Immune Identity: An Integral Medicine Perspective

DECONSTRUCTING THE IMMUNE SELF Healthy Masters International Conference

Immune identity, biological identity are being disrupted.

In this talk, I deconstruct the immune self. I take us on a pluri-dimensional, scientific, philosophical, poetic journey from germ theory to terrain theory to holobiont theory (macro/eco-immunology) and and culminating in quantum immunology. Along this spectrum, our biological boundaries gradually dissolve. Strategies for immune support shift.

This article below was published in the Immortalist Magazine in 2020 - smack in the middle of the Pandemic, it was my response to the germ theory myopia the world was exhibiting.

Philosophy of Immunology: Deconstructing the Immune Self in Transhuman Times

“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” — John Muir

Transhumanism stands for progress, human enhancement, and the harnessing of reason, science, and technology to reveal human potential, bringing forth "the true into the beautiful" (Heidegger, 1977). There are many forms of transhumanist thought: democratic, emphasizing egalitarian access to enhancement; libertarian, advocating for a free-market economy to ensure fertile ground for research and innovation; extropian, affirming indefinite evolutionary potential, including futures with indefinite human lifespans; and integral, advocating for cognitive enhancement and existential maturity within a developmental framework that transcends scientific reductionism (Tennison, 2010). Post-anthropocentrism is shifting towards post-dualism. Humanism is evolving into deep relationality, as seen in Generation Z's affinity for interconnection, cooperation, and globalism. In biology, this shift is most apparent in integrative immunology.

Immune Selfhood

From its inception, immunology has focused on biological identity. The immune self defends the body against foreign invaders. Each human has distinct immune borders, with the immune system responding to violations of these borders. Anatomically, these borders include the epidermis, dermis, and mucosa. Functionally, the immune response involves lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, and their signaling agents—antibodies, cytokines, and complement proteins. All components of the immune self are considered genetically proprietary, clearly distinguishing the self from the non-self. In the context of infection, the individual is seen as self-contained, and in times of pandemics, the best approach is defense, offense, and insulationism. This is the classic biomedical immune theory, where the biological self has well-defined borders that deserve protection and defense.

Under this paradigm, allopathic therapeutic models make sense. Antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiparasitic pharmaceuticals and biotechnologies are perfect agents of an intelligent protective, defensive, and offensive strategy. In malignancy, chemotherapy and radiation follow the same path, eradicating dangerous tumors and saving lives. Although cancer immunotherapy (T-cell transfer therapy, monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines) falls more to the left of the classic warfare model, serving more as immune system modulators, the language around biomedical immunotherapy still employs self/non-self terminology, invoking the immune self to "fight cancer."

Even in integrative, functional, and naturopathic approaches, getting well can be a "battle." Botanicals have antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasitic properties. Nutraceuticals have immune-boosting and immune-arming capabilities. As long as therapeutics are focused on "getting rid of" pathogens or supporting the body in "fighting" cancer or "beating" autoimmunity, they are employing the classic epistemological definition of the static self. They are still immersed in dualism.

Immune Continuum

Moving beyond the protective motif of the immune system is challenging, given its deep entrenchment in medical thinking, politics, daily language, and personal experience. The visceral pull towards protection, survival, and biological safety is strong. Can we change the way we perceive our biological self? Can the boundaries of immune selfhood be dissolved? Can immune identity, individuality, and agency become fluid?

If there is the self and the environment, there must be some form of tolerance. Not all foreign agents are malevolent. The human body houses trillions of microorganisms, outnumbering human cells by more than ten to one. From this perspective, immune tolerance is the physiological norm. Given that microbial DNA may outnumber human DNA, selfhood cannot be purely genetic. Immunity is more of a mediation, a dynamic exchange of information. A cooperative symbiotic model of the immune self is more fitting to biological reality. We are moving beyond defending an insular individual. The body is more of an "interactive economy," a "complex consortium, a holobiont, a multicellular eukaryote plus its colonies of persistent symbionts" (Tauber, 2017).

This shifts the focus of immunity from aggressive protection to elucidating an interactive balance. The biological self could be viewed as "homeostasis," an ongoing process of establishing physiological harmony. Virulence and malignancy do exist, but the holobiont immune action's direct role is not to kill off but to uphold autoregulation. It is a collective response to maintain homeostasis and structural and functional integrity. It is not selfhood in the classic sense but a systemic balancing act.

Linguistics of Immune Paradigms

The language used across the four paradigms—germ theory, terrain theory, holobiont theory, and quantum immunology—reflects their respective conceptual frameworks and underscores their underlying principles.

Germ Theory:

The germ theory paradigm is characterized by a militaristic and combative lexicon, reflecting its foundational perspective of the immune system as a defensive entity against external threats. This language frames the immune response in terms of war and conflict:

• Language of Warfare: Terms like "battle," "neutralize," "combat," "fight," "destroy," and "kill" are prevalent. These words convey a sense of urgency and aggression, underscoring the perceived need to actively and aggressively eliminate pathogens.

• Emphasis on Defense and Isolation: Words such as "protect," "guard," and "shield" emphasize a defensive stance, where the immune system's primary role is to defend the body from external invaders. The concept of "isolation" highlights the need to keep the self separated from potential threats.

• Pathogens as Invaders: Pathogens are often described as "invasive," "pathogenic," and "virulent." This language portrays them as hostile and dangerous entities that must be eradicated to preserve health.

• Dualistic Framework: The self/non-self dichotomy is central to germ theory, where the "self" is the body's natural state and the "non-self" is any external agent that disrupts this state. This binary framework reinforces the idea of a static, clearly defined biological self that must be defended against foreign invaders.

• Societal Solutions as Eradication: The paradigm supports the use of pharmaceuticals like antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics. These treatments are designed to "eradicate" pathogens, reinforcing the notion of a hostile takeover and subsequent elimination.

Terrain Theory:

Terrain theory introduces a more integrative and holistic lexicon, reflecting a shift from defense to balance and resilience. This language emphasizes the internal environment and the host's overall health:

• Language of Balance and Resilience: Terms such as "homeostasis," "bioregulation," "immune regulation," "buffering capacity," and "antifragility" underscore the importance of maintaining internal equilibrium. The focus is on creating a stable, resilient internal environment that can adapt and respond to challenges.

• Emphasis on Health Creation: Phrases like "creating health," "maintaining a healthy set point," and "balance" highlight the proactive approach of terrain theory. The goal is to foster a robust internal environment that can naturally resist disease.

• Focus on Host Condition: The host's internal condition is paramount, with language focusing on "cells," "tissues," "organs," "immunome," "genome," "epigenome," and "bioenergetics." This reflects the theory's emphasis on the overall health and functionality of the host organism.

• Microorganisms and Pathogenicity: The theory posits that "microorganisms become pathogenic as the health of the host organism deteriorates." This shifts the focus from external threats to internal conditions, suggesting that maintaining a healthy internal environment can prevent disease.

Holobiont Theory:

Holobiont theory further expands the conceptual framework, introducing a language of integration and symbiosis. This paradigm reflects a dynamic, interconnected view of the immune system:

• Language of Symbiosis and Integration: Terms like "whole," "entire," "complete," "macro-immunity," and "ecoimmunology" emphasize the interconnectedness of the host and its symbiotic partners. This language reflects a holistic view of the organism as part of a larger ecological system.

• Dynamic Identity and Boundaries: Phrases such as "complex consortium," "dissolution of boundaries," and "interactive economy" highlight the fluid, dynamic nature of the immune system. The concept of "dynamic biological/ecological identity" suggests that the immune system is constantly evolving in response to its environment.

• Holobiont as a Whole: The host is seen as a "multicellular eukaryote plus its colonies of persistent symbionts," including microbiota, parasites, and fungi. This language reflects the theory's emphasis on the integrated nature of the host and its symbiotic partners.

• Health as Symbiosis: Health is described as "symbiosis" and "balance," with a focus on "ecorelations advocating equilibrium." This reflects a shift from combating pathogens to fostering harmonious relationships within the host's internal and external environments.

Quantum Immunology:

Quantum immunology introduces a lexicon grounded in physics and informational theory, reflecting its focus on resonance and coherence. This paradigm explores the immune system at the subatomic level, emphasizing energetic and informational exchanges:

• Language of Resonance and Coherence: Terms like "bio-oscillation," "vibration," "frequency," and "resonance" underscore the importance of energetic and informational coherence. This language reflects the paradigm's focus on maintaining a harmonious, resonant state within the immune system.

• Emphasis on Energetic and Informational Exchange: Phrases such as "quantum coherence," "superposition," "tunneling," and "entanglement" highlight the complex, interconnected nature of biological processes at the subatomic level. This language suggests that the immune system operates through dynamic, non-linear interactions.

• Perspective on Biological Processes: The immune system is described as interacting through "dynamic space," "electrostatic fields," and "scalar fields." This reflects a shift from a purely biological perspective to one that incorporates principles of quantum physics and information theory.

• Immune Cognition: The concept of "immune cognition" is introduced, emphasizing the immune system's role as a perceptive, cognitive entity. Antigen recognition is seen as an "informational exchange" rather than a binary decision of self vs. non-self. This language reflects the paradigm's focus on perception and cognition rather than defense and eradication.

Immune Cognition

If we dispense with the notion of the "immune self," how do we understand virulence or malignancy? Niels Jerne, the proponent of the absent self theory, saw the immune system as self-referential, perceiving only its immediate constituents and recognizing beneficial microbiota as part of a fluid self. Immune activation is not based on self/non-self distinction but on the specific context of antigen presentation, the terrain of the moment. This is immune cognition at play. In classic immune theory, the antigen is a code that signals foreignness and necessitates eradication. In Jerne’s network theory, antigen binding is merely an informational exchange, leading to tolerance or offense depending on the network's terrain status (Jerne, 1974).

This concept parallels the expansion of cognitive boundaries in psychology, culture, and politics. What was once foreign may become familiar, and what was once benign may become destructive under certain conditions. Perception is crucial. At a microscopic level, how the immune system cognizes its components in the moment matters. It is not personal, much like life itself. The borders are dissolving; there is no one home.

Immune Intentionality

The immune self eludes definition. Immune theory can still practically employ stimulus-response activation, but it need not be with the intention of defending selfhood. The immune system is a perceptual event that 1) constantly receives stimuli from the internal and external environment, 2) has a history and memory, 3) employs evolutionary identifications of safety and danger, and 4) operates on a continuum of acceptance and denial based on a particular homeostatic set point at any given moment. The priority is mutualistic relationships and the maintenance and expansion of bio-ecological symbiosis.

With the immune system understood as a network system devoid of static agency, immune therapeutics and enhancement can employ multifactorial approaches. The intentionality of the immune system vibrates on a continuum from survival to harmony. Biomedical approaches should employ the full spectrum of this continuum, from defense when necessary to establishing tolerance and symbiosis continually. For instance, during a pandemic, it is essential not only to defend and isolate but also to strengthen bioresilience and autoregulation, upgrading the immune system incrementally. Prioritizing upgrades ensures the organism and community's biological futures are immunologically more flexible. Emerging biotechnologies play a key role in accelerating immune upgrades. Pluripotent stem cell and exosome therapeutics, low-dose immunotherapy, thymus regeneration, and gene therapy are areas of significant focus (Matzinger, 1994).

Conclusion

The endpoint intentionality of our biological life is to thrive, propagate, evolve, and ultimately transcend biology. Humanity appears to be a magnificent beginning but not the final word (Dyson, 1985).

References:

1. Muir, John. Nature Writings. 1997

2. Multiple authors: Doug Baily, Anders Sandberg, Gustavo Alves, Max More, Holger Wagner, Natasha Vita-More, Eugene Leitl, Bernie Staring, David Pearce, Bill Fantegrossi, den Otter, Ralf Fletcher, Tom Morrow, Alexander Chislenko, Lee Daniel Crocker, Darren Reynolds, Keith Elis, Thom Quinn, Mikhail Sverdlov, Arjen Kamphuis, Shane Spaulding, and Nick Bostrom. Transhumanist Manifesto. humanityplus.org. 2009

3. Heidegger, Martin. The Question Concerning Technology. 1977

4. Tennison, Michael. Integral Transhumanism: The Holistic Leap Forward. 2010

5. Tauber, Alfred I. Philosophy of Immunology. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2017

6. Matzinger, Polly. Tolerance, Danger, and the Extended Family. Annual Review of Immunology. 1994

7. Jerne, Niels K. Towards a Network Theory of the Immune System. Annals of Institute Pasteur/Immunology. 1974

8. Dyson, Freeman. Infinite in All Directions. 1985

HOW TO SUPPORT THE IMMUNE SYSTEM?

The Integral Perspective: Beyond Dualism

To truly support the immune system, we must move beyond a single paradigm and embrace an integrative approach. This means considering the immune system not just as a defender against pathogens, but as a dynamic, interconnected network that thrives on balance, resilience, and symbiosis.

Germ Theory: The Defensive Stance

Language and Approach:

• Warfare Lexicon: Terms like "battle," "neutralize," "combat," "fight," "destroy," and "kill" are central. This paradigm focuses on defense and eradication of pathogens.

• Defensive Measures: Antiviral, antibiotic, antifungal, and antiparasitic treatments are common. Practices like vaccination and hygiene are crucial.

Practical Tips:

1. Vaccination: Inform yourself vigilantly. Vaccines are a great idea on paper, in reality it’s much more complex, due to corporate capture of the medical field.

2. Hygiene Practices: Regular handwashing, sanitizing surfaces ideally with natural anti-microbial and anti-parasitic products, and avoiding contact with severely sick individuals can help prevent infections.

3. Antimicrobial Agents: Use botanical or pharmaceutical antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals only as last resort, and responsibly.

Terrain Theory: Building a Resilient Internal Environment

Language and Approach:

• Balance and Resilience: Words like "homeostasis," "bioregulation," "immune regulation," and "antifragility" emphasize maintaining internal equilibrium.

• Host Condition: Focus on the health of cells, tissues, and organs to create a resilient internal environment.

Practical Tips:

1. Nutrition: Consume a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support cellular health and immune function.

2. Hydration: Drink plenty of water to maintain cellular function and overall health.

3. Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity to enhance circulation and immune cell activity.

4. Rest and Recovery: Ensure adequate sleep and stress management to maintain homeostasis.

Holobiont Theory: Embracing Symbiosis

Language and Approach:

• Symbiosis and Integration: Terms like "whole," "complete," "macro-immunity," and "ecoimmunology" reflect a holistic view of the organism and its symbiotic partners.

• Dynamic Identity: Recognize the host as a multicellular eukaryote with colonies of symbionts, including microbiota, parasites, and fungi.

Practical Tips:

1. Probiotics and Prebiotics: Support gut health by consuming foods rich in probiotics (yogurt, kefir) and prebiotics (fiber-rich foods).

2. Microbiome Diversity: Encourage a diverse microbiome by eating a varied diet and avoiding overuse of antibiotics.

3. Environmental Interactions: Spend time in nature to expose your body to diverse microbial ecosystems, promoting immune resilience.

Quantum Immunology: Achieving Resonance and Coherence

Language and Approach:

• Resonance and Coherence: Terms like "bio-oscillation," "vibration," "frequency," and "resonance" emphasize the importance of energetic and informational coherence.

• Energetic Exchange: Understand the immune system as a dynamic entity interacting through electrostatic and scalar fields.

Practical Tips:

1. Meditation and Mindfulness: Practice techniques that promote mental and emotional coherence, reducing stress and enhancing immune function.

2. Energy Therapies: Explore bioresonance therapies.

3. Frequency and Light Exposure: Spend time in natural light and consider therapies that use sound and light to promote health.

Integrating the Insights

To support the immune system effectively, it is essential to integrate insights from all these paradigms. Here are some integrative strategies:

1. Whole Body Health Practices: Combine good lifestyle with a nutrient-rich diet, regular exercise, and adequate rest.

2. Symbiotic Living: Foster a healthy microbiome through diet and lifestyle, while also engaging in practices that promote mental and emotional well-being.

3. Energetic Harmony: Incorporate bioelectric, bioresonance, energy-based therapies and mindfulness practices to enhance overall coherence and resonance.

By embracing this continuum of immune theories, we can create a robust, resilient, and adaptable immune system. This integrative approach not only protects us from pathogens but also fosters a state of dynamic balance and well-being, allowing us to thrive in an ever-changing world.

To learn more to receive support with your immune system, feel free to reach out to me CONTACT US.