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for a free homepage. Clients and Patients -> Autonomic-Immune Axis Re-Education And Optimal Health Autonomic-Immune Axis Re-Education And Optimal HealthPublished research documents that the mind can influence the immune system using biobehavioral methods. These biobehavioral methods involve a continuum of self-regulation techniques from conscious volitional processes to unconscious conditioned processes. In the autonomic biobehavioral methods used at the Center for Contemporary Medicine, the focus is on relaxation techniques, guided imagery scripts, and individualized conditioning paradigms.The central computer for the autonomic nervous system is housed in the hypothalamus deep within the brain. Messages originating from the hypothalamic area of the brain are transmitted along sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nerves to the entire body. The autonomic nervous system functions as the body’s inner healer (or slayer), and branches of the autonomic nervous system innervate each of the body’s various organs. Branches of the autonomic nervous system also innervate lymphoid immune tissue throughout the body, including the spleen, the thymus, the lymph nodes, the bone marrow, and the gut associated lymphoid tissue (GALT). Indeed, autonomic nerve fibers are found not only in the vasculature of lymphoid tissue, but also in the parenchymal areas in close proximity to lymphocytes. Lymphocytes, the primary immune cell in cancer defense, contain receptors on their cell surfaces for neuro-transmitters originating from the autonomic nervous system. In addition, immune cells like lymphocytes both produce and have receptors for the same neuropeptides that are found in the hypothalamus within the brain and in certain other glandular tissues in the body. This cross talk between the hypothalamus, autonomic nerves and circulating lymphocytes is the manifestation of a mind-immune mutual feedback system. This cross talk occurs in waves of autonomic nervous impulses coursing into the body, informing the body of adaptations to be made, of cells to be repaired, of cells to be born and/or sacrificed, of energy to be generated, and of waste to be removed. These waves are answered by a circulating immune feedback loop informing the brain of the condition of the body, of its homeostasis and of its stress, and modulating the mind-autonomic-immune nervous traffic. This flow of information along the autonomic nerves to the immune system resulting in changes in immune cell behavior is a major way that the mind and immune systems, through the autonomic nervous system, maintains health and balance. Information flows in a continuous loop as immune cells circulating through the brain release neuropeptides such as lymphokines, endorphins, interferons, interleukins, and others that act on specific receptors within the brain, informing the brain of the condition of the body. Emotions arise from this bidirectional flow of information, and emotions are the physiological expression of this minute by minute adjustment loop. By changing one’s emotions, one changes one’s whole being. There is a large body of evidence documenting the relationship between stress and illness in humans. The overall evidence points in the direction of stress induced immunosuppression. There is most likely also a bidirectional relationship depending on whether or not the stressful event(s) are acute or chronic. The intensity of the stress, the locus of control, the coping abilities of the individual, and the timing of the immune response measurements all help to clarify the nature of the bidirectional relationship between stress and immunosuppression. The immune system is intricate and complex, with system-wide properties such as memory, tolerance, specificity, and self-nonself discrimination. The effector cells of the immune system, those responsible for manifesting the system properties are T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells, monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils. The T-lymphocytes are involved with cell mediated immunity, playing an important role in tumor rejection. These cells respond to specific proteins or antigens through a complex series of interactions between subpopulations such as helper cells, suppressor cells, and cytotoxic T-cells. Natural killer cells are important in first line tumor defense. Macrophages and monocytes are scavenger cells within the body, acting as generals who direct other cells by the release of substances called cytokines (monokines) or lymphokines that act as communication molecules within the immune system. In addition, these cells present antigens to the resting immune T- cells, activating and allowing them to make specific responses to each specific antigen or foreign protein. The neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, and mast cells play key roles in defense against infections and allergies, and in regulating the inflammatory process. Click here for an explanation of Disorders of Immediate Type Hypersensitivity |
