There’s more to immunity than exposure to contagious viruses like COVID.
The branch of science investigating the relationship of mind, body, and the external world is called “psychoneuroimmunology” or “PNI.”
PNI Researchers have found that there are neurotransmitter receptors (switches or sensors that receive and expedite commends from the brain) throughout most of your immune system.
This means our psychological state –– which is represented in our nervous system and expressed to the rest of our body by neurotransmitters –– directly impacts your immunity.
That’s right: our mind is critical to our ability to fight off infection.
The surprising part is that it boils down to a simple binary distinction: supporting or suppressing.
In biological terms, this is known as the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous system.
And boy, I’ve read heaps about this over the years – often, surprisingly, related to acid/alkaline balance.
The sympathetic nervous system gives rise to the “fight, flight, or freeze” response.
This is the stress management system. Like an emergency switch that turns off anything not related to immediate survival.
ow.. the problem this system has is that it’s great for brief threats, but if it gets stuck in the on position… lookout!
In this situation, it can lead to a catastrophic suppression of the immune system.
The parasympathetic nervous system is known as “rest and digest.”
It’s the nurturing system that gives rise to the feeling of wellbeing.
This clearly has implications for each of us as we face the possibility of a 2nd or 3rd wave of coronavirus.
In my 20 years of experience following the alkaline diet, I have noticed that I seem to be able to chill more than my peers. I can remain above the battlefield when friends are sweating in the trenches of the latest mass consciousness panic. I can laugh at things others seem stuck on.
And yes, it does seem to my single view that retaining an alkaline balance has supported this. Yes, I also have my own spiritual path, which certainly gives some perspective to what is – or is not – important.. But I can’t help but think that it’s a bit of a chicken and the egg concept. Trying to work out the dynamics of whether the diet helped the attitude, or the spiritual path helped me to remain on the diet seems – well, irrelevant.
I am happy, I am healthy, I have energy, I have immunity. So I thank ALL my systems: my alkaline balance system, my sympathetic system, my parasympathetic system, my spiritual path, my sunny days with clear skies and use, I think I have to thank my small and big Self as well.
I couldn’t have done it without you!
With thanks to Paul Austin, Third Wave
