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Do we need to go back to getting dirty and having fun for better Immunity?

International Overdoes Awareness. 


Is over caring taking us away from our body's own immunity power? 

The concept of immunity in traditional medicine came from the fact that human beings are born with a basic immune system which may be weak or strong. Through constant interaction with the microbes in our environment, and within our gut, we learn to fight against new microbes. This helps to strengthen the immune system. Over time, in the name of hygiene the excessive usage of insecticide, microbicidal agents, and lack of interaction with nature (plants, soil and external organisms) has gradually made our immune system weaker.

Immunity, as we understand through modern medicine is the function of certain cells, enzymes and immunomodulatory chemicals that attack pathogens preventing them from disease creation. This concept of invasion from microorganisms on the biological defense system led to the development of antibiotics and vaccines. However, with the developments of auto-immune issues, and widespread antibiotic resistance have forced us today to rethink on the immune system again. Thanks to Covid! It has once again raised a strong concern on the concept of immunity and our defense system altogether.

The traditional science ‘Ayurveda’ classifies these diseases as those that are caused by an imbalance source within one’s body, which can be mostly prevented by understanding the body’s natural tendencies, and another type of disease caused by external factor, which may be caused by injuries, stress (physical or mental), lack of hygiene practices or sanitation facilities or polluted environment (water, soil and air) in some societies. This is most relevant in the current times due to human exploitation, climate change and excessive usage of antibiotics and chemicals (on the human body, animals and environment). Time to think of body’s chemical exploitation, as much as planet exploitation. We talk about environmental sustenance. What about human health sustenance? 

The preventive aspect of our immunity function is majorly related to our digestive balance. Balanced bio-energies (doshas) through cleansing, detoxing are essential for proper resistance to illness. This explains the direct correlation between digestion and immunity. A physiological transformation is required in our body as part of tissue nourishment. The layers of tissues are to be nourished one by one as a result of properly functioning metabolic pathways. This can be achieved through the food we consume. More than resisting the disease, the concept here is to build the resilience to any form of unfavorable physical, mental and environmental change which have high tendencies to create an imbalance in the body metabolism leading to disease.

In the recent past, modern science has been researching and many researchers have evolved to explain the same old theory as 'gut health’. 'Super food for gut health' is the hot topic of discussion by many doctors. For the history to repeat itself, an unexpected always happens. How incapable must Man be of learning from old experience?

- By Dr. Roopa Lakshmi (h.c), Founder & MD, WELLBEEING, Integrated Health Services, Bangalore 

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