The Root Cause Of Your Immune Imbalance: Fix Your Body’s Survival Response For Optimal Immune Healt

Isaac Eliaz, MD

INTEGRATIVE PHYSICIAN | BEST-SELLING AUTHOR

Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc is a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine with more than 30 years of experience as a physician and researcher. He has partnered with some of the nation’s leading research institutes, including Harvard and Columbia Universities. As an internationally recognized expert in the treatment of cancer and other complex diseases, Dr. Eliaz embraces a whole-person approach to healing. He is the author of The Survival Paradox, as well as the owner and formulator of EcoNugenics, a line of science-backed supplements. He is also the founder and medical director of Amitabha Medical Clinic & Healing Center in Santa Rosa, Calif.

“I’ve learned to let go of our current medical system’s dogmatic paradigms, both conventional and alternative. People often say I think ‘outside the box,’ to which I reply, there was never a box to begin with.”

— Isaac Eliaz, MD, MS, LAc

PART ONE HOW THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE AFFECTS OUR HEALTH

CHAPTER

ONE

WHAT IS THE SURVIVAL PARADOX?

RebeccafirstcametoseemeatAmitabhaMedicalClinicin2011.Shewas seventy,withstage4lungcancerthathadmetastasizedtoherbones.Shehadno familyandlivedalone;hercompanionthatdaywasastone-facedchauffeur waitinginacaroutsidetheclinic.Withtearsinhereyes,shetoldmeshehad justbeendiagnosed.Handsshaking,sheshowedmethePETscanreport highlightingthemultipletumorsthroughoutherbody.Basedonwhatthe oncologistsaid,sheunderstoodthatherlifecouldcometoanendverysoon.

“Idon’twanttodie,”shesaid.“I’mnotreadytogo.”Everycellinherbody wasreelingwithanxietyandfear.Herrestlessnesswaspalpableintheair.

Asanintegrativephysicianwhotreatscancer,I’dhadthisconversationmany times.Ihandedheratissueandshewipedhertears.“IwilldoanythingIcanto overcomethiscancer,”shesaidfirmly.Iacknowledgedherfiercedetermination, herresolve.Afterall,determinationiswhat’sneededfirstandforemostto overcomeadeadlydisease,right?

Withheranxietysopalpable,Iwonderedhowthisfearmustbeaffectingher. Notjustonthelevelofheremotionsorqualityoflife;Iwonderedhowitwas affectingthecancercells.Willthisfear-baseddeterminationnottodiehelpher overcomeherdisease?Orwillitcausehertobecomesickerandshortenherlife? Heranxietywassoprominentthatitinfusedhersurroundings,affectingher abilitytotakeadeepbreath.Itwasconstantsuffering,anditwasclearshewas in“survivalmode.”

Beinginsurvivalmodemeantthathersympatheticnervoussystem hormones,thedriversofherinnatebiochemicalresponsepatterns,weredialed allthewayup.Heradrenaline,noradrenaline,andcortisolwereelevated,and herinsulinwasspiking.Herimmuneresponsewasbeingsuppressed,andher metabolic function was altered. Ultimately, it meant that many of the compoundssheexcretedinanefforttosurvivewouldverylikelynourishher cancerandallowittogrowandsurviveaswell.

Survivalmodeisoftenastateofstressandpanic.Thebodyfeelsrushedand doesn’tslowdown,andallcells,whethernormalorcancerous,fightharderto survive.Thus,Rebecca’sanxietyandfearofdyingcould“feed”thecancerous cells.Herbestchanceatbeatingthecancerandlivingalongerlifewastoshift awayfromsurvivalmodeandmoveintoastateofgreaterrelaxation,withless reactivityonthecellular,emotional,andpsychologicallevels.

Basedonresearchandmyyearsofworkwithpatients,onethinghasbecome clear: when facing a life-threatening or debilitating illness, the natural biochemicalstressresponse,ourinnatefight-or-flightmechanismsthatare drivenbyourinstincttosurvivearefundamentallyatoddswithourabilityto healandthrive.Thissurvivaldrive,rootedinoursympatheticnervoussystem andexpressedbyourbiochemicalalertsystem,isnotgoingtosaveus.Infact,it canharmus.

Howdoesthisphysiologicalresponsesystemturnagainstussodramatically, fuelingdiseaseprocessesandprematureaging?Andmoreimportantly,whatcan wedoaboutit?

Thegoodnewsis,wecandoalot.Andwecandoitinawaythatisactually simplerthananyonefacingacomplexhealthcondition—patientorprovider— mighthaveimagined.

We’llcontinuetodiscussthedetailsofRebecca’streatmentandoutcomesin thenextchapter.Iwitnessedsomethingincredibleinhercase,aswellasin manyothers.SomethingthatBruceLipton,DeepakChopra,andmanyothers havewrittenabout,andwhattheyogisandmysticshavebeensayingfor millennia: the mind can influence the body to heal spontaneously and completely.Themindcandeliverthebodyfromthebrinkofdeathanddisease tovitalityandlongevity.

THE CATCH-22 OF “POSITIVE THINKING”

Publishedevidenceonthemind-bodyconnectionissignificantandgrowing rapidly,andbasedonmypersonalandclinicalexperience,theresultscanbe exponential.Itspoweriswithinusallthetime,andit’sabsolutelyavailablefor ustouse.

So,

whydoesn’titalwayswork?

Ifmind-bodymedicineistheclinicallystudiedgoldstandard“alternative” deemedthesafestandmostbeneficialtreatmentandincreasinglyadoptedand appliedinclinicalsettingsaroundtheworld,itstandstoreasonthatmanymore peoplewouldbeabletomeditateor“positivelythink”theirdiseaseinto remission.

It’stheultimatecatch-22:whensomeoneisfacingalife-threateningdisease, askingthemtorelax,changetheirthoughtpatterns,andfocusonhappy, healingenergyismucheasiersaidthandone.It’slikeaskingsomeonewhose houseisonfiretostaycalm,thinkpositively,anddeeplyinhalethesmokefrom theirburninghome.

We’rebuiltforsurvival.Wedon’tjustwantbutintrinsicallyneedto overcomediseaseandtoheal.I’vecometofind,basedonextensivepublished researchandyearsofclinicalobservation,thatthissurvivaldriveistheone majorblockagestandinginthewayofwould-besuccesses.

Inanerawhenwetendtolookforquickfixesandsymptomsuppressors, we’rereallyjustsuppressingourhealingcapacity.Wedon’ttakethetimeto stop,slowdown,andlookwithin.Theideathatwedon’thavetime—thatwe must rush, and must compete with everyone, including ourselves—is detrimentaltoourhealthandwell-being.

WhatRebeccaneededaboveallelsewastoslowthissympatheticnervous systemresponse,butshecouldn’t.Herhousewasburningdown,and shecouldn’ttakeadeepbreathinthemidstofwhatappearedtobealifethreateningsituation.

Whenweexperienceasenseofrestlessness,notfeelingsafe,ornottrusting ourenvironmentandcommunity,itcantranslateallthewaydowntothe cellularlevel.Whenwefeelunsafeandbelieveweneedtosurviveonourown, itchangesthemetabolismandfunctionofourcells—theyreceivesignalsfrom theirenvironmentthatthereisalackofoxygen.Theformaltermforlackof oxygenishypoxia,andthehypoxiccellcan’tbreatheornaturallyrelax.(In cancerhowever,thecellsbehavethiswayeveninthepresenceofoxygen, whichwe’lldiscussindetaillaterinthebook.)

Tobeginthehealingprocess,weneedtomoveahypoxiccelltoaplace whereitfeelsitcanbreathe,createanormalmetabolism,andreturntonormal mitochondrialfunction.Todothis,thecellandthepersonmustshiftawayfrom astateofsurvivaltowardastateofrelaxation.Toachievesuchachange,the personasawholemustexperiencesafetyandbalanceallthewaytothecellular level.Thesurvivalalarmhastobeturnedoff!

So,howdidRebeccaandIbeginaddressinghercancer?Howwassheableto takeadeepbreath?Weworkeddirectlyonherbiochemistry.Wedidn’tjust circumventherfearandanxiety—wetransformedit.Weusedcertainnatural compoundstoquietthealarmsystem,normalizethecell,andfightthecancer.

Wecombinedthosecompoundswithmeditation,breathingexercises,regular acupuncture,andhealingsessionswithdifferentmodalities,includinghands-on osteopathic,craniosacral,sound,andvisualizationtherapies.Mostimportantly, we surrounded her with unconditional love and affection, a sense of community,andanenvironmentthatheldherwithoutjudgment—wecreateda worldwhereshefeltsafeandloved.

A DEEPER HEART-BODY CONNECTION

Themind-bodyconnectionisamazing,andit’snotaone-waystreet.Emotions, thoughts, and subconscious responses clearly affect our biochemistry, our physiology,andoursubjectiveandobjectiveexperiencesofhealthanddisease. Atthesametime,ourbiochemistrysharplyaffectsouremotionsandour thoughts.Itaffectswhoweareatthecore.

Meditationandothermind-bodypracticescanundoubtedlygiveusthe quantumedgeinhealing.Theyworknotonlybecausetheycancalmour anxiety,reduceinflammation,andreverseourbiochemicaldiseaseprocesses— theyalsoworkbecausetheymeltourrigidityandrelaxourfixations.They dissolvetheliteralboundariesbetweenthepersonandthedisease,allowingthe person to reach and engage the tumor, the atherosclerotic plaque, the burrowingLymespirochete,oranyotheropportunisticinfection.

However,mind-bodymethodslikemeditationcanonlyunleashourinnate healingpotentialwhenwefigureouthowtotrulyengageourhearts.Inthis regard,amoreaccuratetermforthistypeofhealingis“heart-bodymedicine” ratherthan“mind-bodymedicine.”Itisheartfulnessratherthanmindfulness.I callthis“openheartmedicine.”

Thebasicphysiologyofourheartandthefundamentalmechanicsofthisvital organfunctioninawaythatactuallyallowsandsupports“miracle”healing—an unexpectedpositiveoutcomethatdefiesprobability.

Ultimately,wehavetogetthroughthethinveneerof“positivethinking”and penetratethedeeperlayersofourdefenses.Ourinstinctualfearsandanxieties, whilepartofourinnatesurvivaldrive,obstructourhealingcapacityby triggeringbiochemicalchangesinourbodythatcreateliteralphysicalbarriers. Thesebarriersaremadeofdifferentcomponentsthatneedtobetreated.For example,therecanbehyperviscosity,whichisthicknessofthebloodthat hamperscirculationandtheabilitytodeliveroxygentothetissue;fibrosis, whichisthescarringorhardeningoftissuesandorgans;biofilmstructures, whichformprotectiveshieldsaroundtumorsandpathogens;andmore.Andall ofthiswilltranslateintochangesincommunicationsbetweenthecellandits environment.Thiscauseschangesinsidethecellsandaffectstheirfunction.

So,whatisthekeytoshiftingusfromsurvivaltoharmony?Fromdiseaseto longevity?Whatisthismetabolicsurvivalalarmthatmustbeturnedoff?

Researchershaveidentifiedonemasterproteinproducedbythebody,which isattheheadwatersofourbiochemicalalarmsystem.Thisproteindictatesour biochemicalandphysiologicalresponsetostress,illness,andinjury.

Themorestresswe’reunder,themoreourbodieswillviewlifeasabattle, leadingtoongoingconflictandfrictionwithin.Productionofthissurvival proteinwillrampupinanefforttoresolvetheconflictingdialoguebetweenthe bodyandtheoutsideworldandbetweendifferentsystemsandcellswithinthe body.Hereiswherewecanseetheparadoxofthissurvivalproteininaction.

Themolecularendresultofthisreactivedefensestrategyiscontraction, isolation,andoftendisease.Thesearesurvivalresponses,whicharedrivenby self-preservationbutunfortunatelyleadtoinflammationandfibrosis.These responsesalsoleadtodegenerationatthecellularlevel,organsystemlevel,and atthelevelofourwell-beingandlongevity.Theyhaltthecooperationbetween ourtrillionsofcellsthatwouldotherwiseseamlesslycommunicatewitheach otherinthemiracleoflife.Thebodyhasaninnatecapacitytohealitself—when thesurvivalresponsedoesn’tstandinitsway.

CHAPTER TWO THE ARCHITECT OF THE SURVIVAL RESPONSE: GALECTIN-3

Nowthatyouknowwhatthesurvivalparadoxis,let’smeetitsmolecular architect.

Ifyou’veneverheardofgalectin-3,youaren’talone.Despitethefactthat therearethousandsofpaperspublishedaboutitsroleindrivingeverythingfrom cancertoheartandkidneyfailureandmuchmore,thevastmajorityofpeople— includingmosthealthcarepractitioners—haveneverheardofiteither!But you’reabouttohearalotaboutit.

Therearedifferenttypesofgalectins,butthemoststudied(yetlittle-known) one is galectin-3, a fascinating carbohydrate-binding protein. On close examination,itplaysanimportantroleinthebalancebetweenhealthand disease. It is the core component and initiator of our self-preservation mechanism.Icallit“thesurvivalprotein.”Let’sdefineexactlywhatitisand whatitdoesinsidethehumanbody.

THE OPERATION OF GALECTIN-3

Wheninjury,illness,orotherstressorsoccur,ourinnatesurvivalresponse triggerstheproductionandactivityofgalectin-3.Intheseinstances,galectin-3 initiatesacascadeofprocessesthatarenecessaryforinjuryrepair.Howeverif thealarmfailstoturnoffafterthethreatsubsides,galectin-3getsoutofcontrol and can seriously harm us.

Whengalectin-3activitycontinuesuncontrollably,iteffectively“goes rogue,”drivinginflammationandfibrosisratherthanhealing.This,inturn,can leadtonumerousdiseaseprocesses.What’smore,pathogenssuchasdifferent infectiousagentsandtumorscanhijackgalectin-3anduseitfortheirown survival.Thisisakeyissuethatcanbetreatedstrategically,andwe’llfurther explorethisconceptthroughoutthenextchapters.

Galectin-3isproducedor expressed indifferenttypesofcells.Inparticular, galectin-3isexpressedinimmunecells,inepithelialcells(theonesthatcoat certaintissuessuchasthoseoftheintestinesandlungs),inendothelialcells(the inner-liningcellsofthebloodvessels),andinsensoryneurons,amongothers.

Weunderstandthatgalectin-3canbebeneficialorharmful,buthowcanone proteinharmandbenefitusatthesametime?Togainabetterinsightintothis paradox—oursurvivalparadox—let’stakeajourneytogetherintothestructure ofthisprotein.

Galectin-3hasachimerastructure,meaningthat different structures from various sources come togethertocreateit(achimericcharacteryoumight befamiliarwithisFrankenstein:hewascreatedfrom manydifferentparts).Whengalectin-3isactivated, itcanbindtoothergalectin-3proteinsandother carbohydratestoformcomplexstructures.Uptofive individual galectin-3 proteins can stick together, creatingfive-sidedstructurescalled pentamers.

Whengalectin-3formspentamers,thesecanattachtoothergalectin-3 pentamers,toothercarbohydrates(sugars),andtocell-surfacereceptors,where thesestructurescanthenmediatecellreactionsandcontroltheinteraction betweenthecellandtheenvironment.Soundscomplicated?Itisabit.Butdon’t worry,we’llbreakitdown.

Oursurvivalprotein,galectin-3,isactivatedwhenweexperienceasudden threat,beitphysical,emotional,mental,orpsychological.It’salsoactivatedin casesofinjury,infection,cancer,orotherillnesses.Whengalectin-3isactivated, itturnsonmultiplepathwaysthatinitiateinflammationandtheprocessof fibrosis,andsuchscartissuebuild-upcanleadtohardeninganddysfunctionof tissuesandorgansystems.Furthermore,itcanalsooverexpressitselfinspecific areasofthebody,forexample,inthejoints,cardiovascularsystem,orthebrain. Andwhatistrulyamazingisthatitcanexertverydifferenteffectsatdifferent sitesbasedonwhatit’sboundto.

GALECTIN-3 EXPRESSION

IN MODERN LIFE

Tobetterunderstandthecomplexityofgalectin-3,let’srelateittothebigger picture:ourmodern-dayexistence.Weliveinaworldwherepeoplecontinue tobecomemoreisolated.Whenpeoplearelessconnectedtoeachotherandto theearth,allbecomeweaker.Weexploitandabuseournaturalresources,and weseetheeffectsofrapidclimatechange.Globalwarmingisaninflammatory processontheplanetarylevel.

Atthehumanlevel,ourinternalandexternalsenseofpeaceisdwindling,and ourattentionspansareridiculouslyshort.Wecannolongerwaitforweeks, days,orevenhourstogiveorreceivearesponse—wecanonlytoleratewaiting formilliseconds,andwefeeltheneedtoreactimmediatelytoeverystimulus.

Mostofuslivehigh-stresslifestylesinundatedwithelectronicandotherforms ofstimulation.Idon’tthinkit’sanexaggerationtosaythatourmodernsociety isinastateofoverwhelm.

Thecontinualbarrageofstimulifromeverydirection,theonslaughtof environmentaltoxins,theongoingmental,physical,andemotionalstresswe’ve grownaccustomedto—thesedisturbancesthrowusintosurvivalmodewhere oursystemsareonconstanthighalert,likeanalarmthatneverturnsoff.

Theresult?Unhealthygalectin-3expression,andwithit,progressivedamage tovitalorgansandsystemsoverthelong-term.This,inturn,fuelsmore galectin-3production,formingaperpetuallyclosedloopsystemthatisproving tobeperhapsthesinglegreatestthreattoourhealthandlongevity.

Theconditionofouralarmsystemanditsresponsetostressorsofdifferent originsdependsupontheconditionofmultipleothersystems.It’sinfluencedby theneurological,circulatory,andmetabolicsystems,aswellasmitochondrial function(ourenergyproductionsystem).Ourdietandlifestyleaffectittoo. Regardlessofthenature,origin,orlocationofthestressor,theresponse— galectin-3—hasanextraordinaryinfluenceonourbody’salertsystemand, subsequently,ourentirespectrumofhealthandlongevity.

Forouralarmsystemtoworkcorrectly,ourinflammatory,immune,and otherbiochemicalresponsesmustbecarefullyregulated.Whenthealarmsystem isworkingwell,itcanresolveslow-comingissueslikecancer,aging,orjoint pain.Itcanalsorampupquicklyandaddressimmediatethreatslikecuts, infections,bruises,emotionalstress,andotherdangers.Thenitcanwinddown

justasrapidlyaftertheproblemhaspassed.

Let’scompareahealthyinflammatoryresponsetoanunhealthyoneby thinkingaboutwhathappenswhenweturnonlights.Turningonasingle switchdoesn’ttakemuchenergy.Inthiscase,“turningononelight”alertsthe bodyofanissue,illuminatingtheneedforrepair.Whenthishappenswithinthe body,it’sanentirelynormal,acuteinflammatoryresponse,andwhenthe problemisgone,thelightturnsoff.

However,thetroublebeginswhenaswitchisturnedonandcan’tbeturned off.It’sasthoughacircuithasmalfunctioned.Whentheswitchstayson,it triggersacascade,causingmultiplelightstoswitchon.Thisisthestartof chronicinflammation,andthebodygoesintocrisismode.Atthatpoint,the bodyhasachoice:resolvetheproblemorkeepturningonmorelights.Ifthe bodychoosestokeepswitchingonlights,thiswilleventuallyleadtoamuch biggercrisis.

Anotherproblemwiththeselightsisthattheycanbeturnedoninisolation, awayfromthebody’sradar,meaningthebodywillbeunawarethattheselights areevenon.Justliketheselights,galectin-3canbeactivatedinanisolated microenvironmentwhereitgraduallycausesdamage.Insomecases,bythetime thedamageisdetected,itmaybetoolatetohealorreverseit.Apersonmay wakeuponedaytodiscover“sudden”kidneyfailure,wheninfact,thedamage occurredslowlyovertime—theywerejustunawareofit.

The Risks of Isolation Formations

Isolationisafundamentalsurvivalstrategy.Itisinitiatedanddrivenbygalectin3.Aswediscussedearlier,galectin-3usesmultiplepentamersboundtoeach otherindifferentwaystocreatelatticeformations(orcoatingsorbiofilms). Theseformationscreatepocketsofisolationaroundareasofdamage,infection, andtoxicbuild-up,amongothers.Withinthesemicroenvironmentscreatedby galectin-3,diseasescandevelopundetectedandremainprotectedfromdrug treatmentsandothertherapeuticagents.

Frequentharmfulvisitorswithinthebody—likebacteria,viruses,fungi, parasites,otherinfectiousagents,andcancercells—haveasimilarisolation strategy.Theycanhijackgalectin-3tocreateashieldaroundthemselves(a latticeformation)sotheyareundetectedbytheimmunesystemandcaneven evadetherapeuticagents.Galectin-3canalsoisolatevariousthreatsthataretoo difficultforthebodytodealwith,suchastoxinsandheavymetals.

Youcanimaginethatonapsychologicallevel,wegothroughasimilar process,buryingemotionsandtraumasthataretoodifficultforustodealwith. Evenifthesetraumasarenotatthesurfaceofourawarenessorconsciousness, theycanstillhaveapsychologicalandphysiologicaleffectonus.Youmight havehadanexperiencewhilegoingthroughadetoxprocesswhereanemotion ormemorysurfacesallofasudden.Wherewasthisemotionallthistime?Itwas likelyburiedinamicroenvironmentthatwasnotaccessibletous.Asweopen orrevealourphysiologicalmicroenvironmentsandreleasetoxins,wecanalso openpsychologicalmicroenvironmentsreleasingburiedemotions.

Evenifanisolatedareaisnotspecificallycreatedinordertohidean infectiousagentorcancercell,themicroenvironmentscreatedbythegalectin-3 latticeformationsarestillwalledofffromourcirculation,andthesealtered environmentscanoftenbecomeveryinflamedandhypoxicduetoalackof oxygen.

Hypoxia also shifts our cellular energy production pathway fromnormal mitochondrialfunctionto anaerobic glycolysis,whichisahighlyinefficientway toproduceenergy;itresultsinthebuildupoflacticacidandotherinflammatory metabolicby-products.Thiscanleadtofurtherhypoxia,whichproduces additionalinflammationandgalectin-3expression,causingthehardeningor dysfunctionoftissues,organs,andbloodvessels.

THE PROS AND CONS OF GALECTIN-3

Despitethepotentialharmitcando,galectin-3servesafewimportantpurposes withinthebody.Ithelpsintranuclearcelldevelopmentandextracellularinjury repairandsurvival.However,whenthebodyisincrisisandthereisan upregulationofgalectin-3production,itcanhavedetrimentalconsequences.

Duetocomplexbiochemicalstructuresandgenetictendencieswithineach person,thereisnostandard,predictableresponsewhenitcomestogalectin-3. Thisproteincanbeatdifferentlevelsindifferentpeopleandtriggerdifferent responses,eveniftheyhavethesamecondition.Forexample,somepeople’s bodiesare“hypervigilant,”alwaysonthealert,andtheyrespondtoastimulusor triggerwithoverinflammation.Otherpeoplemaynothaveagood“survival sense,”andtheylacktheabilitytofightandcreatetheproperinflammation. Instead,theyhaveatendencytoshutdownandendupwithsuppressed immunityoranincreaseinfibrosis.

Furthermore,thereisanadaptiveresponsewithgalectin-3,meaningthe reactionisamplifiedduetopreviousphysical,emotional,orpsychological trauma.Inanadaptiveresponse,oursystemhasbeenconditionedtorespondto specifictriggersinaparticularway.Inotherwords,itrepeatsthepatternsitis accustomedto,allthewaytothelevelofourcellularmemory.

Healing without Consequence

Forourbodiestohealproperly,weoftenneedtoremovethestimulantsthat causetheinflammatoryprocesstoperpetuallycontinue.It’snosecretthataswe getolder,ittakesmoreandmoreefforttodothingsthatoncetooknoeffortat all.Whenweareyoungandagile,ourbodiesaremoreefficientandlesstoxic; theyareflexibleandhaveahighcapacityforchange,growth,andrepair.We canmountarobustinflammatoryresponsetoshutaproblemdownwithout consequence.Likethemetaphorofabirdflyingintheskywithoutleavingany trace,orlikewritingonwater,wecanoftensolveaproblemwithoutleavinga trace.

However,asweage,ourbodieslosethatagility,andwearemoreapttocarry ourissueswithus.Forexample,ifaninjuryoccurstotheskininutero,the woundcanhealwithoutatrace,butasweage,thewoundhealingprocessslows andcausesincreasedscarring.Aswetraveltheroadoflife,ourbodiesdisplay theevidenceofourphysical,emotional,psychological,andspiritualtraumas— theynolongerhealwithease.

Themetaphorsforabirdflyingwithoutleavingatraceandwritingonwater comefromBuddhistphilosophy.Theyservetoillustratethenatureofthoughts andexperiencesasarisingandvanishing—anexampleofimpermanence.Thisis whatinflammationshouldbe:itshouldbeanacuteresponsethatoccursand thendisappears.Itshouldturnoffwithoutatraceandwithoutlingering consequences.Thisiswhathappenswhenwehavearobustimmunesystemand whengalectin-3worksappropriately.Andwhenitdoesn’t,thedamagebegins.

The Solution: Blocking Unhealthy Expression of Galectin-3

I’dliketotakeamomenttoemphasizeacriticalpointandtheprimaryreasonI wrotethisbook:wecanabsolutelyinterruptthiscycleofdestructionandhalt— orevenreverse—thesefundamentaldiseaseprocesses.How?Bydeactivating unhealthygalectin-3.

Whenweblockgalectin-3frombinding,wecanbreakuplatticeformations and reach the isolated pockets and areas of the body, including tumor microenvironments.Abnormaltissuesandcells,eventumorouscancercells,can becomenormalonceagain,which,needlesstosay,hastremendousimplications for our health and longevity. By blocking unhealthy galectin-3, we can dismantle its harmful effects and render it inactive, decreasing unhealthy inflammationintheprocess.Thismakesblockinggalectin-3oneofthemost importanttherapeuticstrategiesfortreatingavastarrayofconditions.

REBECCA’S STORY (CONTINUED)

Let’srevisitRebecca’sstorysinceithelpsillustratehowgalectin-3candirectly influencesurvival,health,anddisease.

WhenRebeccacametoseemein2011,itwasthefirstyearwewereableto testgalectin-3levelsintheblood.Thankstoasimplenewserumassaythatwas recentlyapprovedbytheFDAandisnowreadilyavailable,shewasoneofthe veryfirstpatientsinmypracticetohavegalectin-3levelstested.

Rebecca’sinitiallevelswereskyhigh,andtheby-productsofhersympathetic nervous system response to her crisis were elevated, as well as other proinflammatory,procancerousmarkers.Akeystrategyinhertreatmentplan wastotargetgalectin-3usingvariousprovenmethods.Weusedherlevelsasa markertogaugeherprogressthroughout.

Theresultswereunmistakable:whenRebeccawasdoingwell,hergalectin-3 levelswerelower,andwhenshewasinacrisis,herlevelswerehigher.For Rebecca,thismarkerservedasanimportantindicatorastowhenthecancerwas aggressiveandwhenitwas“quiet.”

Thishelpedusfine-tunehertreatmentsandstayonestepaheadofthecancer. (Note,however,thatduetoitscomplexbiochemistry,galectin-3cancause damageevenatlowlevels.Itisthereforeimportanttoaddressgalectin-3 regardlessofitslevels.MoreinformationcanbefoundinAppendixA.)

Rebeccataughtussomethingveryimportant:sheexemplifiedtheintimate connectionbetweenouremotionsandourhealth.WhenRebecca’sanxiety increased,hercancergotworse.Herpresentationwassopronouncedand immediatethatitwaseasytoseewhenheranxietywasworsening.Butwhen shewasabletorelax,quiettheanxiety,andbemorespacious,hersymptomsgot better. The way Rebecca responded as a person was the way her body responded as well. When her survival crisis decreased, and she became comfortablethinkingaboutlife,death,andimpermanence,itaffectedtheway thecancerfunctioned.Thecancerfeltlessthreatenedanddecreaseditsown survivalresponse.

Doesitsoundnew-ageyandfluffywhenItalkaboutchangesinthebehavior ofcancer?Really,it’snot.I’mreferringtochangesinthelevelsofgrowth factorsthatdrivetheaggressivenessofcancer,factorslikedownstreamproteins thatareregulatedbyoursurvivalprotein,galectin-3.Suchdownstreamproteins areimpactedbysignalingmolecules—whichthemselvesareimpactedbyour emotionalstate.

Rebeccawasabletocalmhersystemthroughregularmeditation,deep breathing,acupuncture,participationinmymeditationandhealingretreatsand workshops,andthroughtheuseofgalectin-3blockers.Thesehelpedtomitigate the initial survival process and significantly reduce the growth and aggressivenessofhercancer.

Rebecca’scancerdidnotcompletelyrespondtochemoandradiation,butit subsidedthroughthesehealingmethods.Herscansbecamenormal,indicating thathercancerhadgoneintoremission.ButRebeccadidmorethanjust incorporatethesehealingmethodsintohertreatment—she alsodeveloped communityandfriendshipswithotherpatientsinourcenter.

Thesefriendscheeredheronthroughoutherjourney,andthestoicdriverwho broughthertoherfirstappointmentwasnolongerneeded,asshebegan participatinginlivelycarpoolstotheclinic.Shewentfrombeinghighlycritical ofnonconventionalapproachesandbitteraboutherdiagnosisandfateto embracingherprocessandwelcominghertreatments.

Rebecca’stransformationsprofoundlyaffectedherphysiologyandallowed hertooutliveherprognosisconsiderably.Oneday,herlaughrangthroughthe clinicfromtheIVroom,remindingmeofthehealingpowerofjoy.Hercancer eventuallyreturned,butevenwithresiduallungcancer,shelivedsevenmore yearswithabetterqualityoflifethanshehadexperiencedindecades.Shesaid, “Isaac,Ifeelalivelikeneverbefore.”Shediedpeacefullyinherhome,ina meditativestate,surroundedbyfriends.Herlifewascelebratedbythemany peoplewhoweredeeplytouchedandinspiredbyherjourney.

CHAPTER FIVE

A GIFT FROM NATURE: MODIFIED CITRUS PECTIN

Nowthatyouunderstandhowthesurvivalresponseandgalectin-3operate withinthebody,we’llexploreabitofgoodnews:awaytointerruptthis responseatthebiochemicallevel.

Morethanseventypublishedstudieshavedemonstratedtheabilityofavery specificandhumblecompoundtoblockthedevastatingeffects ofgalectin-3.Isay“humble”becauseitisderivedfromcitrusfruits.This amazinggiftfromnatureisalow-molecular-weightformofpectincalled modifiedcitruspectin(MCP).

Let’stakeamomenttodefine pectin ingeneral.Itisafiber.Structurally, pectinisalongchainofcarbohydrates,mostlyaspecificonecalledgalacturonic acid.Thischainofgalacturonicacidhasalargemolecularweightranging between200–300kilodaltons.(Formytechnicalreaders:pectinalsohasside branchescomposedofdifferentneutralsugarslikearabinose,rhamnose,and xylose.)Whenthepectincomesfromcitrus,itisknownascitruspectin.

Importantly,regularpectinisnotabsorbedintothebloodstreamand thereforecannotblockgalectin-3.Therearestillhealthbenefitstoit,asafiber— sinceitscarbohydratechainisverylongandisn’tdigestedorabsorbed,it remainsinthegut,whereitcanimproveguthealth.However,inorderfor citruspectintoblockgalectin-3,itmustbemodifiedintoasubstancewitha lowmolecularweight.

Unlikepectin,thesemodifiedmoleculesaremuch,muchsmaller:3–13 kilodaltons, compared to the 200–300 kilodaltons of regular pectin. The smaller-sizedmoleculesallowthecompoundtoenterthebloodstreamthrough thedigestivetract.Oncethere,becauseofitsspecificstructure,itcanbindto galectin-3andblockitsdevastating effects. Essentially, MCPconnectsto galectin-3’scarbohydraterecognitiondomain,whichhasanaffinityforthe galacturonicacidpresentinMCP.Inthisway,MCPpreventsgalectin-3from interactingwithcellsandtissues.

Frustratingly,thereareformsofMCPonthesupplementmarketwhichhave moleculesthatarenotsmallenoughtoenterthebloodstream—thisiswhyI refertotheformofMCPI’mdiscussingashavingalowmolecularweight.In orderforMCPtoeffectivelyblockgalectin-3,itmustundergoveryprecise changesinitsstructurethroughaspecificpHandheat-controlledenzymatic process.Thisnotonlyreducesthepectinfibertoatiny,absorbablesizebutalso givesittheabilitytobindtoandblockgalectin-3.Forthisreason,Ionly recommend a form of researched MCP that has undergone this process. Fortunately,thisformoflow-molecular-weightMCPisanextremelysafe compound,classifiedasGRAS(GenerallyRegardedasSafe)bytheFDA.Now thatyouunderstandthemolecular-weightdistinction,forthesakeofbrevity,I willrefertothecompoundonlyasMCP.

MY PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT

BeforewegetintothescienceandresearchonMCP,I’dliketosharemy personalinvolvementinitsdevelopmentandwhyitissonearanddeartome.

IgrewupinasuburbanneighborhoodinRamatGan,Israel.Oneeveningin 1971,whenIwastwelveyearsold,myparentsandIvisitedourneighbors,Drs. LeoandRuthCohen.BothwerePhDsinorganicchemistryandpioneersinthe citrusindustryofIsrael—theyweretheheadscientistsatIsrael’sleadingcitrus productionconglomerate.

Duringourvisitthatevening,weengagedinlivelyconversation.Suddenly, Ruthturnedtomeoutoftheblueandsaid,“Isaac,onedaytheywillfinda treatmentforcancerinthepeelsofcitrusfruits.”Forsomereason,Ruth’s statementstuckinmymind.

Then,twenty-fouryearslaterin1995,afterIgraduatedfrommedicalschool andobtainedmymaster’sofscienceintraditionalChinesemedicine,astudyin the Journal of the National Cancer Institute caughtmyattention.Inthestudy, micewithprostatecancerweregivenMCP.Amazingly,therewasadramatic decreaseinthenumberandsizeoflungmetastasisinthemicethathad consumedtheMCPcomparedtothemicethathadn’t.Thiswastheresultofthe inhibitionofgalectin-3.

Intrigued,IcalledDr.RuthCohen.Iremindedherofwhatshetoldme twenty-fouryearsearlierandsharedthestudyresultswithher.Iaskedifshe couldhelpmemakethemosteffectiveformofMCP,andRuthdelightedly connectedmewithsomeoftheleadingpectinscientistsintheworld.This beganmyjourneywithMCP,whichwasinitiallysparkedonthatpivotalday whenIwastwelveandhasbeenunfoldingeversince.

Ithasbeenajourneyofdiscovery.Ifyoulookedatmymedicalchartstwenty yearsago,youwouldnothavenecessarilyseenMCPatthetopofmypatients’ suggestedtherapies.Sometimesitwasn’tonthelistatall.However,overthe years,I’veconductedextensiveresearchonMCP,includingitsapplicationin reducingtheseverityofcancer,enhancingtheimmunesystem,removingheavy metals,inhibitingandreducinginflammationandfibrosisbyblockinggalectin3,anditsabilitytopositivelyimpactmanychronicconditionsanddiseases. I nowrecognizethatitisperhapsthemostimportantsupplementwehaveinour effortstotreatandpreventchronicdisease.

Today,theMCPIdevelopedandresearchedisavailableforuseasadietary supplement.Ioftensaythatifitwereadrug,Ibelieveitwouldbewidely prescribed.Butsinceit’sanaturalproductextractedfromthepeelsofcitrus fruits,it’sadietarysupplementand,assuch,receivesmuchlessattention.Many ofmycolleaguescallit“thebest-keptsecretinintegrativemedicine.”Although it’stakentwenty-fiveyears,low-molecular-weightMCPisfinallystartingto gettherecognitionandappreciationitdeserves. 15

HOW DOES MCP WORK?

MCPinterfereswiththeinflammatoryprocessbybindingtogalectin-3’s carbohydrate recognition domain—preventing galectin-3 from otherwise bindingtoligands,interactingwithcells,orforminglatticestructures.By disrupting the cell-to-cell, cell-to-galectin-3, and galectin-3-to-galectin-3 interactions,MCPcreatesanenvironmentthatisinhospitabletoinflammation, fibrosis,hypoxia,infection,andcancercellgrowth. Inthecaseofcancer,for example,itremovesthegalectin-3that“shields”thecancer,andblocksthe galectin-3thatinhibitstheimmuneresponse.Thiswakesuptheimmunecells andenhancesthenormalimmuneresponse,makingtheimmunecellsmore effective.

WhileMCPblocksgalectin-3inplaceswhereitcausesdamage,tissuesthat require galectin-3 still express galectin-3 where it’s needed. This is the wonderfulthingaboutMCP:itdoesn’t inhibit healthycellularfunctionand injuryrepairbutrathermitigatestheharmfulconsequencesofgalectin-3. AndMCP’sbeneficialeffectsextendbeyondgalectin-3binding.Itcanalsobind toheavymetalsandhelpremovethem.Further,ithasapowerfulimmuneenhancing effect. This is because of a side structure in the MCP called rhamnogalacturonan II,whichimprovestheimmuneresponse.

EVIDENCE OF MCP’S EFFECTIVENESS

Yearsago,beforeIdiscoveredtheroleofgalectin-3ininflammationand fibrosis,Iwitnessedaninterestingphenomenon:MCPquicklyreducedpainin mypatients.Theyreportedthattheirarthritis,backpain,andsometimeseven painfromcancerhadresolvedorimprovedinjustafewdays.

Iaskedmyself,“Howcanthisbe?”IthoughtmaybeitwasduetoMCP’s abilitytoremoveheavymetals,buttheresultingpainreliefhappenedso quickly,itwaspuzzling.Now,afteryearsofresearch,weknowthatblocking galectin-3reducesinflammationandfibrosis,andcanthereforenotonlyhelp relievepainbutalsopositivelyimpactawidespectrumofconditions.

It’sespeciallystrikingtolookatthebenefitsofMCPininflammatory-driven cardiovascularconditions.Thereareclosetotwentyanimalstudiespublishedin majorjournalsreportingtheconsistentabilityofMCPtostopandevenreverse arterioscleroticdamage.OnlyonesinglestudyshowedthatMCPdidn’twork, andwhenyoureaditcarefully,youcanseethatitdidn’tworkbecauseitwasa different type of MCP withahighermolecularweight.Thisdemonstratesthe importanceofusingthecorrectMCP—MCPisonlyeffectivewhenitis properlymodified.

MyresearchteamandIhavebeencollaboratingwithDr.AvrahamRazfrom WayneStateUniversity,headofthegroupthatpublishedtheoriginallandmark MCPresearchinthe Journal of National Cancer Institute in1995.Iamgratefulto Dr.Razforhispivotalcontributiontothefieldofgalectin-3andMCP. Throughourcollaboration,we’vebeenabletoutilizeantibodiestoidentify MCPinthebloodstream.Byusingthismethod,wedemonstratedforthefirst timethatMCPisabsorbedintothebloodstream,whereitcanexertitsbenefits. Becauseofitsabilitytoblockgalectin-3,MCPbenefitsmultiplesystems throughoutthebody.Whenitcomestothemetabolicsystem,itcanimprove insulinresistance,diabetes,metabolicsyndrome,andobesity.MCPalsoworks asanantioxidantandpromotesmitochondrialhealth.Byreducinginflammation andfibrosis,itinhibitsthedrivingforceforautoimmuneanddegenerative diseases.Thesamemechanismhelpswithpostinjuryhealing,protectsthe blood-brainbarrier,andcanhelphealstroke-inflictedbraindamage.

Inaddition,MCPfacilitatesthegrowthofbeneficialbacteriaintheGItract andinhibitstheadhesionofharmfulpathogensinthegutandthelungs. 18

By breaking down the galectin-3 lattice formation, MCP doesn’t allow microorganismstohideandevadetheimmunesystem.Itcanevenhavean antimicrobial effect on pathogenic bacteria. To give an example, MCP demonstratesantimicrobialactivityaloneandincombinationwithcefotaxime, an antibiotic, against strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

ThesearejustsomeofthehighlightsofMCP’seffects.We’lldiscussmore aboutitsinfluenceonmanyconditionsinthechapterstocome.

JONATHAN’S STORY

AftersomanyyearsspentworkingwithMCP,Iamstillinaweofits effectiveness.TheexcitementIfeelisrenewedeverytimeIlivevicariously throughapatient’swonder.MydearfriendJonathanwasadvisedbyhis naturopathtostartusingMCPtohelpwiththeeliminationofheavymetalsand toxins.Afterafewmonths,Jonathancontactedmetoaskaboutsomethingthat surelycouldn’tbepossible—hadMCPalsoresolvedhislong-termhypertension?

Hisbloodpressurehadbeenhoveringat140/90formanyyears,anditwas now110/70.Hedidn’tchangeanythingwithhisdietorsupplementation—he simplystartedtakingMCP.ItoldJonathanthat,infact,itwaspossiblebecause MCPcanblocktheharmfuleffectsofgalectin-3onthecardiovascularsystem.

Afewmonthslater,ImetwithJonathanagain.Thistime,hetoldmethat, althoughhe’dbeensufferingfrombleedinggumsforyears,theproblemhad suddenlyresolved.

“Isaac,”heasked,“itcan’tbepossiblethatMCPhashelpedmygums,aswell, canit?”

“Indeed,”Ireplied,“itiscertainlypossible.”

Afterthatvisit,hisskepticismturnedtosupposition.WhenIsawhimnext, hehadmoregoodnews.Hetoldmehehadalwayscomedownwithanumber ofcoldsaccompaniedbycoughandbronchitiseachwinter.However,thispast winter,hisimmunesystemwasstrongerthanever,anddespiteextensive internationaltravels,hedidn’tgetsick at all.

“It’sbecauseoftheMCP,”heannounced. Ilaughedandreplied,“It’scertainlypossible.”

ONE PART OF AN INTEGRATED APPROACH

Bydeactivatinggalectin-3andbreakingdownitslatticeformation,MCP uncoverstheisolatingmicroenvironmentsthatcanharbordamagingdisease processeswithinus.Fromasymbolicpointofview,galectin-3isnowragingin ourcountryandonourplanet.Buttherearetoolstoblockthenegativeeffects ofdivision,isolation,andinflammation.Onthephysicallevel,wehavetools suchasdietandexercise.NowthereisalsoMCP.

Myapproachinmedicineistoseethroughsymptomstodeepercausesand relationships.Assuch,Ifrequentlyadvocateforamoremultidimensionaland sometimes complex approach to life and health. However, within the complexity,therearesomeverysimpleunifyingprinciples.Wecannotseparate ourcellularmechanismsfromthelargercosmicforcesthataffecttheworld aroundus.LikethedoublehelixofDNA,thesestrandsareinterwoven.

Keepingthisinmind,ifoursurvivalresponsepromotesisolationtendencies thatcanbesodamaging,whatcanwedotocounterbalancethis?Isthereaway forustohealthatisoflargerscope,notonlyatthecellularlevel?

Theanswerliesinconnectingwithouressenceandcore,withwhowetruly are.Loveisatthecenterofourcreation.Withsomeexceptions,humansare madeinanactoflovebetweentheirparentsthroughabondthathasrepeated itselfgenerationaftergeneration,datingbacktoallofourancestorswhoare withinourgeneticmakeup.

Thisqualityofloveispresentineachandeveryoneofourcells,butwe’velost thisconnectionthroughoutoursurvivalstruggles.

However,thereisoneorganinthebodythatfunctionsdifferentlyand continuouslyremindsuswhatitmeanstogivewithoutjudgment.Itoffersus thebuilt-inphysiologicalopportunitytotransformoursurvivalreactivityinto unconditionalloveandcompassion.Ittakesin“dirty”bloodthatcontains unwantedby-productsfromourcellsandorgans,transformsthequalityofthe bloodthroughbreath,andgivesout“clean”bloodtoitsenvironmentandthe restofthebodywithoutdiscrimination.Thisorganistheheart.

It’swhatI’llfocusonnext,becausewhenweconnectwithourhearts, anythingandeverythingbecomespossible.

CHAPTER TWELVE

IMBALANCES OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Immunityisafundamentalfunctionofthebodyandsomethingthatmany peoplearerightlyconcernedabout.Theimmunesystemisourprotector, shieldingusfromoutsideinvadersaswellasonesthatdevelopinsidethebody. First,let’sexaminehowimmunityfunctionsanddevelops.

Everycellinourbodyhasacertainmarkerthathelpsthecellrecognizeitself aspartofthesystem,andhelpsthebodyrecognizethecellasapartofitselfso thatthebodydoesn’tattackthecell.Thisiscontrolledbyasophisticated recognitionsystemcalled major histocompatibility complex(MHC),whichmakes itdifficultforpathogenstoevadeimmuneresponses.

Someimmunelearningprocessesbegininuterowhiletheimmunesystem develops,butforthemostpart,weareimmunenaiveatthebeginningofour lives.Wearen’texposedtobacteriaorpathogensinsidethewomb,soour immunesystemrequirestraining.

Ourimmunetrainingstartswhenwe’refirstexposedtoourmother’s microbiomeanditsbacteriaduringourbirth,andcontinueswhenwebreastfeed sincewe’reexposedtodifferentmoleculesandcompoundsinourmother’smilk.

Theimmunesystemdevelopsthroughoutchildhood,withchildhoodillnesses servingasatraininggroundfortheimmunesystem.Whenachildisexposedto anillness,thisexposureteachestheimmunesystemhowtocreatearobust response.Thentheresponseturnsoffandlifegoeson.Atleast,thisishowit’s supposedtohappen.

Childrenwhoplayinthedirt,getexposedtootherchildren,andgetexposed tocoldswillhavelessasthma,allergies,andincidenceofchronicdiseasebecause theirimmunesystemsareproperlytrained. Childrenwhoarekeptinisolation andnotexposedtogermsendupwithcompromisedimmunesystemsandare morelikelytohavechronicconditionssuchasasthma.

Wemustbeexposedtooutsidebacteria,viruses,andparasites,butthereare alsocertainnaturalcompoundsthatcanhelptrainandbuildtheimmune system,allowingitsinnateandadaptivefunctionstodevelop.Forexample,the polysaccharides, glycoproteins, and phospholipids contained in medicinal mushroomscanallbeveryhelpful.TakingMCPcanbehelpfulaswell.

Thebodyhasmultiplebarriersofprotection,suchastheskin,thecorneaof theeyes,andtherespiratory,gastrointestinal(GI),andgenitourinary(GU) systems.Thesephysicalbarriersarethebody’sfirstlineofdefense,andsomeof themevenhaveactiveimmunefunctions.Forinstance,themucousinthe mucosalayersoftherespiratory,GI,andGUsystemscontainantimicrobial substances.Thesebarriershelptokeepexternalthreatsoutsideofthebody.

Butwhathappenswhenwethreatenourselvesinternallywithdestructive emotionsanddestructivepsychology?Theimmunesystemstillresponds!The bodyandournervoussystemcancreatetrauma-inducedandsurvival-driven responsesthatarethebestimmediatesolutionforuswhenfacedwithathreat butarenotsuitableforusinthelongrun.Whenwegetstuckwithsuch fixationsandtrauma-drivenresponses,itcanresultindamagingoutcomes psychologically,mentally,andphysically.Thiscanleadtoautoimmunediseases andmanyotherunhealthyconditionsthataretheby-productofthesurvival response.

WHAT IS AUTOIMMUNITY?

Autoimmunityisaninappropriateimmunereactiontowardthebodyortoward certainorganswithinthebody.Inthisreaction,theimmunesystemattacksthe bodyratherthanprotectingit.Itdoesn’trecognizethebodyas“self”butrather perceives it as “other,” and it unleashes the survival response and the inflammatorycascade.Thiscanexpressitselfinavarietyofdiseases,suchas rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and many others. But the issue of autoimmunitygoesbeyondsimplephysicalandbiochemicalresponses.

Theimmunesystemidentifiesdistinctivemoleculespresentonthe surfaceofcells,calledmajorhistocompatibilitycomplexmolecules (MHCclassI).BasedontheMHCidentification,itrecognizesthemas “self,”whileitidentifiesforeignmaterialsas“nonself.”Anysubstances recognizedasforeignareclassifiedbytheimmunesystemasantigens and trigger an immune response. Antigens are recognized by lymphocytes(oneofourimmunecells)andtriggertheproductionof antibodies,whichspecificallybindtothem.Thisimmuneresponse eliminatesintrudingmaterialfromthebodyandisalsoknownas adaptiveimmunity. IdentifyingSelfandOthers:TheMHCProteinComplex

Stronginnateimmunitymeansthatweareabletoprotectourselveswhen necessarywithoutattackingourselves.Whenwehavethishealthybalance,we becomelessreactive—bothwithinthebodyandtowardtheoutsideworld.We arebetterabletodiscernbetweenrealandperceivedthreatsand,asaresult, judgeandoverreactless.Beingwithinacommunityhelpsuscreaterelationships ofmutualrespect,whichinturninfluenceourbodiesallthewaytothelevelof themicrobiome.

Theskin,thecornea,andthemucosalmembraneareourphysicalprotective barriers,whichutilizetheinnateimmuneresponse.Iftheinnateimmunesystem workswell,youdon’tneedtorecruittheadaptivesystemasoften.Thisiswhat wewant,sincetheadaptivesystemistheonethatrespondstochallenges throughthesurvivalresponseandisconnectedtotheinvolvementofgalectin-3.

AdaptiveandInnateImmuneSystems

Thefast-acting, innate (generalimmunesystem)andthe adaptive (specializedimmunesystem)workcloselytogethertotakeon different tasks. The innate system is not dedicated to specific pathogens;thus,itdoesnotneedalongstartupphase,butitcan onlyblockgermsfromenteringandspreadingthroughoutthebody toacertaindegree.Theadaptivesystemisspecializedincreatinga specificresponsethatislong-lasting,anexamplebeinglong-lasting immuneprotectioninresponsetoasuccessfulvaccine.

Healthycommunitiestakecareofeachother.Ifsomethingiswrong,they alertoneanother,andthesamehappensbetweenthecellsofourbody.Butifit’s everycellforitselfandthecellsdon’tcarewhathappenstooneanother,we’ll encountertrouble.Thecellperceivesaneedforself-preservation,andthisisnot ahealthyimmuneresponsebecauseitdoesn’tconsiderthebodyandtheperson asawhole.

Autoimmuneissuescanalsoresultfromexposuretotoxins.Theycandevelop postinfectionandcanbeaffectedbygeneticandepigeneticinfluences.The bodyrecognizestheinfectiousagentortoxin,butthebodyrespondstoitby mountinganimmuneresponse against the body—welosetheharmonyinsideour bodies,andwebegintoself-destruct.Autoimmuneresponsescanalsobe triggered by emotional and psychological stresses. Internal struggles can manifest in certain organs and organ systems in the body, leading to autoimmuneissues.

Everyautoimmuneconditionhasaunique,complexpatternofimmune dysregulation,butgalectin-3isalmostuniversallyinvolvedwithautoimmune diseases.Forexample,galectin-3playsaroleinthebody’srecognitionofself andnonself,suchasforeigninvadersthathavetobeeliminated.Interestingly, thisnotonlyimpactsautoimmunediseases—italsoimpactsorgantransplants. Galectin-3isinvolvedinorganrejections,wherethebodyrejectsthenewly transplantedorgan,aswellasingraftversushostresponse(GVH),acondition wherethecellsofthetransplantedorganorbonemarrowattackthe“host,”the body.

TREATMENTS FOR THE IMMUNE SYSTEM

Inflammation,aging,andgeneticsarealllinkedwiththedeclineoftheimmune system.Thenaturalprocessof immunosenescence isthegradualdeteriorationof theimmunesystembroughtonbyageadvancement.Allofthewearandtearof inflammationcausesyourimmunesystemtodeclinewithage,inadditionto other factors like genetics, epigenetics, and lifestyle. It’s inevitable, and eventuallywealldeclineinfunctionalityanddie.However,understandingthe processandwhatdrivesitoffersustheabilitytohavesomecontroloveritand improvetheoutcome.

Whenwelookatimprovingtheimmunesystem,there’smuchthatcanbe done.Enhancingthehealthofthedifferentcontributorstotheimmunesystem willhelp.Forexample,thedigestivesystemisanintegralpartoftheimmune system,soit’simportanttohaveahealthymicrobiomeandgutbarriers.Inthis section,wewilldiscussavarietyoftherapiesandhealthyhabitsthatcan improveimmunesystemfunction.

Diet and Exercise

Whenitcomestosupportingimmunehealth,weneedtoemphasizeanantiinflammatorydiet.Thisleadsnotonlytoareductionintheinflammatory responsebutwillalsosupporthealthyfunctionofthecellmembraneandits receptors.Whentheextracellularspaceisinaninflammatorystate,galectin-3 getsactivatedandbindstospecificreceptorsonimmunecellscalledCD45 receptors.Thisshutsdowntheimmuneresponseandtheexcretionofcytokines. (Althoughanexcessiveproductionofcytokinesisdangerous,aswediscussedin ourexplanationofcytokinestorms,someexcretionofcytokinesishealthyand isnecessaryforproperimmuneresponse.)

Exerciseandproperhydrationarealsoimportantpartsofanimmunesupport program.Theyhelpreduceinflammationandimproveoxygendeliverytothe differenttissues,whichimprovestheoverallfunctionoftheimmunesystem.

Medicinal Mushrooms and Herbs

Medicinalmushrooms,suchasreishiandcordyceps,aredifferentfromherbs andarerenownedfortheirsupportoftheimmunesystem.Theyhaveaunique, built-inadaptogenicqualityandanaffinityforareasofstagnation,areasthe bodydeterminestobeproblematic,andareasthatarenotunderthebody’s regulatorysystems.Malignanttumorsareaclassicexample.They’reveryactive metabolically,andarenolongerregulatedbythebody—medicinalmushrooms haveaspecificaffinityforthem.

Medicinalmushroomshavetheabilitytoimpactourpast,present,andfuture. Theybreakdowntissueandabsorbandremovetoxins,thus“cleaningup” depositsfromthepastandcreatinganantifibroticeffect.Thiswillpreventlongtermsideeffectsfrompastinsults.Theyhaveareal-timeeffectinthepresentby enhancingourimmediateimmuneresponse.Andtheyaffectthefutureby trainingtheimmunesystemtobetterrespondgoingforward.

Anexampleofamushroomhelpingtoclearthepastiscordyceps,which preventskidneydamagefromaminoglycosideantibioticsorfromcyclosporine, animmunosuppressivedrug.Reishi,anothermedicinalmushroom,alsohelps preventliverdamagefromprogressingtolivercirrhosis.

Giventhemultifacetedeffectsofmedicinalmushrooms,peoplewon’tdevelop atolerancetothem.Thesemushroomsprovidelong-termsupportforthe immunesystem.Imyselfhaveexperiencedthislong-termbenefit.I’vebeen usingmymushroomformula—whichIgrowonimmune-enhancingherbs—for thepasttwentyyears.Allthistime,I’vebeenreapingthehealthbenefitsthey haveprovided.

Therearealsoanumberofherbsthatcansupportimmunefunction.Leading thewayisastragalus(HuangQi).ItisoneofthekeyherbsthatIusetogrow themushroomsformyimmunemushroomformula.Theseherbscanworkwell withMCPandmedicinalmushrooms,andIoftencombinethemforimmune support.

MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS AND MCP AS PREBIOTICS

I usually advise my patients to combine MCP with medicinal mushrooms for synergistic digestive and immune support. Medicinal mushrooms act as a powerful prebiotic because they contain a mixture of different oligosaccharides. They also contain mushroom-based proteoglycans that play a vital role in immunomodulation and antitumor activities.

The pectic-oligosaccharides (POS) contained in modified citrus pectin are also a new class of prebiotic capable of exerting many health-promoting effects. Prebiotics create a desirable fermentation profile in the gut.

They have been shown to have in vitro anticancer properties, as well as provide cardiovascular protection. Studies have confirmed that these POS possess antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties, among others.

Psychological and Emotional Awareness

Justasthebodycanturnagainstitselfandcreateanautoimmunecondition,so toocanourbodyreactnegativelywhenweget“stuck”inunsupportiveor destructive patterns. When we recognize “stuck” patterns, we have an opportunitytoreleasethemandrestructureourmemoryandneuralresponse. Thechoiceandthepowertodosoisinourhands.Negativethoughts, destructiveemotions,psychologicalpatterns,andunwantedhabitscanmelt awaybecausewenolongerneedthemforsurvival.Thisprocesscanalso improveourimmuneresponse,resultinginamoreefficientandbalanced immunesystem.

Agoodfirststepistodevelopawarenessofyouractionsandwhatdrives them.Whenyoutakeactionanddosomethingthatwillbenefitthegreater good,it’saresponsethatbenefitsyouandthecommunity.However,taking actionbasedonthesolepurposeofself-preservationonlypromoteswearand tearandshortensourlives.Forexample,takingactionforglobalclimatechange becauseyoufeelthreatened,upset,andangryaboutitisonething,buttaking actionbecauseyouareconcernedfortheearthandthepeopleofthisplanetis another.Thefirstmotivationissurvival-driven.Feelingthreatenedandupset causesasympatheticresponse:ourbloodpressuregoesup,ourcirculationis moreturbulent,damaginginflammatorycompoundsincrease,andwecaneven feeltheheatinourfaceandtensioninourbody.Thesecondmotivationis muchhealthier,andisforthegreatergoodofthecommunity.Internallyand externally,thereisgreaterharmony.

ThefamousJewishsageHilleltheEldersummeduptheparadoxbetween caringforselfversusothersinthefirstcenturyADwhenhewrote,“IfIamnot formyself,whowillbeforme?ButifIamonlyformyself,whoamI?

Afterall,theheartnourishesitselfwhilenourishingtheentirebodyonan ongoingbasis.Thetwocanneverbeseparated.

A WORD ABOUT ALLERGIES

Whatareallergies,exactly?Theyareaninappropriateimmuneresponseto stimulifromoutsidethebody.Ingeneral,peoplecanbeallergictodifferent foods,ortheycanbehypersensitivetotheenvironment.Metaphorically,such individualsdon’thavestrongbarriersorboundaries,andtheirbodiesgeneratea hyperimmuneresponse.Inotherwords,thebodybelievesthattheseoutside stimuliwillharmitevenwhentheymaynot.

Anallergicresponseoccurswhenthesurvivalalarmturnsonunnecessarily. Toillustratebywayofanalogy,let’ssayyouaresittingoutsideandyousee movementfromfaraway.It’ssofarawayandmovingsoslowlythatitmay neverevenreachyou,butyourbodyisalreadyrespondingtoitasathreat.This isthebody’s“thoughtprocess”withallergies.

Whenwehavegreatanxietyaboutthefuture,itcanmanifestinourbody, andwhenit’sdirectedoutwardly,itcanalsobecomeakindofallergicresponse. Forexample,whenweworkonaprojectthathastenstepsandwe’reonstep numbertwo,there’snopointinworryingaboutstepnumbertenatthat moment,right?Butourmindtendstogothere.Weareawareofallthesteps andwhateachoneentails,andourinnateimmunesystemisawareofthemalso. It’sahighlyintelligentsystem,butratherthantrustinginit,weareanxious aboutsteptenwhenwe’veonlyjustbegun.Inreality, we may never even make it to step ten. Thisisnotanappropriateresponse,andtheimmunesystemreactsto thisstress.

Wecanalsohaveemotionalorpsychological“allergies,”andeventually,they haveaphysicalimpactonus.Forexample,someonewithPTSDwhois constantlyremindedoftheirtraumaisalwaysinastateofhighstress.Suchan individualwillhaveastrong,immediateresponsetostimulireminiscentofthe originaltrauma,evenifthecurrentstimulusnolongercarriesthesamethreat. Thistakesatollonbothbodyandmind.TheresponseofsomeonewithPTSD isoftenautomated;it’sdrivenbytheautonomicnervoussystem,andthe responsedoesn’tturnoff.

Ontheotherhand,somepeoplecanhaveaninertimmuneresponse,meaning theirsystemsdon’trespondwhenneeded.Wecallthisanergy,orthelackofan appropriateimmuneresponse.Andguesswhat?Boththehyperresponseand lack of response can be affected by galectin-3. Galectin-3 can trigger a hypersurvivalresponsethatexpressesitselfasanallergicresponse.Oritcanhelp aninvaderevadetheimmunesystem,causingalackofimmuneresponsebythe host,thebody.

Allergies and Cancer

Researchshowsthatcertaincancerswon’tthriveinpeoplewhohavechronic hayfeverorallergiesbecausetheirimmunesystemisconstantlyonthealertand fightingoffinvaders. Itrecognizescancercellsimmediatelyandgoestowork defending the body, but it can leave behind a lot of destruction and inflammationintheprocess.

Thisisnotasstraightforwardinpatientswithautoimmunedisease,ascancer’s chanceforsurvivalismoreunpredictableinthesepatients.Therecanbea strongimmuneresponsebythebodytofightthecancer,butsometimesthe cancer will thrive due to the ongoing, internal destructive qualities of inflammation.

MOVING TOWARD RESILIENCE

Thepopularmediaisalwaysputtingforthlistsofthingsto“avoid”—suchas certainfoods,lotionsandpotions—all undertheguiseofhelpingusget healthier.Sothefirstthingmostofustrytodoistoavoidaspecificfood.For example,ifsomeonehasanallergyordigestiveintolerancetodairyorgluten, theygodairyorglutenfreetotryandimprovetheircondition.However, gettingtoaplacewhereyoucanactuallyeatsomethingthatyouweren’tableto eatbeforecansignifytrueimprovedhealth.Increasedtoleranceindicatesthat thebodyisstronger,andit’soneofthesurestsignsofhealth.

Resilienceistheabilitytoeffectivelyadapttoandrecoverfromadversity.A resilientimmunesystemisonethatresponds appropriately;itcanadaptits responsebasedonthestimulus.Forexample,aresilientimmunesystemwill respondstronglywhenneededwithoutharmingthebody.Itwillrespondless activelyforlesserthreats,sustainingamorepassiveimmuneresponsewithout overactivating,suchasinthecaseofallergies.Havingaresilientimmunesystem allowsustomovefromsurvivingtothriving.

Interestingly, psychological resilience—the capacity to easily adapt to circumstancesandrecoverfromadversestressorsandevents—hasbeenfoundto haveapositiveeffectontheimmunesystem.Thisunderscoresthedirect relationshipbetweenthemindandimmuneresponses:ifwecanimproveour internalstateofmind,itwillhaveapositiveeffectonourimmunesystem.

Ourimmunesystemisanintricateandcomplexsystemwithmultiple influencesfromdifferentpartsofthebodyandtheenvironment.Overthelast fewyears,we’vecometorecognizethatakeyfactorinhealthyimmune function,andourhealthingeneral,isdevelopinghealthyandsupportive relationshipswiththegueststhatreside Thisbringsustothenextchapter.