The ancient immune system. Our bodies have a naive immune system at the moment of our birth. It has yet to encounter a foreign microbe and thus is not smart. As soon as a child enters the world, the gut, lungs and skin are inundated by bacteria that are teaching our immune system right from wrong.
The learning part of the immune system is simplistically divided in two groups of immune cells. The T helper cells 1 and 2. These guys proliferate based on microbial exposure throughout life. One group is set to fight and kill viral and bacterial cells while the other is set to kill parasites. An imbalance of early exposure to parasites and normal bacteria has changed the normal pattern of immune system development. In the early hours of life a child would be exposed to vaginal and breast associated bacteria that humans historically grew up with. They would then set up camp in the neonates intestines and promote a healthy gut ecosystem. As he grew up he would lick everything in sight including dirt and parasites. Many of these bugs would further prime the immune system for normal tolerance of microbes versus harmful invaders. Fast forward to the child born via c section, fed cow's milk, given antibiotics repeatedly, given antacid for cow's milk reflux and not exposed to dirt in the modern ultra clean environment of his home. The naive immune system is now challenged with a whole new set of microbes that humans have little experience with at this early stage of life. It turns out that they are harmful to certain genetically susceptible people. The abnormally formed gut ecosystem is now programming the immune system for fighting excessively in one direction or the other and this leads to allergic disease, auto immunity and excessive inflammation. There is no balance between TH1 and TH2 cells. Think of the battle lines in a war where both armies are of equal strength, little conflict occurs. Now, if one side has much greater strength, then they may be apt to attack the weaker side and gain dominance. This is what we see. Simple shifts in how humans are raising their newborns are having profound effects on the gut microbes and also the immune system leading to a litany of diseases. The immune system is our best friend and our worst enemy. If we set it up correctly from birth, it will take care of us. If we treat it poorly from birth by over stimulating it with the wrong bugs, it becomes our worst enemy. It actually starts to kill us. Think of the rise in peanut allergy. A previously well tolerated food protein is now a poison for many. The gut, lung, skin and the immune system work together as one. It is imperative that we start this at birth. Teach this to anyone that is pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant. (recently I have discussed that some obstetricians are swabbing newborns born by c section with vaginal flora to simulate a vaginal birth. They are priming the immune system in the natural way. I love this simple solution to our overuse of c sections) Dr. M | 
