Balanced Immune Health

The recent findings of a Duke University research project (NBC News video below) gives hope to kids who suffer from severe allergic reaction to peanuts. What’s this have to do with us?

The general methodology used in the study was very basic: “training” the immune system to not over-react to an allergen when it enters the body. This blog has written ad infinitum about this fundamental illustration of immune balance, but the concept continues to manifest itself in new ways through new findings such as these. In this study, young children with severe peanut allergies were given small amounts of a peanut protein (equivalent to 1/1000th of a peanut) daily over a period of months, with the amount gradually increasing. The kids will still receive this peanut intake for the next couple of years. But eventually, the immune system will be trained to ease off attacking the peanut matter, and alleviate the potentially deadly allergic response that these kids have experienced in the past.

Immune balance holds a lot of promise for this and many other living examples of over-reactive and under-reactive immune systems.

WARNING:  No one should try doing this peanut intake experiment at home with their kids. The Duke research is being conducted under laboratory conditions with precise controls and preparations for potential adverse responses. Just because this involves the good ‘ol peanut does not mean this study is anything that anyone should try on their own.

Filed under Bacteria, Bacterial Environments, Balanced Immune Health, Dirt, Germs, Immune Balance, Immune System, Research, Video, antibodies