Immunity, Communication and Sense of Self
The Immune system is a frontier of new medicine and medical research. There is much we still do not know about how it operates and what functions it is truly performing. As we expand our understanding of the gut microbiome and its connection to immunity and the nervous system, there is a theme starting to arise that we used to only think was a function of the brain: communication.
About 85-90% of your immune system resides in your gut. From our gut bugs talking to our brain and all the intricate cell-to-cell communications via cytokines (which are like immunity text messages) there is actually a lot more to your ‘gut feeling’ being just a feeling. It involves direct molecular, intercellular and neurotransmitter communication that guides both how your immune system cells function AND gives you a direct sense of inter-communication with yourself and who you experience yourself to be.
One way of looking at the immune system is that it is a complex and diverse grouping of cell types who all have different rolls in identifying foreign invaders and chemicals, substances, and organisms that do not belong in the body, and efficiently and harmlessly removing them.
Said another way it is the immune system cells that travel around the body asking, “Are you me? Or are you not me?”
There are actually specific proteins called the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) that are encoded for each of us, unique to our bodies alone, that reside on the outside of our cells. This allow your immune white blood cells to identify that this other cell it has bumped into is in fact “you.” It's like your personal cellular identification card.
This is part of the immune system that needs to be suppressed in people who have had organ transplants or the organ would be rejected. MHC is also strongly associated with genetic related autoimmunity like Type 1 Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
One of the ways I look at the body and healing is to see the symbology, poetry, and metaphors in they symptoms and pathology the body is dealing with.
When we say “I have a weak immune system” or we have the experience of having poor immunity, what is it in us that we are actually dealing with?
One could say, and I often do, it is a loss of sense of self.
We are not sure who we are and thus our immune systems start to struggle in answering the question, “Are you me? Or are you not me?”
As our cold and flu season approaches, it is common to stock up on our vitamin C, zinc, B complex, quercetin, ginger, and garlic. Our foods shift towards root vegetables and squashes, hearty stews and soups full of bone broth and immune support from the bone marrow of animals. Hopefully as the days get shorter and the nights longer, at least for our Northern hemisphere readers, you are giving yourself the opportunity to sleep longer each week.
All of this is good and important. In fact, during the first year of the pandemic I wrote three articles on this very subject you can review here:
And… what you may not have considered is there is an internal self exploration to be done in reflecting upon where and how are you not aligned with “Who You Really Are”?
This often shows up as:
Seeking others’ approval over taking care of your needs
Not knowing what your needs are or not claiming them as an actual need (see this weeks podcast for more on needs)
People pleasing (see Amy Green Smiths HEAL episode Why People Pleasing is Bad for Your Health)
Chronic anger - outwardly expressed by easily triggered, easy irritation or lots of frustration in your life, or inwardly suppressed which shows up as apathy, a lack of care, boredom, or inability to dream about the future and fantasize about new adventures and creations in your life
Caretakers syndrome
Loss of a sense of passion, purpose, direction or drive
So, while you are at work on putting in some additional immune boosting measures of deep rest, living food, and care for your vitamins and minerals I invite you also to do some additional self-reflection on your experience of Being Yourself.
Reflective Journal prompts on Being Your Self:
Take some time to slow down and tune into you body. Allow yourself the time and space to listen to your heart and ask:
What do I love about who I am?
What do I love about my body?
What do I think are my strengths?
What makes me, me?
What is my life for?
Why am I here on this planet at this time?
What matters most to me now, at this stage of my life?
What inspires me?
What is my heart most longing for?
I’d love to hear some of your responses - feel free to send to me.
