Your Immune System

 

 

 

Scientists have been researching the herpes virus and the resulting consequences of outbreaks and infections for years and they know that the most important factor that comes into play when considering whether or not your ability to avoid infection as well as heal quickly from herpes is your immune system. One of the many problems with the antiviral medications that help control herpes symptoms is that they can weaken your immune system and a compromised immune system is the deciding factor in reactivating the virus.

 

 

 

More than likely, you've already heard a good deal of general information about your immune system, but you may not know just how vital this system is in not only preventing herpes but in guaranteeing good health and preventing all sorts of other illnesses and diseases.

 

 

Your immune system is a complex system of structures and processes that protect you from disease. Its responsible for detecting everything from viruses to parasites and not only must detect them but be able to differentiate those unwanted things from your own healthy cells and be strong enough to hold up its defenses and rid your body of the virus or disease. That might sound simple enough but take into consideration that pathogens and viruses are also continually adapting and changing so your immune system has to stay one step ahead of them constantly. Not only does a healthy immune system find and destroy viruses but it programs itself to defend against its return in the future. This is why once you've had one type of flu virus, if your immune system is working properly, your body is now immune to that particular strain in the future. Pretty amazing, right?

 

 

When you think about how many other systems in your body need to work in conjunction with your immune system and how all-encompassing the system is, you'll find it even more amazing. Your immune system works with your

circulatory system to flush toxins from the blood. Your immune system also directs your kidneys and liver to kick into high gear when you've been exposed to something that's poisonous or infectious. Your immune system even seeks out and destroys cancel cells or other mutants that aren't working properly with the rest of your body. From food poisoning to HIV, back to herpes, the balance of your body's natural good health or disease hangs with the strength of your immune system.

 

 

 

 

Going back to the scientists that have been studying the immune system and it's correlation to whether or not exposure to the herpes virus becomes a case of herpes, they've discovered that Traditional Chinese Medicine and herbalists from thousands of years ago right up to today knew what is just being discovered now.

 

 

Ancient people had a shorter lifespan than we have today for many reasons. Partly because day-to-day life was far more dangerous. In our modern civilization, it's highly unlikely that something we want to eat has the potential to eat us first if we're not careful. Accidental death and dismemberment were highly likely. For women, death during childbirth was a distinct possibility due to possible complications and lack of medical treatment. Lacking simple oral hygiene and access to enough food was another cause for many deaths. However, the average person was not obese, was physically strong enough to do what was necessary to get through the day, which was a lot more physical activity than most of do and they lived a more vibrant, naturally healthy life without the benefit of the medical expertise that we now have.

 

 

They also benefited from having healthy herbal treatments and foods that served as their medicine, which did more to boost their immune systems and treat the cause rather than mask the symptoms, which is what a good deal of modern medicine does. How did they stay strong, lean and healthy without the benefit of vitamins, supplements or health clubs?

 

 

The Chinese knew what the immune system did before they knew what germs, viruses were or had the name “immune system”. The Chinese called it qi (pronounced chi). Qi is the life force of all living things. In traditional Chinese medicine, one of the types of qi is defensive qi, or the energy that protects the body from disease or pathogens. The defensive qi was said to be weakened by stress, and emotional problems, exhaustion, lack of exercise, overexposure to cold or an improper diet.

 

 

The Chinese also had a variety of herbs and remedies for strengthening their qi and would address diseases through a process of healing as well as boosting the immune system. They also addressed diet, exercise and sleep and believed that keeping their defensive qi strong was key in warding off illnesses.

 

 

Native Americans understood the purpose of the immune system 40,000 years ago and thought that diseases were signs of energy imbalance. They firmly believed that the energy that flowed in all living beings could be adversely effected by changes in the energy. Diseases were treated as a condition of the body, mind, spirit, emotions, social group and lifestyle. Healing was based on both healing and cure.

Native Americans also stressed looking at lifestyle choices and modifications needed in order to get the entire system back to a healthy state once an imbalance had been identified.

Much of our modern medicine is based on the ancient Greeks' medicinal knowledge. The Greeks also understood the concept of the immune system as energy and thought that a balance of all the bodily systems resulted in health, an imbalance resulted in disease.

The Greeks paid strict attention to their diet, exercise and hygiene in order to keep that energy in balance. They also believed that one's mental state contributed greatly to the effectiveness of one's diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits that would contribute to their balance of energy.

These cultures all made strides in healing and all contributed greatly to what has now become modern medicine's take on our immune systems. What if you could use some of the ancient cultures techniques in building your immune system, while taking advantage of the added benefits that modern medicine knows?

Besides preventing herpes, or curing it quickly if you already have it, a stronger immune system benefits you in so many other ways. First off, we'll take a look at diet and what an important role our food plays in our immune system health.