Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Immunity = resistance to disease

The modern word "immunity" derives from the Latin word ‘immunise’,
meaning exemption

Definitions
Immunity
Immunity is defined as a state of resistance or in-susceptibility showed by
the host to toxic molecules, microorganisms and foreign cells.
Immune System
Immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs,
that provides defense against all the toxic cells and the microorganisms,
when they invade the body.
OR
The human immune system is a collection of passive and active defensive
mechanisms that keep out, identify, and neutralize threats to the body.

Mechanism involved
Two major kinds of mechanisms that protect the body:

1. Nonspecific Immunity
An innate reaction that acts as a general response against all kinds of
pathogens.
a. Physical and chemical barriers
(Barrier Immunity - 1st line of defence)
b. Internal cells and chemicals
(Innate Immunity – 2nd line of defence)

2. Specific Immunity
An adaptive system that fights specific individual pathogens in
customized ways.
Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Nonspecific Immunity
(1st and 2nd line of defence)

Non-specific mechanisms for protecting the body can be visualized as

offering two distinct levels of protection:
a. Physical& chemical barriers thatwork to prevent entry of
pathogens
b. Internal cells& chemicals thatattemptto remove pathogens if they
get past the 1st barrier

Barrier defense (Physical,chemical and biological barriers)

● 1st major level of protection from invasion and infection.
● Non-specific – treats all potential pathogens in the same way.
● Attempts to prevent entry of pathogens into body.

Physical barrier
1. Intact Skin
a. consists of multiple layers
b. shed regularly to prevent buildup of bacterial communities
c. sebaceous glands provide protective film over skin
d. hair follicles traps microbes and acidity of skin secretions
inhibits bacterial & fungal growth
2. Nasal hair
3. Eye Lashes and eye lids
4. Saliva
5. Mucous Membranes
6. Urination

Chemical barrier
1. Maintaining low pH (gastric acid, vagina pH)
2. Anti-microbial molecule (lysosome in tears, defensins)

Biological barrier
Natural micro-organisms present in the body called as microbiome.
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Innate immunity (2nd line of defense)

The second line of defense against infection are the non-specific cellular and
molecular responses of the innate immune system

Mechanisms involved -
✔ Phagocytic leukocytes migrate to infection sites and engulf foreign bodies
✔ Inflammatory responses increase capillary permeability at infected
sites, recruiting leukocytes but leading to localized swelling
✔ Antimicrobial proteins (such as cytokines and complement
proteins) regulate immune activity within the body
✔ Fever increases body temperatures to activate heat-shock proteins and
suppress microbial growth and propagation

Innate immunity is accomplished by -

a. Phagocytic cells
b. Complementary system

Phagocytic cells (capable of engulfing and eating the target – phagocytosis)

The cells composing immune system are collectively called leukocytes (WBCs).
The leukocytes of the innate immunity are classified as:
1. Neutrophils
- Most abundant leukocytes
- Consists of substance, toxic to bacteria and fungi.
2. Basophils
- Targets bacteria and parasites
- Prevents blood clotting
3. Eosinophils
- Protect against multicellular parasites
4. Macrophages
- Most efficient phagocytes
- Releases chemokines
5. Mast cells
- Resides in connective tissue around blood vessels and
mucous membrane
- Involved in wound healing and inflammatory responses, by
releasing chemical mediators such as histamines and cytokines.
6. Natural killer cells
- Induce apoptosis and limit the spread of infection
7. Dendritic cells
- Located in tissues in direct contact with external environment.
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

- More susceptible to infections

- Secrete interferons
- They are the bridge between the innate and adaptive immunity,
as they act as antigen presenting cells.

Complement system
- Foreign substance may trigger cascade which activates complement
proteins = complement fixation.
- 5% of all blood proteins (20 different ones) are complement proteins
- The effects of complement activation are short lived they are
quickly destroyed
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Specific Immunity
(3rd line of defence)
The final line of defense against infection are the lymphocytes that
produce antibodies to specific antigenic fragments. Also known as acquired/
adaptive/ specific immunity.

Composed of highly specialized cells and processes that eliminate pathogens

and prevents growth.

Functionally, the third line of defence against infections are non-innate, but
adaptive:
✔ carefully targeted - recognizesaspecificforeignsubstance and acts to
immobilize or neutralize it
✔ amplifies the immune response, complement reactions, etc.
against specific pathogen
✔ it is a systemic response, effective throughout the entire body
✔ it has memory - protects from reinfected with same pathogen
✔ resistance lasts a long time

Cells Of Adaptive Immunity

1. B – lymphocytes (humoral immunity/antibody
mediated immunity)
2. T – lymphocytes (cellular/ cell-mediated immunity)
a. Helper T-cells
b. Killer T-cells

✪ Each B cell produces a specific antibody (special protein) and the body has
millions of different B cells capable of detecting distinct antigens.
✪ Helper T cells regulate B cell activation, ensuring that antibodies are only
mass-produced at the appropriate times
✪ Both B and T cells will differentiate to form memory cells after activation,
conferring long-term immunity to a particular pathogen
Naturally and artificially acquired immunity can be further subdivided depending on,
whether the host built up immunity itself by antigen as 'active immunity' and lasts
long-term, sometimes lifelong. Or
'Passive immunity' is acquired through transfer of immunity from mother to child or
through injections or infusion of antibodies or activated T-cells from an immune host.
It is short lived—usually lasting only a few months.
Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Summary
Plan of Protection – Immunity is the ability to defend against infectious
agents, foreign cells and abnormal cells e.g., cancerous cells
• 1st Line of defense – Block entry
• 2nd Line of Defense – Fight Local Infections
• 3rd Line of Defense – Combat Major Infections
Nonspecific and Specific Defense Systems - work together to
coordinate their responses

Nonspecific (Innate) Response - responds quickly, fights all invaders and

consists of:
• First line of defense – intact skin and mucosae and secretions of skin and
mucous membranes prevent entry of microorganisms
• Second line of defense – phagocytic white blood cells, antimicrobial proteins,
and other cells
• Inflammatory response process is key
• Inhibit invaders from spreading throughout the body

Specific Response (Adaptive) Response - takes longer to react, works

on specific types of invaders which it identifies and targets for destruction
• Third line of defense – mounts attack against particular foreign substances
• Lymphocytes and Antibodies
• Works in conjunction with the nonspecific or innate system
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Vaccination
🡺 Vaccination is a simple, safe, and effective way of protection, against
harmful diseases, before you come into contact with them.
🡺 It uses body’s natural defenses to build resistance to specific
infections and makes immune system stronger.
🡺 Vaccines train immune system to create antibodies, just as it does
when it’s exposed to a disease.
🡺 However, because vaccines contain only killed or weakened forms of
germs like viruses or bacteria, they do not cause the disease or put you
at risk of its complications.

How vaccine works?

Response of immune system after vaccination:
✔ Recognizes the invading germ, such as the virus or bacteria.
✔ Produces antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced naturally by
the immune system to fight disease.
✔ Remembers the disease and how to fight it.
✔ When there is second time exposure to the germ in the future, immune
system can quickly destroy.

Our immune systems are designed to remember.

Once exposed to one or more doses of a vaccine, body typically remain

protected against a disease for years, decades or even a lifetime.
 Immunity, Vaccination and Naturopathic View

Naturopathic View
❖ Naturopathy promotes living a healthier lifestyle that will
prevent grave health concerns in the future.

❖ It is also believed that, germs do not cause disease, but are present
in diseased conditions. Violation of nature’s law, leads to lowered
vitality and toxic accumulation, causes diseases and attracts
germs and other foreign matter.

❖ Following a balanced diet, regular practice of exercise or being

physical active can alleviate risks of heart failure, diabetes,
and boosts the overall immune system to strengthen the body.

❖ Stress is also a component that lowers body immunity against

illness. Naturopathy believes that, meditation, and regular exercise
like yoga will prevent that degradation of health and promote
natural resistance.

❖ The emphasis of natural immunity is a critical factor in

the idea of Naturopathy.

❖ The body is a self-balancing system, so outside intervention

would disrupt its functioning and cause the body to rely on
chemically created sources for strengthening and
treatment.

❖ The only external source Naturopathy approves of are

supplements that are organically produced in order to boost
wellness and help fight disease.

❖ Introducing foreign substances like prescription drugs, or most

notably vaccines, are viewed as detrimental to the balance in
the body.

❖ The major focus of naturopathy is on innate immunity and

naturally acquired immunity.