Stress and the immune system – Part 1

With the Coronavirus outbreak, I thought it would be beneficial to discuss how stress impacts the immune system.

The immune system’s job is to keep the body safe and its very flexible but can be compromised by age and illness.

There are two types of immunity:

  1. Specific immunity
  2. Natural immunity

Specific immunity is a slower response than natural immunity as it may take several days.  This is about recognition of a particular antigen (e.g. virus) and the production of a cell that specifically recognises this antigen.  This may come from having seen that antigen before via a previous illness or via vaccination.

Natural immunity is an all-purpose reaction that may have a short time frame (minutes to hours).  You will have experienced natural immunity when you have inflammation or a fever or had a wound that has healed.    As part of natural immunity, we produce killer cells that respond to viruses etc.

As coronavirus is a new virus and there is currently no vaccination, we are reliant on natural immunity to protect us.

Related Posts

  • Why bother being grounded? – part 2

    My experience is consistent with the findings of a study by the National Institutes of Health: Emerging evidence shows that contact with the Earth—whether being outside barefoot or [...]

  • Contents of supressed report revealed…

    I am always interested in all form of research on complementary therapies and a report that is supressed piques my interest even more because it makes me wonder what is says. Way back in 2012, Australia’s National Health & Medical Research Council completed a report based on 55 studies into the effectiveness of homeopathy to treat

    • Fibromyalgia
    • Otitis media (middle ear infection)
    • After effects of cancer treatments
    In 2012 the report was blocked from being published.  A campaign that attracted more than 75,000 signatories and numerous Freedom of Information requests including from the Australian Senate finally had an impact and the report has been published. So, what did such a controversial report say?   It found “encouraging evidence” that homeopathy was an effective treatment for:
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Otitis media
    • Postoperative ileus (blocked intestine)
    • Colds
    • After effects of cancer treatments including chemotherapy
    References 2012 Report

  • Can massage help relieve pain?

    When a toddler falls his mother will instinctively rub the sore spot to make it better.  Likewise, an office worker with stiff shoulders will probably try to knead them.  Because from an early age we have learnt the touch of a hand will ease pain. There are two type of pain:

    • Acute
    • Chronic
    Acute pain can be mild and last just a moment, or it might be severe and last for weeks or months.  Chronic pain is pain that is ongoing and usually lasts longer than six months.  In addition to chronic pains extended duration it is often more life limiting  and hence may have an emotional effect such as depression, anger, anxiety, and fear of re-injury.  Such a fear might limit a person's ability to return to their regular work or leisure activities. Deep Tissue or Sports massage may relieve pain by way of several mechanisms, including relaxing painful muscles, tendons, and joints; relieving stress and anxiety; and possibly helping to "close the pain gate" by stimulating competing nerve fibers and impeding pain messages to and from the brain. So if you are in pain, why not book a massage?