeting external invaders and internal abnormalities while also establishing a memory of past encounters to better defend against future threats. The immune system's ability to recognize, target, and eliminate pathogens and detect and address internal abnormalities like cancerous cells is vital for the body's well-being. Moreover, the immune system's memory function provides long-term protection by "remembering" previous encounters with specific pathogens, enhancing its ability to respond rapidly and effectively upon subsequent exposures.
The Immune System's Approach
The immune system uses a process called antigen presentation to tag foreign invaders or abnormal cells. Antigen-presenting cells, like dendritic cells, present pieces of the invader (antigens) to other immune cells. This helps the immune system distinguish between self and non-self and coordinate a response.
Tagging & Delineating Problems
One of the most remarkable aspects of the immune system is its ability to "remember" previous encounters with pathogens. This memory is maintained by memory B cells and memory T cells. If the same pathogen re-enters the body, the immune system can mount a faster and more effective response, providing immunity.
Remembering Invaders
The immune system is a complex and intricately coordinated defence system essential for maintaining overall health and safeguarding the body from infections and various diseases; its various components all work together to perform their roles effectively.
These are conditions in which the immune system is weakened or compromised, making it less effective at fighting off infections. People with immunodeficiency disorders are more susceptible to infections, and these can be either inherited (primary immunodeficiency) or acquired (secondary immunodeficiency).
Immunodeficiency Disorders
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to harmless substances, such as pollen, dust, or certain foods. This exaggerated immune response leads to symptoms like sneezing, itching, swelling, and can sometimes cause severe reactions like anaphylaxis.
Allergies
In autoimmune disorders, the immune system mistakenly targets and attacks the body's healthy tissues and cells. Examples include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. These conditions can affect various organs and systems in the body.
Autoimmune Disorders
Immune disorders, also known as immunological disorders or immunopathologists, are conditions in which the immune system malfunctions, either by becoming overactive or underactive. The five main types of immune disorders are immunodeficiency disorders, allergies, cancers, autoimmune disorders, and persistent infections.
Immune Disorders
Some cancers are related to the immune system. For example, lymphomas and leukemia involve abnormal cell growth in the immune system cells, such as lymphocytes or bone marrow cells. The immune system may not effectively control these cancerous cells.
Cancers
Persistent infections occur when the immune system is unable to eliminate pathogens from the body. These infections can last for extended periods and may result from weakened immune responses or pathogens with strategies to evade the immune system.
Persistent Infection
Wei Qi & The Exterior
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Wei Qi (also spelled as Wei Chi) and the concept of the exterior play a pivotal role in understanding and addressing pathogenic factors. Wei Qi represents the body's defensive energy, forming the outermost layer of defence that is initially impacted by external threats. Wei Qi, commonly translated as 'Protective Qi' or 'Defensive Qi,' is closely intertwined with the body's defence mechanisms, serving a vital role in preserving health and shielding against disease.
TCM divides the body into two fundamental realms: the exterior and the interior. The exterior encompasses the skin and the superficial layers of tissues, while the interior pertains to the deeper organs and systems. Wei Qi is inherently linked to the exterior. As it circulates along the body's surface, it acts as a protective barrier, diligently warding off external threats, which can encompass bacteria, viruses, and various environmental factors. When Wei Qi is robust, it functions as a formidable defence, preventing these pathogens from breaching the body's inner sanctum.
Although TCM predates the modern understanding of immunology, parallels exist between the concept of Wei Qi and Western notions of immunity. Wei Qi can be likened to a facet of the immune system, aiding the body by recognizing and eradicating foreign invaders. Maintaining harmony in Wei Qi is central to TCM's pursuit of overall well-being. When Wei Qi is in equilibrium, the body thrives in a state of health, capable of warding off diseases with efficiency. Nonetheless, imbalances in Wei Qi, manifesting as deficiencies or excesses, can give rise to a diverse array of health issues.
Wei Qi and the concept of the exterior in TCM illuminate the body's initial line of defence against external threats. This protective energy, Wei Qi, is closely analogous to the Western understanding of the immune system, and its strength and balance are pivotal factors in maintaining health and resilience to disease within the framework of Traditional Chinese Medicine.