Poop Shute

My last post was met with snide sarcasm, and it pissed me off. I apologize for those of you who read my initial response in the comments. It was not one of my better moments.

Here is a rational, and researched reply.

Ignorant of human biology, eh? Well, there is actually a branch of human biology called PSYCHONEUROIMMUNOLOGY and it is the study of how our thoughts and feelings effect our immune response. It was founded in 1974 by a Doctor Robert Ader who discovered that the immune system contains nerve tissue in it. (if you take the link, Dr Ader is mentioned about 2/3 down the page)

Two years ago THIS ARTICLE references a study that showed meditation can boost the immune system, and specifically mentions a connection to greater antibody production. The long term study showed the benefits lasted up to four months after meditation training ceased.

I was skeptical at first about ACEM MEDITATION's website being too biased because they offer classes and CD's and whatnot, but then I found out they are a nonprofit organization founded to develop "a psychological understanding of meditation processes based on Western thought and practice." I am sure they are biased, but there is still some good info there.

Beyond all this, it is plain common sense that the mind directly influences the body. Look at extreme fear for a moment. It can make a person sweat, breath heavily, it can accelerate their heart rate (even to the point of heart attack), it can make a person shake or even faint. Anger actually has all the same possible symptoms. Now, think about how effective the body can be at defending itself when it is going through all that crap. In periods of extreme stress (such as fear or anger can provide) the immune response is severely weakened. Fact.

Maybe I wasn't clear enough in my last post, but that is what I was getting at. I "allowed" myself to get sick by not taking care of myself emotionally and psychologically. Sure, I eat right, and I exercise, but that isn't all that is important, as THIS ARTICLE explains.

NOTE: all links lead to article sited in each respective paragraph.