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Immuno/Digestive Articles
The Immune-Digestive System Connection
Interviewer: Dr. Emmett, I understand your research for your Ph.D. was done in the area of digestion and how digestive health relates to our total health and immune system, am I correct?
Dr. Emmett: Yes that is true. Most of us do not understand just how important digestive health is to our total well being. There is a certain balance that needs to be maintained to keep everything functioning at its peak for our best health.
Interviewer: Would you explain a little more about this “balance”?
Dr. Emmett: I would be glad to elaborate but keep in mind that what will be given in a single sentence will only be a single step in a immense scientific journey. To begin with, Gray’s Anatomy, describes the digestive tract as a "musculo-membranous tube, about thirty feet in length, extending from the mouth to the anus, and lined throughout its entire extent by mucous membrane.” From this simplistic and basic description things become very complex. In order to explain “balance” we must we must consider the balance of the whole process of the journey of digestion: the balance of the brain-gut connection; the balance of the intestinal eco-system and the balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats as to their ingestion as well as their digestion. Plus, we must add the role of the liver and its function and effect upon the balance of digestion.
Interviewer: Wow, this does sound complex!.
Dr. Emmett: Wait there is more. The “gut” is more than just a thirty-foot tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the other end. When you consider the functions it performs within our bodies to keep balance you must consider it to be a highly sophisticated, intelligent organ. The “gut” has been rightly called the gatekeeper of the body because it decides what to allow into our bodies through our bloodstream and what to keep out. This is supported by the fact that about two-thirds of the body’s immune system reside within the Peyer patches of the intestinal wall, which makes the gut itself a critical component of the immune system.
Interviewer: That is quite a list! Can you explain more about where or how the immune system is integrated into the digestive system. You mentioned it is partially in the Peyer patches in the gastrointestinal wall.
Dr. Emmett: To understand that relationship we need to go all the way back to the embryo from which we all developed. At about week three, when the embryo is about 2 milligrams long, the cells that make up the digestive tract are formed from the endoderm making a literal “tube.” As the embryo develops “buds” from this “tube” differentiate to form the liver, stomach, lungs and pancreas. As the fetus continues its development over its next few weeks these organs as well as the digestive tract itself become free standing entities within the body, however they are still closely related.
At this stage we have the embryo’s digestive tract and organs however the embryo’s immune system which will eventually occupy much of what will become the intestinal mucosal wall will be many months in functional development. Let me explain how all that develops.
Because the embryonic fetus has no initial immune system its protection against pathogens (disease causing organisms) must be furnished through a passive transfer via the mother’s placenta which is activated at the time of pregnancy. Physically of course the embryo is protected by the mother’s tissues but internally it must rely on passive transfer of antibodies from a class of immunoglobulins known as IgM from the mother into its own blood stream. At birth, with the loss of the placental connection, the IgG (another class of immunoglobulins) concentration of the newborn tails off over the next nine months or so. Even when a child is one year old IgG is only 60% of an adult's concentration, IgM 75% and IgA ( a third class of immunoglobulins) 20%. This leaves the child relatively more exposed to disease causing organisms and more susceptible to infection. To help reduce risk IgG antibodies can be supplied to the child by breast feeding. Maternal milk contains IgG antibody and the baby can absorb this through the gut.
Through proper nutrition, environment and encouragement as the child grows into adolescence and his or her teenage years they will have developed both an efficient digestive system as well as a strong immune system. Have I answered your question?
Interviewer: I think I understand. Our immune system is shared with our mother until after birth and then grows and matures as we grow. May I ask what are the most common things that gets this immune – digestive system out of balance?
Dr. Emmett: There are multitudes of things that can get both the digestive as well the immune system out of balance. These two systems have a symbiotic as well as a synergetic relationship to keep balance or homeostasis and literally “feed” each other to keep this balance. However imbalances can and do result note that these factors are multi-dimensional. Some of the factors that perpetuate imbalances:
- from the physical aspect - skipping meals, overeating, poor food choices, junk food, fried foods, lack of exercise, chemical toxins in foods & water and from drugs both OTC or prescription, too hot or too cold drinking water, over use of sugar & artificial sweeteners, etc. It sort of reminds me of the saying “if momma ain’t happy, no bodies happy.” Well, if your tummy or your colon ain’t happy none of your other organs are happy!
- from the mental/emotional - emotional stress, traumas, anger, fear, hatred, relationship heartache, emotional pain, grief, loss, guilt, shame, etc. These can seriously disrupt both digestion as well as compromise the immune system by sending shock waves through our system like a ripple effect – like throwing a rock in to a still pool of water.
- from the spiritual - spiritual illness such as hopelessness, helplessness, lifelessness, or despair - you feel like you can’t go on. Why would you even want to go on?
As you can see there are so many things that can throw our digestive systems out of balance.
Interviewer: I can understand how some of the challenges you mention might also affect our immune system. I think I hear you saying these two systems and their functions are pretty intertwined.
Dr. Emmett: You are right, they are inseparable. Let me explain more as to how they affect each other. The first line of defense for our bodies is the thymus gland whose main immunological function is to be the shield for aggression against the body. It serves as a sensor for the invasion of any unwanted antigens (foreign invaders or toxins). These toxic invaders can come from the air we breathe, the food we eat, what we drink – anything we ingest. The thymus also serves its role as a sensor through the action of its T cell lymphocytes which screens out unwanted energies as well as clues the other glands (such as the adrenals, spleen and thyroid) as to what they have to do to fight the invading toxins, poisons and other entities that try to take over the body’s space. In a healthy body the thymus is the perfect security system for its T cell lymphocytes patrol the blood and lymph for foreign invaders (antigens) which they attack and destroy. Through the directive of the thymus it is the T cells responsibility to orchestrate, regulate and coordinate the overall immune response. This is stage one of answering your question of how the immune and digestive systems could have an effect on each other. If everything taken in to the body is good or harmless the immune system’s job is easy. Do you understand so far?
Interviewer: So far so good.
Dr. Emmett: What I’ve given you concerning the thymus as being the first line of immune defense against foreign invading forces or energies is the ideal action and reaction. However, the greatest deterrent to the thymus, which is the shield of the invisible, is not an immediate challenge but rather it is the constant, insidious stressors such as ongoing inflammation, infection, environmental radiation, unresolved problems, an aggressive environment, etc. Like a fallen domino once the thymus is overpowered the lot falls now to the next immunological domino – the thyroid.
While the thymus is the “invisible shield” the thyroid is the “physical shield” for the physical body. It is the shield for toxins not belonging to the body to be processed and eliminated. The function of the thyroid is that of a thermostat to control metabolism and as such it could well be called the foreman of the body. It is one of the most important glands because of its ability to monitor radiation in the body and because it can coordinate actions in a physical as well as mental sense to achieve the genetic program of the body. It works intimately with the Anterior Pituitary to regulate the appearance of the various body structures and with the liver to repair the body. But there is more. The thyroid is also a infrared sensor and as such picks up heat changes in the body. When the thyroid is challenged or malfunctioning, the individual has a difficult time withstanding heat. When the thyroid feels the pressure from heat changes in the body, it will manifest erroneous signals regarding excess dis-ease in the body.
Interviewer: Dr Emmett, may I stop you for a moment. What do you mean the thyroid “will manifest erroneous signals regarding dis-ease in the body” & where does this “heat” come from?
Dr. Emmett: The “heat” I refer to is from the various forms of radiation we encounter daily. It also comes from fever, pain, swelling and pressure which are the inflammatory result of infection. Your timely question also fits perfectly as to where I want to go in answering your initial question of how the immune and digestive systems could have an effect on each other. As I said the thyroid is the physical shield for toxins not belonging to the body to be processed and eliminated. The greatest such toxin is not physical but rather is the erratic energy diffusion and blockage cause by emotional anxiety. When this foreman of the body – the thyroid – becomes challenged by persistent anxiety it links with the brain to form confusion about how to behave to insure survival. When this erratic energy diffusion and blockage gets translated into the body it produces pain and discomfort sensations, odd feelings of not being okay and exhaustion or lack of energy. That wraps up stage two, have I lost you with all of this? If not, I’m ready to bring it all together in stage three?
Interviewer: One question. You said it causes physical changes. Can you give me an example?
Dr. Emmett: When the thyroid is under challenge (or under-active) the basal metabolic rate slows down causing such effects as: slow reactions and sluggishness, low cellular energy, sexual libido impairment, low energy levels, cold intolerance, and weight gain to name just a few.
Interviewer: This is very interesting. Yes, I am ready for more.
Dr. Emmett: Great. Let’s get with it! As I said the thyroid is both the immunological physical shield of the body against toxins and toxic environmental radiation such as anxiety, it is also the foreman of the body governing metabolism. When faced with the radiation of anxiety caused by a continuous fear or perhaps an excessively poor self image the first immune protective mechanism should have been the invisible shield or the thymus that comes to the rescue. But being that the stressor was insidious and intense the thymus is unable to meet the challenge leaving it up to the physical shield of the body – the thyroid. The thyroid senses the overwhelming challenge being put on the organism and meets it by slowing down the metabolism so that the body can hopefully recover through rest and relaxation. Do you think most of us recognize a need for rest and relaxation at this point?
Interviewer: No, but even if we did our lives would not allow us that luxury!
Dr. Emmett: You are right – and this is the natural immunological response. The individual typically will only recognize it as fatigue. They may go to the doctor and ultimately – if the condition continues - be put on a thyroid stimulant to try to step up metabolism or other medications to relieve the discomfort let us say of fibromyalgia, or to relieve depression or perhaps even digestion.
In nature when sick or fatigued the animal takes this as a time to rest and fast which matches the slower energy metabolism. Not so with the typical human. They neither fast nor rest, rather they get a prescription, they continue their regular food consumption habit, they drink more coffee as a stimulant, and fail to allow the body to recuperate through rest and relaxation. Now not only have we compromised the immune system we have also compromised the digestive system and one system then negatively “feeds” the other until dis-ease or uneasiness becomes disease. It is at this point that we have a third party becoming involved that intimately ties the digestive and immune systems together in a downward spiral. That third party is the biological ecosystem that lies within the digestive tract. Once this system gets out of balance a myriad of potential illness, sickness and degenerative conditions lie in wait.
Interviewer: It sounds like a vicious cycle at that stage. Once things get out of balance a little, if the imbalance isn’t corrected, it begins to spiral out of control. Can we stop the spiral?
Dr. Emmett: You are correct and yes, we can stop or reverse the spiral. The key is recognizing the symptoms and understanding the cause or causes and working to naturally reverse the spiral and get things back in balance.
Interviewer: What are some of the early signs for us to watch for? Do you have any recommendations?
Dr. Emmett: Early signs can be varied ranging from reoccurring indigestion, constipation or other digestive challenges, weight gain or loss, lack of energy, headaches, other aches and discomforts, frequent colds or flu, a feeling of ill will or depression, inability to cope or focus, etc. My recommendation is slow down, evaluate your lifestyle, seek to see what the stressors are in your life. Evaluate your diet – you can not do this without educating yourself. Believe me – there is too much hype out there for you to evaluate your diet alone. Purchase H.E.L.P. (our Healthy Eating and Lifestyle Plan). It will be a lifesaver to you & your family. Schedule a personal counseling appointment with us. We will help you determine your best pathway to wellness.
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As I close this interview I hope I have given a little insight on how I see the symbiotic and synergistic interrelationship of the digestive and immune systems. I’m sure I have given you fodder for a lot of questions.
Interviewer: Yes you have but I want to first thank you for your teaching in this very important area of health and I do look forward to further interviews. I would also like to know what you recommend as nutritional supplementation for the digestive and immune systems?
Dr. Emmett: I am going to elaborate on my recommendations from the latest science in products of the month in the July issue of the E-zine. Anyone can also contact us through our “feedback” and we will make personal recommendations. Everyone’s needs are a little different.
Thank you for our time together.
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