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Editor's Message - Resource Guide to Immunity and Immunoceuticals |
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by Lyle Hurd, Editor, totalhealth
Editor's Message
Resource Guide to Immunity and Immunoceuticals.
The immune system is the body’s major defense system against any and all agents that threaten its survival.
According to the White House Commission on Complementary and Alternative Medicine Policy: “At a time when the incidence of chronic illness among Americans is rising and health care costs are predicted to double in the next 10 years, it is vital that all of us work together to find better ways to enhance the
American people’s health and to treat our illnesses.” We agree wholeheartedly and would suggest the first priorities should be to eliminate the toxicity in our environment and educate the public, HMOs and allopathic health care practitioners to the imperative of a healthy immune system. While it would take
years to even begin to reduce toxicity and decades to bring it to an acceptable level, potentiating our immune systems to their highest functioning levels can begin today.
We are privileged to have had the input of Michael Murray, N.D., totalhealth science editor Parris Kidd, Ph.D. and totalhealth associate editor Lorna Vanderhaeghe in the development of this resource guide and have asked each of these individuals to contribute to this introduction.
Michael Murray:“The immune system’s prime function is to protect the body against infection and the development of cancer. The importance of susceptibility to infection or disease is too often overlooked in conventional medicine. Support and enhancement of the immune system is perhaps the most important step in achieving resistance to disease and reducing susceptibility to colds, flu and cancer.
“Recurrent or chronic infections—even very mild colds—only occur when the immune system is weakened. A weakened immune system leads to infection, infection causes damage to the immune system, which further weakens resistance. Enhancing the immune system could provide the answer to breaking the cycle.”
Parris Kidd: “Nutraceuticals are nutritional substances potent enough to treat disease. Nutraceuticals can be just as effective as pharmaceuticals, and sometimes more effective. Nutraceuticals are always better tolerated than pharmaceuticals and have far fewer adverse side effects. I have introduced the
term ‘immunoceuticals’ to best characterize nutraceuticals able to potentiate the immune system.
“The immune system, if damaged, weak or misdirected, is likely to be poorly selfregulating and hampered in its efforts to eliminate disease whereas if potentiated by immunoceuticals, it could attack more aggressively and buy time for the body to further mobilize against the disease.
“The driving force of immunoceuticals is helping the body’s immune system to help itself.” Lorna Vanderhaeghe: “Many people are becoming disenchanted with conventional medicine’s drugs and the cut and burn approach to disease. Illnesses that are caused by inadequate nutrition, too much stress and
environmental toxins do not respond well to prescription drug therapies.
“A healthy immune system is the basis for the prescription for health treatment suggestions. Your immune system is your body’s internal healing machine. When in prime condition, you are well. When the immune
system fails, you become ill. Optimal immunity is the key to good health and longevity.”
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